Hello All,
I have been working with multiple small groups of Forum Members for Interview Preparation. I am a little concerned and would like to point out a few things with respect to preparation for the Interview.
I have written a blog post on it. It may not make sense to a lot of you, especially if you have never appeared in the interview. and it will make total sense to you if you have spent some years in service.
I decided to put this down in writing for some time, on the request of some friends who were able to secure super good marks in the interview and asked me to pen this down for their friends who are appearing for the Interview this year.
Here it is.
http://blog.forumias.com/ias-interview-honesty-and-simplicity-is-the-key-here-is-why/Please feel free to go through this and discuss and debate. we already have a pretty heated up discussion going on the Forum telegram Group for Interview Prep

You do not have to agree to all of it, but it is a good idea to pick up what suits you / what you can implement.
Comments
But for those who are 28+, it is expected that you are more mature in the outlook and in your answers, especially if its not your first interview.
Let us say the question asked is why have you filled 99 (no preference) for kashmir and North East ( like your case study of aiims Ranchi)
Honest answer-
1. Instability (desh seva ke sath thodi stability chahie zindagi mey)
2. If given (get a low rank) accept it. But if I get a high rank, then why not stay in a good state.
The board members know this is the reason- yes. Instability.
What to do then. To avoid being honest or not.
Not and cannot give a fixed answers here on a public platform because of a large number of people say the same thing, then that is what creates trouble.
Plus if you do not understand why you should say this, you must not say it.
I also don’t expect it to make sense to everyone except those who have appeared for the interview before, and hence I did not put the video in public domain .
I can tell you that a candidate when asked why he has put North East in the end, simply said
Sir, it is a little far from my home state , and I would prefer to stay closer to home and family.
Both he and his wife are in Punjab Cadre in the IAS.
The point is that such answers as well as such applications are given after being selected also for deputation posting, and is accepted as valid.
I mean let us say you get North East Cadre and want to go for deputation to North India / home state, and if you have to provide a reason , you do write that I would like to spend some time with my parents and family , closer home and is accepted as a valid reason .
On the other hand , if you write something like “Punjab is going through a agrarians crisis and I want to rescue it “ and shit like that , you are likely to be reprimanded and even scolded By Personnel secretary and even will be asked to re-submit your application.
If you have followed the forum, you would remember that one person on being asked by Alka Sirohi board, what were the problems being faced by forest dwellers, he said that ma’am I have never lived outside Delhi and I don’t know the problems faced by forest dwellers , did get good marks in IFoS.
I am not saying that you should repeat what he said, but that is an okay answer too.
Are you on the telegram group?
apko maine telegram pe ping kiya hai 3 din pehle, but yet to get a reply. please try to help as this is my last attempt, and have decided not to write any further. age bhi nikalti ja rahi hai aur ab padhai bhi utni nahi ho pati hai. i will not take much time.
@Vakkoda
contact yo_yo bhai he is handling the telegram group.
Also I recommend that wherever you are taking mocks be it ForumIAS or Chanakya , try to request the people to allow you to observe at least 1-2 candidates by being a mute spectator and sit on the other side of the table.
A lot of it will
Make sense to you.
I have done this with a few candidates.
This makes absolute sense to me. I ve not encountered anything like this in publuc forum. Its a gem.
I ve experienced same thing in other Govt Interview:
1. SSB for Army: Asked why you want to join. Said " Will provide good facilities for the family and good salary plus variety in Job". Result Selected. This was advice given by a very learned person. He said try to segregate your answers and be practical.
2. UPSC CAPF : Why want to join CAPF, he said bcoz there are scarcity of job in Pvt Sector. Selected.
Thanks for putting this video out.
Indian Revenue Service - IT
1. Mail your latest DAF to student@forumias.academy along with other basic details like Name, Roll No. And Your Mobile Number.
2. After this is done very shortly you will receive a link on your ID. (Wait for 1-2 days at maximum)
3. In case it is not received you can ping any admin of the group. Mine profile address is @Yo_Yo_Choti_Singh (on telegram).
Thankyou.
PS- Please follow standard procedure because it was intended for some good reasons only. (1. To keep only those who have actually written mains this year. 2. If possible forumias academy MAY provide some valuable DAF analysis/Questions to people at a later time.) "
An old message from the group.
PS- Many people are sending PM to me. Hence this copy-paste here itself.
" Woods are lovely dark and deep..
But I have promises to keep..
But I have promises to keep..
And miles to go before I sleep.. before I sleep. "
#HumHongeKamyaabEkDin
Instability can occur at any place and at any time. Riots, Violence, Terrorism activities. You never know.
Like J & K and NE, Every place has it's fair share of problems.
If you are saying that instability is the reason for you to not opt these cadres, it may not send a good signal to the board. From coward to biased, opinions can be many.
Instead, like neyawn sir said, you can just say you prefer being near your home state and that you dont have preferences for those states and you will be happy to serve anywhere.
It is requested to please share the other lectures too which were conducted on PT preparations.
If possible they can be offered as a classroom course for the benefit of all the candidates specifically who are working and/or are located outside Delhi.
thanks & regards,
lucki
No, I am not a member of the telegram group! Will do as yo yo choti singh has mentioned.
Interview in April..
1. An interactive guidance session for candidates from Bih-Jhk appearing in CS Interview will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, 10th Feb at 2nd floor meeting room, Bihar Niwas. Senior Civil Servants from Bihar and Jharkhand will be there to guide them & conduct mock interviews also.
2. Interested candidates should WhatsApp their details in the format (Name, Phone No, State, District, Optional, Date of Interview) to Sh Rohit Jha at 99993 80432 or Sh Gannath Jha at 097714 28101 Those in touch with such candidates, may kindly share this message with them.
Regards
Madhukar Anand IRS 2015 , ITS 2014
Would be curious to know who all are organising it