How to avoid rejection in UPSC interview?

UPSC has three levels of examination- Prelims, Mains and Interview. All the levels have equal importance. Prelims is a qualifying exam for Mains. When a candidate cracked both Prelims and Mains  exam, they called for an Interview. Interview is the final and the most important stage of the UPSC examination. Candidates have to prepare for the interview. Interview call is not a guarantee of success in UPSC. Many candidates got success in Prelims Test Series 2022 and Mains but failed in Interview.

There are some common mistakes which candidates do while going for  Interview.

Here, in this article we will discuss how to avoid rejection in UPSC interviews.

1. Never lie to any question

Never lie to any question asked by the interviewer. All the members of the interview panel are experienced enough to tackle the situation. Candidates can be trapped in their lie. So, avoid the situation that can embarrass you in front of the interviewer. Always give the right information in front of the interview panel. 

2. Don’t get anxious

Don’t get anxious during the interview. If you feel anxious, you can not give proper answers. So, keep yourself calm and listen to the questions properly to get good marks and avoid rejection.

3. Be prepared for the interview after Mains exam

Don’t stop your preparation after mains exams. You have to be prepared for the interview. Current affairs preparation can not be stopped till the interview. Interviewer can ask about trending news also. So be prepared for the interview.

4. Read newspaper regularly

If you want to be a civil servant, you should know what is happening around you. The best source of keeping yourself updated is reading the newspaper. Make it a habit of reading the newspaper regularly. It’s the best source for preparing current affairs. 

5. Don’t pretend what you are not

The UPSC interview is all about showing your real personality. Interviewer wants to see the real you. Don’t pretend anything that you are not. Don’t show them your fake personality. The panel is experienced. They will catch you.

6. Don’t argue with interviewer

The panel wants to discuss everything to know your personality. They want to check your intelligence and knowledge. They can give you a topic to check your leadership qualities. You should answer the question calmly and patiently. Don’t take it to the level of argument. Maybe they tested your patience also. So, be calm and composed during the interview.

7. Don’t be late

Don’t be late for the interview. Reach at least 30 minute before the interview. If you are traveling from another city, keep the time margin in your mind. Reaching late for the interview can put a negative impression on the panel.

8. Be a good listener

Listening is a good habit. Be a good listener. When the interviewer asks something, don’t get excited and answer. You must listen to the question properly before answering. Haste makes waste.

9. Body language

The panel observes your body language. Sit properly and ask for permission before sitting or leaving the room. Your body language reflects your real personality. Sit straight but not in a way that looks uncomfortable.

10. Focus on communication skills

Communication skills reflect your personality traits. Good communication skills show your confidence level and command over the topic. UPSC conducts Interviews to evaluate your personality and confidence level. Being an IAS officer these two things are very important apart from knowledge. To reflect the positive side of personality and confidence level you must focus on your communication skills. Language can be at your choice. It may be Hindi or English or any other regional language as you prefer. It doesn’t matter about language, it’s all about your communication skills. A regular practice over communication skills can sharpen your communication skills. You may take separate sessions from experts for communication skills if needed.     

11. Speak clearly

Speak clearly during the interview. Organize your thoughts, facts, and opinions before speaking. Put your thoughts into a sentence then present before the panel. Blabbering during an interview will represent your lack of knowledge.

12. Wear decent attire

Your attire should be decent. Don’t wear any shiny or bright colour clothes. Your physical appearance reflects your personality. Wear formals for the interview. Your dress should be neat and clean.

13. Don’t criticize

If you want to be a civil servant, it’s important to respect your country and government. Stay away from politics in any discussion and keep yourself away from the criticism.

14. Don’t give negative comments 

Try not to give any negative comments on the basis of race and religion. Always think before answering. The panel can ask tricky questions to observe your patience. Don’t get angry and avoid giving hasty responses otherwise it will leave a negative impression.

15. Be confident

Be confident during the interview. Your confidence is the important thing which can impress the panel. When You answer confidently, the panel takes interest in listening. Sometimes a candidate knows the answer but he/she can not deliver it properly. Lack of confidence shows your weak personality. So have faith in knowledge and be confident.

Interview is the final step for UPSC IAS selection procedure. It seems to be easy to clear but never underestimate the interview round. While preparing you may find dozens of aspirants who cleared mains multiple times but were rejected in interview. So be careful about the interview. Only serious preparation for the interview would help you to clear the interview round. You can join coaching for mock interviews. There are many coachings for UPSC exam preparation. In my opinion Legacy IAS Academy Bangalore is the Best IAS Academy in Bangalore. They have separated batches for interview preparation. By following the above tips, you can avoid rejection in UPSC interviews.