Category: Ranker Webinars

Mock Interviews at Civilsdaily form a crucial part of UPSC interview preparation. The quality and diversity of the panel help prepare an aspirant for the actual interview at UPSC. 

Aspirants have benefited greatly from the mock interview and the feedback they get from the panel members after their mock interview. At the same time, we work with the aspirants to improve upon the areas highlighted by the panel.

Upcoming Mock interview and session

This week’s mock interview dates have been fixed.

• Mock interview this week- 27th June onwards(Book your slot)   
• Time: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.  
• Mode: Online and Offline

Interview slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Panelists for Mock Interviews: 

1. Shri Shankar Aggarwal, IAS (retd.)
2. Dr. Noor Mohammad, IAS (retd.)
3. Dr. P.K. Agrawal, IAS (Retd.)
4. Shri T. N. Thakur, IAAS (retd.)
5. Shri V. P. Singh, IRPS
6. Mrs.Aditi Gupta, Corporate Leadership Specialist
7. Prof. U.M. Amin, Jamia Milia University
8. Mr. Himanshu Arora, Economist, JNU, PMEAC 
9. Mr. Kunal Aggarwal, IRS
10. Mr. Debraj Das, IPS

Tentative: Shri Harsh V. Pant (Observer Research Foundation), Shri SN Tripathi, IAS (Director IIPA), Shri Yogesh Narain (Retd. Defence Secretary), Shri Dipankar Gupta (Indian Sociologist), and others.   

Aspirants will also get a personalized DAF-based questionnaire based on extensive research and linkages with the issues of national and international importance.

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DAF questionnaire

Detailed Application Form (DAF) is one of the most important documents that you might have filled for UPSC interviews. A major part of the interview will revolve around the information and details provided in the DAF. It is more than your CV.

Your ability to defend your DAF before the panel is going to decide your success. Anticipating and preparing for the questions based on your DAF is an essential part of the interview preparation.

As a part of Transcend: Interview Guidance Program for UPSC interviews we provide you a personalized and elaborate DAF-based questionnaire.

Fill the form below for DAF questionnaire.

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Important interview topics

• Report of 15th Finance Commission
  • Do you agree with the new criteria defined under Terms of Reference by FC?
  • What are the major challenges being faced by several states?

• Monetisation of deficit
  • What do you understand by Monetisation of Deficit?
  • Is it a Feasible solution for an economy like India?

• Better Relations: Onus on Pakistan
  • What responsibility does India have on this?
  • Does the Onus lie on India’s side also to extend the hands of friendship? 

• Delhi: LG’s role redefined
  • What is the major area of tussles?
  • Do you think such steps might lead to erosion of federation and a spot on elected parties having full-fledged legislature? 

• Reservation: reviewing 50% cap
  • Is this still needed?
  • What can be the other alternatives?

• Regulating Social Media Influencers
  • Why such regulation needed, despite Media being considered as the 4th Pillar of democracy?
  • Spread of Fake News is because of Unaware citizenry? What’s your view on this?
  • What are the other causes?

• Need for Agricultural reforms
  • Is the Farmer Protest right?
  • What is the cause for such unrest? 
  • Why is there such a trust deficit?

• Nota and option of Re-Election
  • Is the option of NOTA effective in Indian Democracy?
  • What can be done then to reduce the money and muscle power? 

• Climate Change and India
  • Why such urgency now? Immediate reasons?
  • What is India’s position in terms of mitigating CC impact? 
  • Why the burden on developing countries? 

 

• Time to implement Uniform Civil Code
  • Do you think UCC is now the need of the hour?
  • Any challenges in its implementation? Why?
  • What is the Constitutional mandate on this?

• India-UK bilateral ties
  • Does Brexit change the equations between India and EU?
  • What major impact can India have after the whole Brexit scenario?

• France: Liberty and fight against terror
  • Debate on secularism and its type?
  • Is India a perfect example for positive secularism? 

• Atma Nirbhar Bharat 3.0
  • Is this Atmanirbharta possible in India?
  • Then why 1991 LPG reforms were brought at the first instance?
  • Where are we lacking exactly?

• Education Sector reforms
  • Will NEP fill all the existing gaps in the Education sector?
  • Is RTE successful in India?
  • Providing education in Mother Tongue- do you find some relevance in it? 
  • Then why so much focus on english medium?

• Empowering women
  • What is the most im[ortant factor for making women really empowered?
  • Will it improve the status of the female population in the country? 
  • What are the main hindrances in empowering this section of society?

• Monetise and Modernise Mantra for PSUs
  • Privatisation or not? Why?
  • Why not improve the existing structure rather than going for privatisation?

• Strengthening our start-up ecosystem
  • Is India ready for a startup ecosystem?
  • Then why do they get merged with MNCs after a few years and why not they themselves striving to become a MNC?
• Raising marriageable age for women
  • Why such notions in India?
  • Will it improve the position of women in families?
  • Do you agree with marrying a woman older than you?

• Emerging Technologies- Global Challenges
  • Why is it creating so much of fuss?
  • A day without INTERNET and COMPUTERS/SMART DEVICES?

• India’s Humanitarian Diplomacy
  • Why so much focus on soft diplomacy?
  • Has it provided any advantage to India in International arena?

• Quad Summit: India’s gain
  • What gains will it bring?
  • Can it be seen as a counter attack on China?

• India’s engagement with Africa
  • What are the stakes for India in Africa?
  • How can India take a stronghold against China there?

• Biden Presidency and India-US ties
  • How will it be different from Trump’s Presidency?
  • Any relief for India?
  • What can be the major challenges? 

• Afghan Peace Talks and India
  • India’s stand on Taliban?
  • Should India change its stand?

• Relations with Nepal in Covid Era
  • We can choose our friends but not our neighbours- its relevance in nepal’s context?

• India’s leadership in Post-Covid world
  • What are the major areas where India should focus first?
  • Can we be able to beat China on any front ?

• India’s Vaccine Diplomacy
  • What is the idea behind this?
  • Is it not Fiscal Imprudence?

• Challenges for India as a global power
  • Major areas of conflicts?
  • How can  India emerge to be a winner on these fronts ?

• India and G7 summit
  • Do you think the invitation has some relevance for India?

• RCEP: Challenges and way forward
  • What could have been the scenario if India would have joined it?
  • Is it a mature step from India’s perspective?

• Cyber security and India’s preparedness 
  • Is India prepared on this front?
  • What are the ethical challenges involved?
  • Need for Responsible technology? How?

• LAC pullback: nothing conceded
  • Where does India stand now after this whole stand-off scenario?
  • Will it bring some respite in the near future?
  • Why do the issues remain unresolved?
  • Can it be considered as a historical mistake?

• Contempt of Court
  • Difference between Civil and Criminal Contempt.
  • Should it be removed?

Any serious UPSC aspirant will tell you that this is one of the most difficult exams in the world. The syllabus is vast, the questions are unpredictable, and the pressure is difficult to bear. Studying for this exam can become overwhelming. And due to the extreme stress of succeeding in this exam, aspirants end up making mistakes that are easily avoidable. 

We know that it is only human to make mistakes but as a UPSC aspirant, can you really afford to?

We spoke to hundreds of candidates who have cracked this exam and are successful civil servants now, and they all revealed that the key to their success was avoiding these 3 extremely common mistakes:

1. Trying To Study Everything – This is a mistake most aspirants make. They try to study everything possible and end up feeling overwhelmed, tired, and confused. Smart aspirants learn from experienced mentors and their peers about what to study and what to avoid. 

Remember: You do not need to study everything! 

2. Studying Alone – When you study alone, you develop only one perspective on any topic. When you speak with your peers, discuss topics with other aspirants, and debate relevant topics, you develop a comprehensive understanding of the subject. This improves your retention abilities and your answers become rich with facts. 

Remember: Learn from your peers, it improves your command on the subject.

3. Being Inconsistent – Most candidates study intensely for a month and then start slacking. They get tired, confused, overwhelmed, and even bored sometimes. And once they start slacking, it becomes very difficult to concentrate again. Successful candidates, however, become a part of groups or clubs that keeps them focused. They don’t study in isolation but join a group that supports them intellectually and motivates them. That’s how they succeed!

Remember: Become a part of a club that supports you, motivates you, and keeps you focused.

These 3 mistakes are easily avoidable and as a serious candidate, you should be focused on finding mentors who can guide you well, finding groups with other serious candidates, and joining clubs that will help you stay on track.

It’s easy to find all of these on Habitat, and once you find them, your preparation will transform overnight! We promise!

Click on the link provided to experience our Mentorship through a free mentorship call and as added bonus you can also get FREE ‘Art of Tikdam’ Handbook by Dr Vipin Garg (UPSC Rank 20) on your registered email.

Prelims can be scary.

The preliminary Stage is the first step to your LBSNAA dream. More than 5 lakh candidates appear for prelims every year. But only 10,000 to 13,000 students make it for Mains. This stage is known for its BRUTAL ELIMINATION.

Many toppers have struggled with prelims !! Even the level of questions in prelims have been raised by UPSC – It is becoming more tricky, less factual, and more conceptual.

WHAT IS THE BEST STRATEGY FOR PRELIMS?

Never forget your basics.

• Revision: Your static syllabus should be revised at least 2-3 times before you sit for your prelims paper. Make no mistake of thinking that only current affairs can help you sail through the examination. The static portion has its own importance, don’t ignore it.
• Attempt UPSC previous year paper: It is a crime if you go for prelims paper without attempting the last 10 years UPSC prelims papers, Period
• Attempt Mock Tests: More mocks means more practice, more revisions, and fewer mistakes on the D – Day.

If you are secure with these basic steps then what’s next?

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO SECURE PRELIMS?

Mentorship: Mentorship can help you prepare more efficiently for prelims. Both 2021 and 2022 students can benefit from Mentorship.

For 2021students, the prelims is within 3.5 months. You still have 1 month, where you can plan and strategize for prelims. Our mentors can gauge your level of preparation, help you with your doubts and suggest the last-minute MUST preparatory tools for prelims.

For 2022 students, it is important that you start on the right path. Get in contact with our mentorship program to take benefits of customized schedule, on-call doubt resolutions, and weekly calls for performance evaluation.

Click on the link provided to experience our Mentorship through a free mentorship call and as added bonus you can also get FREE ‘Art of Tikdam’ Handbook on your registered email.

Tikdam: UPSC is an intelligent test taker. It not only wants to test your comprehension (of syllabus) but also your ability to perform under pressure (& lack of information). How would you solve a “factual” question which gives an illusion of the necessity of “rote-learning”? By ensuring that your core fundamentals are strong and then using the Art of Tikdams to go for the best approximation among the answer choices!

We have been hammering on the importance of logical thinking and the art of Tikdam along with sound preparation as essential ingredients to clear prelims examination for quite some time now.

Make no mistake, this is a GOLDMINE of practical wisdom.

Click on the link provided to experience our Mentorship through a free mentorship call and as added bonus you can also get FREE ‘Art of Tikdam’ Handbook on your registered email.

Art of Tikdam Handbook – Description

This is an advanced level compilation on choicest IAS Prelims questions, penned down by Vipin Garg, AIR 20 (CSE 2015).

These 20 pages contain elaborate expositions on the application of what we at Civilsdaily refer to as TIKDAMS.

With 19 questions & unique explanations using the 3 types of Tikdam approaches, we present to you this unprecedented piece of literature in the history of IAS Prelims Approach Methodology.

Click on the link provided to experience our Mentorship through a free mentorship call and as added bonus you can also get FREE ‘Art of Tikdam’ Handbook by Dr Vipin Garg (UPSC Rank 20) on your registered email.

Prelims can be scary.

The preliminary Stage is the first step to your LBSNAA dream. More than 5 lakh candidates appear for prelims every year. But only 10,000 to 13,000 students make it for Mains. This stage is known for its BRUTAL ELIMINATION.

Many toppers have struggled with prelims !! Even the level of questions in prelims have been raised by UPSC – It is becoming more tricky, less factual, and more conceptual.

WHAT IS THE BEST STRATEGY FOR PRELIMS?

Never forget your basics.

• Revision: Your static syllabus should be revised at least 2-3 times before you sit for your prelims paper. Make no mistake of thinking that only current affairs can help you sail through the examination. The static portion has its own importance, don’t ignore it.
• Attempt UPSC previous year paper: It is a crime if you go for prelims paper without attempting the last 10 years UPSC prelims papers, Period
• Attempt Mock Tests: More mocks means more practice, more revisions, and fewer mistakes on the D – Day.

If you are secure with these basic steps then what’s next?

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO SECURE PRELIMS?

Mentorship: Mentorship can help you prepare more efficiently for prelims. Both 2021 and 2022 students can benefit from Mentorship.

For 2021students, the prelims is within 3.5 months. You still have 1 month, where you can plan and strategize for prelims. Our mentors can gauge your level of preparation, help you with your doubts and suggest the last-minute MUST preparatory tools for prelims.

For 2022 students, it is important that you start on the right path. Get in contact with our mentorship program to take benefits of customized schedule, on-call doubt resolutions, and weekly calls for performance evaluation.

Click on the link provided to experience our Mentorship through a free mentorship call and as added bonus you can also get FREE ‘Art of Tikdam’ Handbook on your registered email.

Tikdam: UPSC is an intelligent test taker. It not only wants to test your comprehension (of syllabus) but also your ability to perform under pressure (& lack of information). How would you solve a “factual” question which gives an illusion of the necessity of “rote-learning”? By ensuring that your core fundamentals are strong and then using the Art of Tikdams to go for the best approximation among the answer choices!

We have been hammering on the importance of logical thinking and the art of Tikdam along with sound preparation as essential ingredients to clear prelims examination for quite some time now.

Make no mistake, this is a GOLDMINE of practical wisdom.

Click on the link provided to experience our Mentorship through a free mentorship call and as added bonus you can also get FREE ‘Art of Tikdam’ Handbook on your registered email.

Art of Tikdam Handbook – Description

This is an advanced level compilation on choicest IAS Prelims questions, penned down by Vipin Garg, AIR 20 (CSE 2015).

These 20 pages contain elaborate expositions on the application of what we at Civilsdaily refer to as TIKDAMS.

With 19 questions & unique explanations using the 3 types of Tikdam approaches, we present to you this unprecedented piece of literature in the history of IAS Prelims Approach Methodology.

Suppose you started reading Laxmikant to prepare for questions on Indian Constitution. 

What do you do? You read through it, answer the questions in the book, and gradually complete the syllabus. 

What do you do next? You pick up mock questions and try solving them. 

While solving the question paper, you realise that you have missed some points. What do you do then? You go back to Lakshmikant and read that chapter again.

Now, this is not a one time thing. Every time you discover that you have missed a concept or cannot solve a particular question, you go back to the book and read it again. Basically, you spend a lot of time reading the same material over and over again without feeling confident that you will definitely solve the questions. Is this the smart way of preparing for your exams or could there be a better way?

And you are not alone. Most of the students do the same thing and waste a lot of time and effort in reading the same things without feeling completely confident about it. Would it not be better if you could spend this time on reading some other material or preparing for your optional subject? Wouldn’t it be better if you read the syllabus once or maybe twice and felt confident about it?

What if we tell you that you can gain absolute mastery over the subject, not only constitution but all of them, without going through the same material multiple times? What if we tell you that there is a better way, a smarter way?

So, what is the smarter way?

We spoke with hundreds of aspirants who have cracked the exam and they revealed the secret that helped them succeed. The secret was ‘discussion.’

In fact, every aspirant who has succeeded will tell you that they engaged with their peers and mentors in numerous discussions to understand the topics comprehensively. Successful aspirants will tell you that they got a comprehensive understanding of the topics by participating in thorough discussions with other aspirants. 

Why do they do this?

Engaging in discussions helped these successful candidates in clearing their doubts. It helped them get a broader perspective on the subject and it helped them find new ways of answering questions without having to read the same material over and over again. 

They learned through conversations!

How can you do the same?

Well, at Habitat, we have highly focused aspirants engaging in thorough discussions on the most relevant topics, everyday. They are guided by experienced mentors who engage in the conversation and keep it concentrated on the topic. We make sure that every aspirant on Habitat learns at their own pace but in an efficient manner. 

The aspirants in our clubs get the following benefits:

• Completion of the syllabus? No problem
• Intense revision? Done
• Detailed discussion? Of course
• Answer writing practice? Yes
• A focused approach to studies? Indeed
• Doubt clearing? Obviously

We make sure that you have everything that you need to succeed! 

All you need to do is give it a shot! So, go ahead and try out one of our clubs. Or just speak with us for free! 

We promise that you will find learning much easier and feel more confident going for your exam.

Click on the link provided to experience our Mentorship through a free mentorship call and as added bonus you can also get FREE ‘Art of Tikdam’ Handbook by Dr Vipin Garg (UPSC Rank 20) on your registered email.

Prelims can be scary.

The preliminary Stage is the first step to your LBSNAA dream. More than 5 lakh candidates appear for prelims every year. But only 10,000 to 13,000 students make it for Mains. This stage is known for its BRUTAL ELIMINATION.

Many toppers have struggled with prelims !! Even the level of questions in prelims have been raised by UPSC – It is becoming more tricky, less factual, and more conceptual.

WHAT IS THE BEST STRATEGY FOR PRELIMS?

Never forget your basics.

• Revision: Your static syllabus should be revised at least 2-3 times before you sit for your prelims paper. Make no mistake of thinking that only current affairs can help you sail through the examination. The static portion has its own importance, don’t ignore it.
• Attempt UPSC previous year paper: It is a crime if you go for prelims paper without attempting the last 10 years UPSC prelims papers, Period
• Attempt Mock Tests: More mocks means more practice, more revisions, and fewer mistakes on the D – Day.

If you are secure with these basic steps then what’s next?

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO SECURE PRELIMS?

Mentorship: Mentorship can help you prepare more efficiently for prelims. Both 2021 and 2022 students can benefit from Mentorship.

For 2021students, the prelims is within 3.5 months. You still have 1 month, where you can plan and strategize for prelims. Our mentors can gauge your level of preparation, help you with your doubts and suggest the last-minute MUST preparatory tools for prelims.

For 2022 students, it is important that you start on the right path. Get in contact with our mentorship program to take benefits of customized schedule, on-call doubt resolutions, and weekly calls for performance evaluation.

Click on the link provided to experience our Mentorship through a free mentorship call and as added bonus you can also get FREE ‘Art of Tikdam’ Handbook on your registered email.

Tikdam: UPSC is an intelligent test taker. It not only wants to test your comprehension (of syllabus) but also your ability to perform under pressure (& lack of information). How would you solve a “factual” question which gives an illusion of the necessity of “rote-learning”? By ensuring that your core fundamentals are strong and then using the Art of Tikdams to go for the best approximation among the answer choices!

We have been hammering on the importance of logical thinking and the art of Tikdam along with sound preparation as essential ingredients to clear prelims examination for quite some time now.

Make no mistake, this is a GOLDMINE of practical wisdom.

Click on the link provided to experience our Mentorship through a free mentorship call and as added bonus you can also get FREE ‘Art of Tikdam’ Handbook on your registered email.

Art of Tikdam Handbook – Description

This is an advanced level compilation on choicest IAS Prelims questions, penned down by Vipin Garg, AIR 20 (CSE 2015).

These 20 pages contain elaborate expositions on the application of what we at Civilsdaily refer to as TIKDAMS.

With 19 questions & unique explanations using the 3 types of Tikdam approaches, we present to you this unprecedented piece of literature in the history of IAS Prelims Approach Methodology.