Aspirants Season 2 | Abhilash’s Mock Interview | All Episodes Streaming On Amazon Prime Video

May I come in, sir? Yes. Please come in.

-Please have a seat. -Good morning, ma'am. -Good morning, sir.

-Good morning. Good morning. -Good morning, ma'am.

-Good morning. -Good morning, sir. -Good morning.

Abhilash, are you comfortable? Yes, sir. You seem nervous.

No, sir. I'm absolutely fine. Thank you very much.

That's great. Abhilash, please introduce yourself to the board members. Sir, my name is Abhilash Sharma.

I was born in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. I even studied till 12th grade in Rewa. I've done B.

Tech from NIT, Bhopal. This is my fifth attempt at UPSC. And it's my first interview.

Which means you exhausted all your attempts in 2013. And now, you are a two-extra-attempts beneficiary. -Right?

-Yes, sir. Don't you think you are indeed very lucky? Or perhaps unlucky?

If you fail again, two more years of yours will go to waste. Which perhaps you could have put to better use. Sir, I wouldn't want to assess this scenario on the basis of my luck.

I just see these two extra attempts as a much more better opportunity. UPSC preparation helps you become a better person and a vigilant citizen whether you're successful in this exam or not. Please explain how failure in the UPSC exam will make you a better person.

Sir, well, I will look at this preparation from the point of view that it is an attempt to understand our society, culture, diversity and our glorious history. This exam has broadened my vision and it has also given a direction to my perspective. I think that in future whichever field I might take up, with these skills, I'll work there with a social, moral, democratic, and sustainable approach.

And I shall try to give the results that would inspire other people too. And hope these values become the basis of all nation-building activities. Meaning you'd certainly be a little disheartened.

And that's quite practical. Sir, I read an anonymous quote that inspires me a lot. Disappointment is like a weapon.

You can either succumb to it and let it kill you or you can fight it and win over hope. This sounds like a violent ideology. And you find it inspiring?

Abhilash. Do you agree or disagree with Gandhiji's ideology? Sir, I agree with Gandhiji's ideology to a great extent.

I am greatly influenced by his ideology of non-violence. Who inspires you more? The anonymous person or Gandhiji?

Sir, Gandhiji. He inspires me more. Alright.

As you say. Are you breathing well, Abhilash? Yes, sir.

I'm breathing well. I'm asking you because of the pollution. A few days back, Delhi's AQI was at a very dangerous level.

What are the reasons for it? Sir, there are many reasons. But vehicular pollution contributes the most.

Besides that, the crop residue burning in NCR and the neighbouring states which is called 'Parali' in the local dialect, that is also considered largely responsible for it. And the third being, factory production and construction activities. Since you are talking about vehicular pollution, France, Mexico and some other nations had practised an odd-even rule to reduce air pollution.

Are you aware of it? A little bit. During the 2008 Olympic Games, China had also implemented the same rule.

Right. What if we implement the same here in Delhi as well? Despite that policy, the AQI of those nations has improved only marginally.

So, in Delhi, this practice alone won't suffice. Then what other ways do you suggest? Sir, we should focus on biofuel.

If necessary, odd-even is a good option. But ethanol-blended fuel can give us a long-term and permanent solution. If we use environment-friendly ethanol-blended fuel in our cars, vehicular pollution can be curbed to a great extent.

The 'Parali' that's usually burnt, we can make second-grade ethanol from it. This way we can gain double the benefit and strengthen our Net Zero Carbon Emission commitment in the world. What will be its energy balance?

Sorry, sir. I'm not aware of this. No?

But how do you calculate energy balance or the formula of EROI? Sir, energy balance. .

. Abhilash, you said you're an engineer but you took history as an option? Well, sir, there are two reasons for choosing this option.

Firstly, I have a keen interest in history. And secondly, I have already studied science. So, history gives me an added advantage as it makes my knowledge more diverse and enriched which makes me a well-read civil servant.

-Okay. That's good. -Yes, sir.

What do you think about the Max Müller Aryan Invasion theory? Sir, I feel and most of the scholars and historians have also proved that Max Müller's theory is fake. It was used by the Britishers to justify the British rule in India and to divide and rule.

The Aryans came to India after the Harappan civilization declined. So, the invasion theory is baseless. Which states that the Aryans came here and mingled with the non-Aryans and the culture that thus got formed due to their integration, that's India's basic culture.

Name some major events in history with a cultural impact on our civilization. There's a very relevant book on this by Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. Which was also praised by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

According to this book, four cultural revolutions took place in our history. First, when the Aryans came to India. Second, the descent of Lord Buddha and Mahavir.

Third, when Islam reached India, and fourth, when Europeans came to India. These events made major impacts on the culture we see today. Okay.

Good. Abhilash, you've mentioned your hobby as befriending intelligent people. Yes, ma'am.

Abhilash, your hobby seems more like your need, your selfishness. Well, no, ma'am. It's not like that.

In fact, I believe. The company one keeps determines the fruits one reaps. A couplet by Rahim.

If my friends are more intelligent than me, I can learn a lot from them. Abhilash, you've extracted a very constricted meaning from this couplet. Rahim talks about good company and not just an intelligent company.

Suppose your own friend believes in this philosophy of yours, then he would never be friends with you. Nobody would be friends with anybody. Ma'am, I beg to differ.

When I say that, I'm actually referring to my constant learning. And this I believe is a positive attitude. Is that so?

Then why should we select you? Shouldn't we select your intelligent friend who's better than you? Definitely.

You should select one who's more intelligent and more deserving. However, they must fulfil certain criteria. Like, all intelligent people may not be necessarily interested only in UPSC.

And if they are, then they may not necessarily make it to the interview. Because intelligence is not the only thing a civil servant should have. Okay.

What else should he have? Ma'am, he should also be compassionate and disciplined. Let's say that there's a riot in your district.

40 people have died till now. At the same time, a friend of yours or a family member meets with a tragedy. Where will you go first?

Ma'am, I'll first go to stop the riots. You didn't even consider your friend? What do you think?

You'll impress me by saying this? That I'll think that you're such a dedicated civil servant. No, ma'am.

I always put my personal relationships after my work. I'll definitely go to stop the riots first. Abhilash, please wait outside.

We'll call you back in some time. How do you find this one? I think he'll get through.

He's just. . .

-Shall we call him for feedback? -Yes. Come, sit down, Abhilash.

Abhilash, before we give you our feedback, I'd like to know that according to you, how do you think your interview went? Sir, I feel it was decent but I could have answered some questions better. Okay.

I liked your body language. Your body movements were neither too less nor more. You were in control.

You have a good grip on the content. There's a futuristic vision in your answers which is a good thing. Yes, you did fumble a bit at the start of the interview.

But thereafter, you gained your composure. You stated several quotes during the entire interview. Out of which one of them was anonymous.

These anonymous quotes have no credibility or authentic source. And while counter-answering them, you got trapped. So, I would advise you to refrain from using anonymous quotes.

Wish you all the best. Thank you, sir. Abhilash, your flow of thoughts is good.

But the panel might see the same as your weakness. Because I didn't feel your answers coming from the heart. They felt quite ready-made and bookish.

-You can work on this. -Okay, sir. Abhilash you have a firm hold on DAF.

And you are also well versed about your region. But you continue to justify your answer. If you don't know, then say it.

Don’t turn around the facts to impress the panel. Don’t try to fool the panel. Ok sir.

Abhilash, you have a good knowledge base. There's clarity in your ideas. But I think you weren't prepared with your hobby.

It felt as though you mentioned your hobby just to fill up the DAF. Your hobby came across as fake. You couldn't justify it properly which is why your personality, it came across as self-centred.

So, I suggest, for the final interview, go prepared with a better answer. During the entire interview, I saw a discord between your words and actions. At times, you get inspired by Mr Anonymous and when you get trapped, you get inspired by Gandhiji.

You said that a civil servant should be compassionate. But I didn't see that in your personality. In the blink of an eye, you said you would go to stop the riots.

You could have thought for a bit and then answered. How would you have managed both your personal tragedy and the riots, you could have concluded your answer based on this. I felt as though you wanted to portray yourself as an idealist.

Abhilash, you have good knowledge. If there's anything that can stop you from clearing the UPSC, it's you yourself. Thank you.

Wish you all the best. Thank you.