General knowledge/current affairs

• The IO expects you to be aware of the pulse of your surroundings. In this context, the following tips might help you in the preparation for the interview:

• Brush up your general knowledge on both national as well as international events.  For this, you must go through magazines, newspapers, periodicals etc. Concentrate on getting an insight into the events that were in news in the last six months.

• The effort should be to try and fathom all events that have been in news. 

•        For example:  (1) If the imposition of the President’s rule in a state was in news, then you should know the constitutional provisions of the country, previous instances when the provision was used, arguments for and against the provision and your own views on it. (2) Similarly if terrorism in J&K has been in news, they you should have definite views on the genesis, history and development of terrorism in that state and also on cross border terrorism.  Your views should be formulated based on facts and not assumptions.  (3)  If the crash of stock market was in news, then you can expect questions on the dynamics of the stock market, reasons for the crash, role of regulatory bodies and corrective measures that need to be taken.

• An in-depth knowledge of the following topics might help you crack an interview:-

Your home town / your state  / Events that have a direct/indirect link to either your field of study/specialization or your profession  / Events that have been in the news in recent past / Recent controversies that have generated hype / political debate and issues / Burning national issues like population, poverty, development programmes, education, disinvestments and privatization, world trade talks, terrorism, insurgency and extremism / International events in news like – war in Iraq, role of US, UN etc., the Middle East crisis, Afghan War, Taliban and Al-Qaida,ISIS, North Korea Problem, future of the UN / Economic issues (both national and international) like growth of Indian Economy, the issue of disinvestment, FDI,WTO meet Trade Talks etc.,

• A word of caution: Your views must be based on correct facts as any incorrect statement might put you in an embarrassing situation.