UPSC Personality Test (Interview Stage)
The final and most decisive stage of the Civil Services Examination, designed to assess the overall personality and suitability of a candidate for public service.
What is the Personality Test?
The third and final stage of the Exam is the Personality Test. The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of the candidate’s career. The candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest.
The object of the Interview/Personality Test is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers.
What Does the Interview Assess?
The Interview/Personality Test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only intellectual qualities but also social traits and interest in current affairs.
Mental Alertness
Balance of Judgement
Clear & Logical Expression
Social Cohesion & Leadership
Depth & Variety of Interest
Intellectual & Moral Integrity
What UPSC Assesses in the Personality Test
The Personality Test is not about bookish knowledge. It evaluates the candidate’s mindset, judgement, communication, and suitability for leadership in public service.
Mental Alertness
Presence of mind, awareness, and ability to respond calmly under pressure.Balanced Judgement
Ability to analyze issues from multiple dimensions and give balanced opinions.Communication Skills
Clear, logical, and confident expression of thoughts without aggression.Leadership & Social Traits
Ability to work with people, lead teams, and understand social realities.Depth of Interest
Genuine curiosity about national, international, and societal issues.Integrity & Ethics
Honesty, moral courage, and ethical reasoning in decision making.Nature of the Interview
The technique of the Interview/Personality Test is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.
The Interview is not intended to be a test either of specialized or general knowledge already tested through written papers. Candidates are expected to have an intelligent interest in events happening around them, both nationally and globally.
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