The Right Approach to defend your DAF in Civil Services Interview

DAF corresponds to the Detailed Application Form for UPSC Civil Services Mains exam. A candidate submits a detailed DAF to the UPSC Board before writing the Mains examination. The candidates qualifying the Prelims exams are only eligible to fill the DAF which they further need to defend during the interview if they qualify to appear for the same.

The information furnished in the columns of the DAF offers an opportunity to the Board to interact with the candidate on various aspects of their life and personality. DAF is an essential part of the Civil Services interview process. 

DAF consists of following information about the candidate-

1. Personal details- Name, age, parents name, profession, native place, choice of center for the Mains examination, an optional subject chosen by the candidate.

2. Educational qualifications-  The interview board may ask a number of questions regarding your educational achievements, and educational institutions you have attended. Along with the questions like- Why do you want to join civil services?

3. Employment details- If you have been working earlier, or doing a job at the time of the interview, than the candidate may be asked about the job role and responsibility.

4. Detail of Hobbies- The questions on one’s hobbies are common and can be tricky, so it is best to prepare for this topic carefully. Select hobbies wisely and cautiously and prepare well. 

Also, prepare generic questions on hobbies because it raises curiosity among the board members. 

A candidate can also be questioned on some very fundamental aspects like the meaning of one’s name. Therefore, they should know the meaning of their names. Questions have been asked about the residential place of candidates too.

5. Preference for State- Preferences on cadre is also very important. Things like why have the candidate selected a particular state. So, it is a good idea to have in-depth knowledge about the same such that a candidate is able to answer all the questions related to his/her preference for a particular state.  

6. Order of preference for different services like IAS, IPS, IFS and allied services.

7. Previous details of appearing in the UPSC exam, and the results.

8. IAS/IPS  preference related questions-  One must be careful about choosing cadre preferences. For instance, the candidate must have knowledge and interest in international issues, current challenges in Indian foreign policy if applying for Indian Foreign Services.

The DAF contains personal information regarding a candidate’s caste and religion. However, all the board members are not given this detailed DAF except, for the chairman of the interview board.

Thus, no discrimination is possible against any candidate based on social or religious background. 

Some guidelines for defending your DAF-

1. Don’t wait for the results. Start your preparation well on time. It will require quite a long time to collect information about so many columns you have filled in the DAF.

2. Be honest about what you have to say about your DAF. Only this can make your interview safe and scoring. 

3. The interview board assumes that you have made a conscious choice while revealing your details in the DAF and, hence expect you to defend, analyze and elaborate on every bit of information furnished by you.

4. While answering the questions, candidates must be politically neutral, honest and patriotic. A successful candidate is broad-minded, sensitive to the needs of others and has concern towards weaker sections of the society.

Remember, it is your personality test. The more you are truthful, the more your DAF shows that you are committed and dedicated to whatever you have written (a sign of integrity), the more marks you will fetch.

Wishing You All the Best!!!