UPSC Interview Tricky Questions and Answers: The purpose of tricky questions asked in UPSC interview is not to trap the candidate, but to test whether you are able to understand and answer the question correctly while remaining calm. Know 5 such tricky questions.
A ship takes 1 hour 30 minutes to go from Delhi to Mumbai, but 90 minutes to come from Mumbai to Delhi. Why so?
Answer: Because 90 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes are the same time. This question is completely based on linguistic and mental confusion. Candidates often start guessing about time direction or distance, whereas in reality the answer to the question is quite straightforward. UPSC here checks that you do not get nervous and start calculating unnecessarily.
If you live in the red house, next to the blue house and next to the green house, then where does the President live?
Answer: In Rashtrapati Bhavan. This question is meant to trap you in colours. Most of the candidates start adding colors to the houses, whereas the President does not live in any colorful house but in Rashtrapati Bhavan. This question tests whether the candidate can ignore non-essential information or not.
What is that thing which never gets wet even if put in water?
Answer: Shadow. This question tests abstract thinking away from material objects. Shadow is not a physical thing, hence water has no effect on it. Through such questions, the board understands whether the candidate has imaginative and logical thinking or not.
Which is the creature that can survive without food for 5 years?
Answer: Scorpion. On hearing this question, most of the candidates start thinking about humans or some big animal. But the metabolism of creatures like scorpions is very slow. According to scientific research, scorpion can survive without food for many years.
Who cannot be given death sentence in India?
Answer: Pregnant woman and mentally disturbed person. This question is not just a trick, but is related to the understanding of the Constitution and human rights. According to Indian law, a pregnant woman is not hanged until the child is born. At the same time, even a mentally ill person is not given death sentence. UPSC tests the legal and ethical understanding of the candidate with this question.