IBPS RRB Officer Scale-1 Interview experience (Lucknow) |

Hello Everyone!

This is Shivam Tiwari (Terminator on Discus forum). I want to share my interview experience of the RRB Officer Scale 1 that was on 21st January in Lucknow at 1 P.M. I have completed my graduation in Economics from Banaras Hindu University and also the Post Graduation in Economics with specialization in International Business from the same institute. And therefore, I expected from the panel members, some good questions from Economics but I had not expected the ‘mortars’ that they would fire. I won’t go into the process of the document verification and anything else. Everyone knows that. I will come to the interview part directly. So here it is, the whole excerpt of the interview.

There were 5 members in the Panel including two females. M1, M2, M3, F1 and F2.

I entered the room and I forgot to close the door behind me which was, nevertheless, automatic. But they pointed it out.

As I entered the room I was a bit nervous and so I forgot to wish them good afternoon or evening, whatever it should have been. This was a blunder, I think. And then they asked me to sit down. I was uncomfortable that I didn’t wish them. Surely, they would have been the H.R members or some senior officials from the NABARD and they expected at least a good afternoon from a candidate, at least who has come for the post of an Officer. Now, coming to the question-answer round.

M1- So Mr. Tiwari, from where do you hail and from where you have completed your education?

Me- I come from Deoria, a small town near Gorakhpur. I completed my 10th Board from Deoria itself and then I moved to Varanasi for Intermediate education and further studies. I completed my U.G and P.G from BHU and then I seriously started preparing from June 2016 for banking exams.

M1 – Tell me about your percentage starting from 10th onwards.

Me- I scored 86.8% in 10th Board from an ICSE affiliated school in Deoria. I scored 89.8% in class 12th from a CBSE affiliated school in Varanasi and I had Mathematics and Science in 12th and was a topper in my school with a merit holder in Chemistry (95 marks) and English (95 marks). I scored 71.8% in Graduation with subjects like Economics, Mathematics and Statistics ( I’ve honours in Economics). I scored 67.5% marks in Post Graduation from BHU itself.

M2- So Shivam, tell me what are Zaid crops and when it is produced? Also, name some crops.

Me- Zaid crops are seasonal crops that are sown in March and are harvested in June. Muskmelon and Watermelon are some of the Zaid crops.

M1 – Is gram a kharif or zaid crop?

Me-( I got a bit confused in pulses) Since all the pulses are sown in Kharif season and so I answered that it is Kharif and then M1 pointed out that nowadays you can see gram being sold in the market and then I told him Gram is a Rabi crop.

M3- Tell me what is money laundering and how does it affects the economy?

Me – Money laundering can be termed as an illegal transfer of money to and from abroad through illegal agents. It is done for tax evasion. It’s effect on the economy is very straight forward. Since it is done to evade the tax levied on the huge funds that are transferred through the backdoor, the economy is at a loss of revenue which could have been generated through that. They were satisfied.

M2- What is Balance of Trade and what is better, a positive Bot or a negative BoT?

Me- Balance of Trade is the difference between the imports and the exports of a country. If the imports are higher than the exports then there is trade deficit or a negative BoT while if the exports are higher than the imports then there is a trade surplus or a positive BoT. Certainly and visibly, the Trade surplus or positive BoT is better for the economy. It is so because if exports are on rise, it means the manufacturing sector is in boom and thus employment is on the rise and hence income level also is rising and thus, prosperity all over. They were more than happy.

M3- What is deficit financing?

Me- Sorry sir, I am not able to recall that term. (For readers – When the government spends more than what it earns i.e when the revenue of the government is less than its expenditure then the government, to match up both the sides, borrows funds and this is deficit financing. The financing of the debt. As simple as that but I wasn’t able to recall.

M1- What are the different ways in which the government is helping the farmers in India?

Me- The government helps the farmers in a lot of ways. It provides subsidised electricity and subsidised manure and seeds. Also, when there is a drought or flood, the government waives off their loan and provide them with cereals and grain for consumption. There are also various insurance schemes for farmers. A helpline number has also been launched for the farmers so that they may ask any query regarding sowing of crops.

M2- What are the other ways, the allied sectors in which the government is helping the farmers apart from agriculture?

Me-The government helps farmers to locate the mandis where they can get a good amount for their produce.

M2 intervened and told me I was not answering correctly. He himself then told me that Poultry farm, Pig farm and dairy are allied sectors in agriculture in which government is helping.

M1- Now the last question for you Shivam. Tell me, how the election of President Trump will affect the Global trade? Will the world trade contract or expand?

(This was a very complicated and politically motivated question and I was a bit apprehensive whether they would be Right wing or Left oriented but keeping the policies of Trump in my mind, I answered)

Me- From the time when Trump started his campaign he had only one motive, ‘Let’s build America great again’ and for that, he wanted to cut all the outflow of talent and labour so that the American companies may get the stronghold. He also wanted to wage a trade war with China and since both, China and U.S.A are central players in world trade, the trade war would drastically affect the world trade and it would certainly contract. Moreover, Trump would definitely cut the Pacific Trade deal and also look cautiously on the NAFTA ( North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement) and hence, it is certain that it is going to affect the global trade in a negative way! And they were visibly happy with my answer.

Thank You.

Thankyou and all the best