UPSC Interview Guidance Programme (IGP) 2026

The UPSC Interview Guidance Programme (IGP) 2026 by Vajiram & Ravi is a structured, comprehensive, and result-oriented initiative aimed at guiding aspirants for the Personality Test (Interview Stage) of the Civil Services Examination (CSE). The Interview, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), is the final and most crucial stage in the selection process, as it plays a decisive role in determining the candidate’s final rank and cadre allocation.

Understanding the UPSC Interview

The UPSC Interview, or the Personality Test, is not merely a test of knowledge but an evaluation of the candidate’s personality, composure, mental alertness, decisiveness and suitability for a career in public service. It assesses qualities such as:

• Mental alertness and presence of mind
• Critical powers of assimilation
• Clear and logical expression
• Balance of judgment and moral integrity
• Variety and depth of interests
• Leadership and social cohesion

The objective is to judge the candidate’s mental calibre and overall personality - assessing not only intellectual qualities but also social traits, ethical reasoning, and sensitivity to public issues.

Programme Commencement and Duration

The Vajiram & Ravi Interview Guidance Programme 2026 will commence from 11 November 2026 and will last till the last day of Interview of UPSC CSE 2026. The duration of the programme will extend for about 3.5 months including mock interviews, one-to-one sessions and the designated classes to be conducted for the benefit of students.

Programme Components

1. One-to-One DAF 2 (Detailed Application Form) Discussion and Guidance

The programme will include a special session spanning approximately 30 minutes with an experienced faculty of Vajiram and Ravi guiding the students in a detailed format about the questionnaire, the detailings and the right filling of DAF-II. This session is intended to generate questions and give an overview to the candidate about what kind of things can be asked in the interview to that particular student. Also it gives the direction for preparation to the student in the coming months.

2. Mock Interview Sessions

The Mock Interview simulates the actual UPSC Interview environment to give aspirants a realistic experience of the Personality Test.

• Duration: 30 to 35 minutes, depending on the panel’s
• One full-length mock interview is included in the programme, conducted before an expert panel of retired civil servants and subject experts.
• A second mock interview may be scheduled upon the candidate’s request, based on feedback and improvement needs.

The interview questions are designed to cover:

• Personal background, hobbies, and interests
• Academic and professional profile
• Optional subject
• Current affairs, national and international issues
• State-specific and socio-economic topics
• Situation-based and opinion-based questions

3. Exclusive Lecture Series

The programme includes five thematic lectures by expert faculty members, focusing on:

• Contemporary issues of national and international importance
• Ethical, social, and administrative perspectives
• Topics that carry significant weightage in the UPSC Interview

These lectures aim to provide candidates with a holistic understanding of critical issues and strengthen their articulation for diverse interview questions.

4. Personalized One-on-One Guidance

A unique feature of the IGP 2026 is the personalized mentoring session, providing individual guidance and strategic feedback on communication, personality projection, and overall interview readiness.

This interaction has played a pivotal role in shaping the confidence and performance of many successful candidates over the years.

5. Questionnaire on State Specific Questions and Hobbies and Interest

The team at Vajiram and Ravi will also be supplying regularly the updates on current affairs along with questionnaires on state which will be specific and subjective to students to help them know and prepare more about the questions that they can expect from their state. These questions will generally include the substantial amount of debates happening in their states on contemporary issues and also the current affairs that have happened in the last 1 to 1.5 years. These questions mark a very important component in the original UPSC interview as a good part of the questionnaire has been seen coming from the state of the specific candidate itself.

Expert Mock Interview Panel

The IGP 2026 Mock Interview Panel comprises distinguished former civil servants, diplomats, and academicians who bring decades of governance and mentoring experience. The panel members include:

• Mr. Farooqui, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary to the Government of India
• Mr. Sanjay Shrivastava, IAS (Retd.)
• Mr. Shankar Agarwal, IAS (Retd.)
• Mr. K J Chaudhary, Former Chief Commissioner of GST (Retd.)
• Mr. Manoj Pant, IFoS (Retd.)
• Mr. Mahesh Sachdev, IFS (Retd.) and many other serving and retired bureaucrats.

Benefits of the Programme

• Authentic Simulation: Experience the actual UPSC interview setting under realistic
• Comprehensive Feedback: Expert guidance on body language, tone, articulation, and thought structure.
• Knowledge Integration: Reinforce subject understanding with contemporary awareness.
• Confidence Building: Reduce stress and anxiety through repeated exposure and constructive feedback.
• Behavioral Refinement: Develop balanced judgment, emotional intelligence, and communication effectiveness.

Programme Fee

• 600 (Inclusive of all taxes)
• Free for Vajiram & Ravi students enrolled in any General Studies course (proof of enrollment required).

Scheduling and Contact Details

For Offline Mock Interviews:

• Register through the Vajiram & Ravi Office (New Delhi) at 1-B/7,Pusa Road, Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi - 110060

For Online Mock Interviews:

• Email: Write to [email protected] with your preferred interview date and session (forenoon or afternoon) to enquire about registration and scheduling.
• Phone: Contact the experts at 080-6220-6330 for further details and registration assistance.
• Telegram: Connect through the official Vajiram & Ravi Telegram channel for updates and information about online mock interviews.

The Vajiram & Ravi Interview Guidance Programme 2026 is a holistic preparation platform that goes beyond conventional mock interviews. It integrates structured evaluation, expert mentorship, and behavioural development - ensuring that every aspirant enters the UPSC Interview Room with confidence, clarity, and composure.

Through personalized guidance, simulated interview environments, and insightful feedback, the programme aims to help aspirants convert their hard-earned written scores into final selection success - marking the final step toward becoming a civil servant.

Key Figures

• Total vacancies: 1,087
• PwBD vacancies: 42
• Category-wise breakup: SC 158, ST 73, OBC 306, EWS 104, UR 446

Service-Wise Highlights

Here are some of the service-specific figures from the table:

• IAS – 180 vacancies (SC 28, ST 13, OBC 47, EWS 18, UR 74) with PwBD 7
• IFS – 55 vacancies (SC 8, ST 4, OBC 15, EWS 6, UR 22) with PwBD 2
• IPS – 150 vacancies (SC 22, ST 11, OBC 42, EWS 15, UR 60) with PwBD 0
• IRS (C&IT) – 96 vacancies (SC 14, ST 7, OBC 25, EWS 9, UR 41) with PwBD 6
• And so on across other services like ICAS, IDAS, IP&TAFS, IRAS, etc.