UPSC Interview Language, List, Best Language, Advantages, Tips

The UPSC Interview offers candidates the freedom to choose English, Hindi, or any of the 22 scheduled regional languages, ensuring they can communicate in the medium they are most comfortable with. 

Understanding the complete UPSC Interview Language List, knowing how to select the best language for yourself, and being aware of the advantages of choosing a familiar medium can significantly boost your performance. 

A comfortable language helps you stay calm, articulate ideas clearly, and handle follow-up questions confidently. With the right preparation and simple communication strategies, you can perform well in the UPSC Interview 2025 regardless of the language you choose.

UPSC Interview Language

The Personality Test allows candidates to choose the UPSC Interview Language in which they feel most confident and natural while speaking. You can opt for English, Hindi, or any of the 22 scheduled regional languages, and UPSC makes arrangements to conduct the interview accordingly. The purpose of the Personality Test is to assess clarity, confidence, decision-making, and overall suitability for public service, not language proficiency. Choosing a comfortable medium ensures smoother communication and helps you present your thoughts with clarity and ease.

UPSC Interview Language List

UPSC allows candidates to take the interview in English, Hindi, or any of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Candidates are free to choose the language they are most confident in, and UPSC makes arrangements to conduct the interview accordingly. Here is the UPSC Interview Language List.

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Which Language is Best for UPSC Interview

The most suitable language for the UPSC interview is the one in which the candidate can speak naturally and explain their thoughts with confidence. There is no officially recommended or superior language; the panel evaluates clarity, logic and personality, not the medium. 

While many aspirants choose Hindi or English because these are widely used before interview boards, a regional language is equally valid if it helps you express ideas fluently. What truly matters is choosing a language where you feel calm, articulate, and able to respond without hesitation.

• Choose the language in which you are most fluent and can think clearly.
• UPSC does not give preference to Hindi, English, or any regional language.
• Many choose Hindi/English due to wider panel familiarity, but regional languages are equally acceptable.
• Comfort, clarity, and confidence are more important than the language itself.
• Selecting a very uncommon language may pose challenges if the panel lacks members fluent in it.

How to Mention Preferred Language in DAF-II

While filling the DAF-II, you must clearly select the language in which you want to face the UPSC interview 2025. This preference helps UPSC allocate an appropriate interview board, so it is important to choose the language you are most comfortable with and ensure the entry is accurate before final submission.

• Go to the Language Section of DAF-II, where UPSC asks for your preferred medium for the Personality Test.
• Select one language from English, Hindi, or the 22 Eighth Schedule languages listed in the form.
• Ensure your choice matches your comfort level, as last-minute changes are usually not allowed.
• Double-check the entry before submitting the form because UPSC uses it to assign your interview board.
• Avoid choosing a language you are not fluent in, even if it seems popular or advantageous.
• Make sure your mother tongue or known languages mentioned elsewhere in the DAF do not contradict the selected medium.

Advantages of Choosing Your Comfortable Language

Choosing a language you are most comfortable with allows you to speak naturally and focus entirely on the substance of your answers rather than struggling with vocabulary. It creates a smoother interaction with the interview board and helps present your true personality, confidence, and clarity.

• Improved Confidence: You feel more relaxed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows you to speak steadily throughout the interview.
• Smooth Expression of Ideas: You can explain complex topics or personal experiences more clearly without searching for words.
• Better Thought Flow: Thinking and speaking in the same language boosts spontaneity, especially in unexpected follow-up questions.
• Fewer Communication Gaps: The chances of mispronunciation, awkward pauses, or misunderstandings decrease significantly.
• Natural Body Language: When language is not a barrier, your gestures, tone, and expressions become more natural and convincing.
• Stronger Personal Connection: You sound more authentic and genuine, helping the panel understand your personality better.
• Higher Accuracy: You can use correct terms, examples, and explanations without fear of grammatical mistakes or language errors.
• Reduced Stress: Eliminates the extra pressure of performing in a weaker language, allowing you to focus on content over language.
• Better Handling of Situational Questions: Real-life scenarios, ethical dilemmas, and opinion-based questions become easier to tackle.
• Enhanced Overall Performance: Comfort in language directly supports clear, thoughtful, and well-structured answers, the core of a good UPSC interview.

Can You Choose a Different Language for Interview and Mains?

Yes, you can choose different languages for the UPSC Mains and the UPSC interview, as both mediums are treated independently by UPSC. Candidates often write Mains in English or Hindi but choose a regional language for the interview if they feel more confident speaking it. The only exception is for candidates exempted from the compulsory Indian Language paper; such candidates must choose either English or Hindi for the interview.

Is English Compulsory for UPSC Interview?

English is not compulsory for the UPSC Interview 2025, and candidates have full freedom to choose any language from English, Hindi, or the 22 recognized regional languages. The interview board evaluates your clarity of thought, confidence, and personality, not the specific language you speak. Many candidates successfully take the interview in Hindi or their mother tongue without any disadvantage. 

The only exception applies to candidates exempted from the compulsory Indian Language paper, who must choose either English or Hindi for the interview.

Tips to Perform Well Irrespective of UPSC Interview Language

Here are some practical Tips to Perform Well Irrespective of UPSC Interview Language, no matter which language you pick:

• Mock Interviews: Practice with mentors or peers in your chosen language. Record yourself, then replay to spot hesitations or awkward phrasing.
• Build a Vocabulary Bank: Prepare glossaries of important UPSC topics (Polity, Economy, Science) in your interview language. This ensures you don’t get stuck looking for the right word.
• Practice Think-Alouds: Try thinking and responding spontaneously, without planning too much. This simulates real interview conditions.
• Stay Calm and Structured: Use a simple structure in your answers: point, reason, example, and conclusion. This works well in any language.
• Prepare for Mixed Questions: Sometimes the Board may mix languages (e.g., ask a question in Hindi but expect an answer in English or vice-versa). Be ready to switch smoothly if needed.