20 potential interview questions for an Agriculture-based MBA (ABM) program, inspired by the shared experiences below:
1. Personal Background and Motivation
- Tell us about yourself.
- Why do you want to pursue an MBA in Agriculture Business Management (ABM)?
- How does your academic background or work experience align with ABM?
- Why not a general MBA instead of ABM?
- What inspired you to work in the agriculture or rural development sector?
2. Agriculture and Rural Development
- What are the major challenges faced by Indian farmers today, and how would you address them?
- What do you know about contract farming and its role in improving agriculture?
- What steps can be taken to reduce farmer suicides in India?
- How can technology be integrated into agriculture to increase efficiency and yield?
- What role does the supply chain play in agribusiness, and how can it be improved?
3. Sector Knowledge
- Explain the concept of agri-warehousing and its importance.
- How do Negotiable Warehouse Receipts work, and why are they useful in agri-finance?
- What are genetically modified (GM) crops? Why are they controversial in India?
- What is the significance of GI (Geographical Indication) tags in agriculture? Can you name three GI products?
- What are the environmental challenges associated with dams and large-scale irrigation systems?
4. Marketing and Business Strategy
- How would you market a product like makhana or saffron in a region where it is not commonly consumed?
- What steps would you take as the marketing manager of a company dealing with an agricultural crisis (e.g., pesticide misuse)?
- What strategies would you suggest to promote Indian agricultural products in global markets?
- How would you deal with competition from unorganized sectors in agribusiness?
- If you were the Agriculture Minister, what three changes would you implement to improve the sector?
These questions cover personal motivation, sector knowledge, and business strategies, providing a solid foundation for ABM interview preparation.
10 key takeaways from the six interview experiences shared above:
1. Be Thoroughly Prepared with Your Background and Interests
- Clearly articulate your academic background, work experience, and career aspirations. Be ready to discuss your region, its specialties (e.g., litchi, makhana), and your hobbies.
- Personalize your introduction to include unique aspects of your life that align with the program (e.g., interest in agribusiness, field experience).
2. Handle Unfamiliar Questions with Composure
- Stay calm when faced with unexpected or unfamiliar questions (e.g., marketing makhana in South India, farm laws, or technical queries about tractors).
- If you don’t know the answer, admit it honestly and focus on how you can learn more in the future.
3. Demonstrate a Clear Understanding of Sector-Specific Topics
- Be prepared to discuss agriculture and rural development issues, such as supply chains, irrigation, warehousing, farm laws, and crop yield.
- Show awareness of current events, policies, and innovations in agriculture (e.g., GI tags, farm laws, GM crops, hop shoots).
4. Build a Strong Connection Between Work Experience and MBA Goals
- Highlight how your work experience (e.g., field visits, product management) has given you insights into rural markets and farmer challenges.
- Show how these experiences motivate your desire to contribute to agribusiness management.
5. Address Hypothetical and Policy Questions Strategically
- For questions like “What would you do as Agriculture Minister?” or “How would you market a product in a new region?”, focus on practical, research-backed, and actionable solutions.
- Emphasize systemic improvements (e.g., better resource distribution, increasing access to technology).
6. Exhibit Knowledge of Basic Concepts and Technical Expertise
- Revise core concepts in your field (e.g., farm machinery, agri-finance, statistics) and know their practical applications.
- Examples: Center of mass in tractors, mode in rice tillers, or environmental problems with dams.
7. Showcase a Balanced View on Controversial Topics
- Present a well-rounded opinion on issues like demonetization, MSP, or GM crops.
- Back your statements with logical reasoning and examples while acknowledging potential counterpoints.
8. Pay Attention to Details in Written Assessments (AWT/GD)
- For AWTs or GD summaries, include:
- Key points of discussion.
- Group conclusions or alternative perspectives.
- Logical assumptions, supporting/counter-statements, and your opinion.
9. Be Ready to Discuss Post-MBA Goals
- Have clarity on the roles or sectors you want to explore post-MBA (e.g., supply chain management, agripreneurship, or consulting).
- If unsure, emphasize your eagerness to learn and align with the program’s offerings.
10. Confidence, Honesty, and Positivity Matter
- Maintain a polite, confident demeanor even under pressure or when questioned critically.
- If the panel disagrees or challenges you, stay calm, explain your reasoning, and accept feedback gracefully.
- End the interview on a positive note, showing enthusiasm for the program and appreciation for the panel’s time.
These takeaways collectively highlight the importance of preparation, adaptability, and structured thinking in successfully handling interviews for agriculture and food business management programs.
ABM Experience 1
Venue: India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
CAT Score: 96.95
Profile: 95/81/71 (10th/12th/Graduation percentages)
Background: Economics (Hons.), Fresher, still in college
AWT (Analytical Writing Test):
Topic: Companies producing harmful products for society (like cigarettes and liquor) adopt CSR policies. To what extent is this justified?
I wrote a logical response in the given 30 minutes but lacked factual knowledge of CSR. My arguments were based solely on reasoning, which I think was decent but could have been better with specific examples or data.
Personal Interview (PI):
Panel:
- M: Male professor (intimidating, challenging tone)
- F: Female alumnus (calm and observant)
Interview Highlights:
- Ice-breaker:
- M: “So, Vijay Mallya must be looking for you.”
- I was confused, but then he joked about my AWT response, where I mentioned the utility of alcohol in cold countries.
- M: “Where did you research this?”
- Me: “Sir, I read it somewhere.”
- M: “Good research.”
- (I wasn’t sure if he was sarcastic but thanked him anyway.)
- Why FABM?
- M: “You’re pursuing Economics. Why do you want to join FABM?”
- Me: “Sir, I come from an agricultural background. My father is a farmer, and I’ve noticed several challenges in agriculture that I want to address.”
- M: “Don’t give me this crap. Tell me the real reason.”
- (I was caught off-guard but reiterated my point.)
- M: “What challenges have you identified?”
- Me: (Discussed issues like high population density, unprofitable small-scale farming, migration of laborers, and lack of motivation for farming.)
- M: “So, you’ll organize all of that?”
- Me: “Not immediately, sir, but after gaining business knowledge from my MBA.”
- Agricultural Background:
- M: “Where are you from?”
- Me: “Sheikhpura, Bihar.”
- M: “How much land do you have?”
- Me: “Five bighas.”
- M: “What crops do you grow?”
- Me: “Rice, wheat, and pulses.”
- M: “What pulses specifically?”
- (I panicked and couldn’t recall the English word for चना (gram).)
- M: “See, you haven’t even visited your village.”
- Me: “Sir, I have. I just can’t recall the word right now.”
- Soil and Geography:
- M: “What soil is good for pulses?”
- Me: “Alluvial soil.”
- M: “That’s good for everything. Be specific.”
- (He looked up the soil type for Sheikhpura on his tablet and challenged me further.)
- Non-Political Personalities from Bihar:
- M: “Name four non-political personalities from Bihar after independence.”
- Me: Named Rajendra Prasad, Vashisht Narayan Singh, and Kirti Azad.
- M: “Kirti Azad is political.”
- Me: Explained his role in the 1983 cricket team.
- Economics Questions:
- M: “You’re an economist. Draw the monopoly profit graph.”
- (I was panicking and fumbled the graph completely.)
- M: “Why doesn’t monopoly have a supply curve?”
- Me: “Sir, I’m unable to recall right now.”
- M: “When is monopoly profitable?”
- Me: “When fixed costs are high.”
- M: “Example?”
- Me: “Telecom sector.”
- M: “That’s wrong. Telecom has many players. Why haven’t you questioned your teacher?”
- Role of Agriculture in Economics:
- F: “What’s the role of agriculture in economics?”
- Me: “It plays a key role in the transition from developing to developed economies, moving from agro-based to manufacturing and services sectors.”
End:
- M: “Okay, Avinash, we’re done. Have a candy and you can go.”
- I thanked them and left.
ABM Experience 2
GD-WAT:
- Case Analysis:
- 10 minutes for analyzing the case, followed by 10 minutes of group discussion.
- Focused on contributing meaningfully, keeping my points concise and relevant.
- WAT (Written Ability Test):
- 10 minutes for essay writing on the given topic.
- Emphasized structuring the essay well, providing logical arguments, and concluding effectively.
Personal Interview (PI)
Panel:
- P1: Male panelist (~35 years old)
- P2: Female panelist (~35 years old)
Key Highlights:
1. Ice-breaker:
- P1: “From where are you coming?”
- I: “Hisar, Haryana.”
- P1: “What is famous in Haryana?”
- I: “Sports, the army, and agriculture.”
2. Sports & NCC Background:
- P2: “Do you play anything?”
- I: “I usually play basketball.”
- P2: “Army?”
- I: “I’m an NCC cadet and have a ‘C’ certificate.”
- P2: “So, will you try for the SSB of the army?”
- I: “Joining NCC was because of my interest in diversified learning. I don’t want to join the army.”
- Both: “Why not?”
- I: “The Indian Army is one of the best in the world and is performing well. The sector that needs me more is agriculture and rural development, where conditions are worse.”
(Both nodded, seemingly agreeing.)
3. Interest in Agripreneurship:
- P2: “What will you do in that sector?”
- I: “I aim to become an agripreneur.”
- P2: “Which sector?”
- I: “Vegetable processing.”
- P1: “How will you do this?”
- I: “Through contract farming. I will buy directly from farmers and sell in the market, ensuring farmers receive better prices than they do now.”
(Explained further, including eliminating middlemen.)
4. Current Problems in Agriculture:
- P2: “What’s the problem now?”
- I: “The middleman. For example, potatoes sell at ₹5/kg from farmers, but retail at ₹12. Farmers only earn ₹2, while middlemen get ₹7.”
- P2: “Suppose a farmer produces at ₹2/kg and sells at ₹3/kg. What’s the profit?”
- I: “Thirty—fifty percent profit.”
- P1: “If the farmer has ₹2 lakh?”
- I: “He will get ₹3 lakh.”
- P2: “If he deposits it in a bank at 10%, how much will he earn in a season?”
- I: “₹8,000–10,000.”
(Both laughed but asked for clarification.) - I: “₹20,000 interest annually, so around ₹10,000 for six months.”
(Both smiled and nodded.)
5. Entrepreneurship & Contract Farming:
- Discussed the benefits of entrepreneurship and contract farming.
- Gave the example of Patanjali’s low-priced honey as a successful model.
6. Comparison of Honey Brands:
- P1: “What’s the difference between Patanjali and Dabur honey?”
- I: (Explained the differences in beekeeping methods and the purity of honey, highlighting key points.)
(They seemed impressed.) - P2: “Now we know the difference and will take better care of our health.” (Both laughed.)
7. Free Time & Interests:
- P1: “What do you do in your free time?”
- I: “Basketball and apiculture.”
(A friendly discussion on beekeeping followed.)
8. Connection at IIM Ahmedabad:
- P1: “Do you know anyone at IIMA?”
- I: “Yes, sir.”
- P1: (Mentions a friend’s name.)
- I: “Yes, sir. He was guiding me throughout my preparations.”
Closing:
- P1: “Do you have any questions for us?”
- I: “No, sir. Thank you very much.”
- (Left with a smile.)
ABM Experience 3
GD-WAT:
- Duration:
- 10 minutes for case reading, 10 minutes for group discussion, and 10 minutes for summary writing (200–300 words).
- Case Topic:
A beverage company’s Kola drink was under scrutiny for exceeding permissible acid levels set by foreign authorities. In India, no such limits existed, but the high acidity led to health issues among children. You are the Marketing Manager, currently on leave as your daughter might be ill due to the same drink. On rejoining, how would you handle this crisis, and what would be your plan of action?
Experience:
All candidates were divided into two groups. I was in the second group. The discussion was structured and engaging, where I focused on providing logical solutions such as recalling the product, collaborating with regulatory bodies, and improving transparency. Summary writing emphasized the key points discussed during the GD.
Personal Interview (PI):
Panel:
- P1: Male panelist (~35 years old).
- P2: Female panelist (~35 years old).
Duration: 30–35 minutes
Key Highlights:
1. Personal Details:
- P1: “Your name is Poonam on the form, but in your resume, it’s Poonam Heda. Why?”
- I: “Sir, it’s a discrepancy in my 10th certificate. For academic purposes, I use ‘Poonam,’ but otherwise, I go by ‘Poonam Heda.’”
2. Final Year Project:
- P1: “What is your final year project?”
- I: (Explained briefly) Shared its application in the food industry, why it is better than existing technologies, and its potential applications.
- (Discussion moved to an underutilized traditional fruit of Meghalaya used in my project.)
- P1: “What procedures and principles are used in cold pressing?”
- I: Answered based on my summer internship knowledge but admitted I wasn’t entirely familiar with it.
3. Knowledge of Food Companies:
- P1: “Can you name five food companies?”
- I: “Amul, Britannia, Nestle, ITC, Perfetti Van Melle, Milk Mantra, MTR Foods, etc.”
- P2: “Is Amul an Indian or international company? Tell us about its history.”
- I: (Confidently answered about Amul’s history and cooperative structure.)
- P2: “What about Britannia? Isn’t it a foreign company?”
- I: “No, it’s an Indian company headquartered in Kolkata.”
- P1: “What about Nestle?”
- I: (Explained that Nestle is not Indian and shared its Swiss origins and global presence.)
4. Placement & Career Aspirations:
- P1: “Which company are you placed in?”
- I: “Skaipal Consulting.”
- P1: “Why not a food company?”
- I: Explained that food companies offered technical roles (e.g., quality analysis, control), but I was more interested in managerial roles, which were scarce for female candidates.
- P1: “Why analytics and consulting?”
- I: (Explained my interest in problem-solving and backed it with examples from my previous work experience.)
- P2: “What do analytics companies do? What will be your role?”
- I: (Gave a general explanation but realized they were unconvinced.)
- P2: “Will you be able to handle the job? How can you be sure?”
- (Somehow convinced them but struggled with in-depth analytics-related questions.)
5. Statistics & Academics:
- P2: “Do you know the difference between mean, median, and mode? Where are they used?”
- I: Answered basic questions correctly but admitted my limited knowledge beyond that.
- P2: (Checked my grades and noted a backlog in Mathematics IV.)
- I: Explained that the backlog was unrelated to statistics and that I performed well in Maths II and III, which included statistics.
6. Rural Background & Agricultural Knowledge:
- P2: “This course focuses on Food and Agri-Business Management. Do you have any agricultural knowledge or rural experience?”
- I: Shared my childhood experiences in a village and how I regularly visit my family there.
- P2: “Will you be able to live in a rural area as part of the program?”
- I: “Yes, sir!” (Shared examples of my adaptability.)
7. General Questions:
- P1: “Where are you from?”
- I: “Akola, Maharashtra.”
- P1: “What is Akola famous for?”
- I: “Oranges, cotton, sugarcane, and related industries.”
- P1: “How did you manage all the achievements mentioned in your resume?”
- I: (Explained confidently, with a touch of self-appreciation.)
Closing:
- P1: “Okay, thank you, Poonam. You may leave now.”
- (No toffees or cookies were offered.)
ABM Experience 4
Panel Details:
- Candidate: Agricultural Engineering Fresher
- Panel: 2 Male Professors (M1, M2)
- Duration: ~10 minutes
Start of the Interview:
- M1: “Hello Sumit, we welcome you to this interview. You are the first candidate of this slot.”
- Me: “Thank you, sir. Good morning, sirs.”
Interview Highlights
1. Self-Introduction:
- M1: “Introduce yourself.”
- Me: Delivered a well-prepared introduction, highlighting my education, personality traits, extracurricular activities, and hobbies, emphasizing what I gained from them.
2. Agri-Warehousing:
- M1: “You mentioned agri-warehousing in your form. Tell me about it.”
- Me: Explained the challenges faced by agri-warehousing companies:
- GST on agri-warehousing services increases costs.
- No GST on agricultural output creates a disparity, leading to net losses for organized players.
- Explained how this impacts pricing and gives unorganized players an advantage.
- M1: “How is warehousing related to banks in the agri-sector?”
- Me: Explained the concept of Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (NWRs):
- Farmers can store produce in warehouses and use the receipts as collateral for loans from banks and financial institutions.
3. Loan Decision-making:
- M1: “If you were a senior officer in a bank evaluating loan applications for farmers or private players storing produce in a warehouse, how would you decide?”
- Me:
- Check the warehouse’s condition to ensure safe storage throughout the loan timeline.
- Assess the quality of produce (e.g., moisture content) for sustainable storage.
- Review the credit history of the applicant before making a decision.
4. Career Aspirations in Agribusiness:
- M1: “In the agribusiness field, there are many areas to venture into. Which domain are you interested in?”
- Me:
- Acknowledged the diverse fields in agribusiness (e.g., supply chain, agri-finance, retailing).
- Admitted I hadn’t narrowed it down to a specific domain yet.
- Expressed my desire to work in areas connecting the rural and urban economies and learn more about the field during the ABM course.
5. Hobbies & Reading Preferences:
- M2 (after sipping tea): “What are your hobbies?”
- Me: Answered confidently.
- M2: “What do you like to read?”
- Me: Shared my reading interests.
6. Opinion on Farm Laws:
- M1: “What’s your opinion on the farm laws?”
- Me: Provided a detailed response, act by act, covering:
- Implications of the farm laws.
- How they could transform the Indian agricultural economy positively.
- Balanced the discussion with potential challenges.
7. Other Calls:
- M1: “What other calls do you have?”
- Me: “IIM Ahmedabad (FABM) and CAP calls.”
8. Agri-Finance Question:
- M1: Asked a technical question related to agri-finance, which involved unfamiliar jargon.
- Me: Admitted I hadn’t heard of it before.
Closing:
- M1: “Okay, thank you. It was nice talking to you. You can log off now.”
ABM Experience 5
Panel Details:
- P1: Male Professor (40-45 years)
- P2: Female Research Fellow/Academic Associate (30-33 years)
Duration: ~35 minutes
Interview Highlights
1. Introduction & Icebreaker
- P1: “Ankit, please come in.”
- Me: Entered, greeted both panelists.
- P1: “So, Ankush Chawla, working at Mahindra & Mahindra Tractors. Is this your first interview or second?”
- Me: “Sir, this is my second attempt. I appeared for IIMA FABM last year at Delhi.”
- P1: “Where are you working now?”
- Me: “Sir, in the Vidarbha region, Nagpur, Maharashtra.”
- P1: “Why didn’t you have your interview in Mumbai then?”
- Me: “Sir, I wanted to visit the IIMA campus.”
- P1: “Oh, great! How’s the campus?”
- Me: “Sir, it’s amazing.”
- (Followed by light questions about my journey, accommodation, and experience of Ahmedabad’s weather.)
2. Feedback on GD Summary
- P1: “We read your GD summary, but it’s not well written. You didn’t include a discussion overview or group conclusions.”
- Me: “Sir, I focused on listing the key problems and alternatives rather than the group dynamics.”
- P1: “What was the most foolish point discussed in the GD?”
- Me: “Sir, I believe it was the discussion linking demonetization with MSP.”
- P1: “Don’t you think demonetization indirectly affects MSP?”
- Me: Explained how demonetization disrupted cash flow and fund rotation but wasn’t directly linked to MSP.
- (P1 agreed to some extent.)
3. Work at Mahindra & Mahindra
- P1: “You’re in a management role. What exactly do you do?”
- Me: “Sir, while it’s a management profile, I regularly visit the field and explain the technical aspects of tractors to farmers.”
- P1: “Farmers already know about tractors. What new do you tell them?”
- Me: “Sir, I explain advanced applications, time and cost-saving benefits, and commercial uses of tractors.”
- P1: “If you were to drive a tractor uphill on a steep slope, how would you do it?”
- Me: “Sir, I’d use the lowest gear and hand accelerator to avoid jerks while steering.”
- P1: “Why do tractors lift from the front?”
- Me: “Sir, due to a shift in the center of mass.”
- P1: “How can that be fixed?”
- Me: “By adding weights at the front, such as iron slabs or sandbags.”
- P1: “Have you done this in the field?”
- Me: “No, sir. I’ve provided this solution to farmers.”
4. Questions on Agriculture
- P1: “What’s the main environmental problem with dams?”
- Me: “Siltation reduces their water storage capacity.”
- P1: “But isn’t that sand fertile?”
- Me: “Yes, sir, but excessive silt reduces the depth of the dam, causing storage issues.”
- P1: “Which river flows in your area?”
- Me: “Sir, no rivers flow near my hometown, but we have two canals: Indira Gandhi Canal and Gangnahar.”
5. Insights from Field Visits
- P2: “What’s the best part of your job?”
- Me: “Mam, interacting with farmers during field visits.”
- P2: “What insights have you gained from them?”
- Me: Shared challenges farmers face, such as prioritizing limited income on essentials (seeds, fertilizers, loans) instead of tractors, and water distribution issues in Maharashtra.
- Explained how crops like sugarcane (4% of cropped area) receive 65% of irrigation water, leaving dryland crops like cotton, soybean, and jowar with only 5%.
6. Production & Food Security
- P1: “In which crops is India a leading producer?”
- Me: “Sir, we are:
- Second in cotton and fruits & vegetables.
- Third in rice and wheat.”
- P1: “Who’s first in fruits and vegetables?”
- Me: “China, with four times our production.”
- P1: “Why is our yield lower than western countries?”
- Me: “Sir, they grow genetically modified (GM) crops, while we have only Bt cotton since 2002.”
- P2: “Why don’t we grow more GM crops?”
- Me: Explained how Bt cotton, being non-edible, is safe, but GM food crops like Bt brinjal may pose health risks. Western countries conduct extensive research before introducing GM crops, which we lack.
- P2: “If we produce so much food, why is there poverty and food deficiency?”
- Me: Discussed poor distribution, citing the National Food Security Act and interstate procurement issues. Mentioned the limited success of e-NAM (1% procurement last year).
7. Post-MBA Goals
- P1: “What field would you like to work in after FABM?”
- Me: “Sir, supply chain management.”
- P1: “Can you name a company?”
- Me: “Sir, I can’t recall a specific name, but I’d like to work with companies connecting FPOs to processors.”
8. Hobbies & Extracurriculars
- P2: “What are your hobbies?”
- Me: “Mam, I like to write poems.”
- P1: “Really? Recite one for us.”
- Me: Recited a Hindi poem.
- (P1 didn’t seem very interested, but P2 appreciated it.)
9. Closing Questions
- P1: “Do you have any other calls apart from FABM?”
- Me: “No, sir. This is my only call.”
- P1: “No other call? That’s great dedication!”
- P1: “Do you have any questions for us?”
- Me: “No, sir.”
- P1: “Okay, thank you, Ankush. You may take a chocolate or cashew.”
- Me: “Thank you, sir.”
(As I stood, P1 reminded me to leave the pencil I was holding. I apologized and left with a smile.)
ABM Experience 6
First Round: Analytical Writing Test (AWT)
Task:
- Write assumptions, supporting statements, counter-statements, and your opinion on the provided topic within 250 words.
- Time: 20 minutes (reading and writing).
Topic:
Big brands like Nike and Puma use scents and fragrances in their stores to attract customers.
Approach:
- Identified the assumptions: Scents create a positive shopping experience and increase sales.
- Gave supporting statements: Research studies indicating that certain fragrances encourage buying behavior.
- Added counter-statements: Overpowering fragrances can alienate customers or cause health issues.
- Concluded with my opinion: While it’s a good strategy, brands must ensure moderation and customer comfort.
Second Round: Personal Interview
Panel Details:
- P1: Male professor (~50+ years).
- P2: Female research fellow (~30+ years).
- Duration: ~30–35 minutes.
Interview Highlights
1. Introduction and Background
- P1: “Atul, how did you reach here?”
- Me: “I traveled from Muzaffarpur by train two days ago and am currently staying with my sister.”
- P1: “Good, so you’ve had time to adjust to the weather and environment?”
- Me: “Yes, sir.”
- P1: “What is Muzaffarpur famous for?”
- Me: “Sir, Muzaffarpur is famous for litchi.”
- P1: “And makhana.”
- Me: “Yes, sir, that too.”
2. Marketing Makhana in South India
- P1: “If you were the head of a company and wanted to sell makhana in South India, how would you approach it?”
- Me: (Caught off guard but answered politely.) “I would research the consumer market, create awareness, and collaborate with startups for an efficient supply chain.”
- (P1 seemed unconvinced.)
- P1: “What should be the price of makhana in Delhi compared to Muzaffarpur?”
- Me: (Guessed incorrectly.) “Around ₹300/kg.”
- P1: (Amused.) “Atul, if that’s the price, I’ll fund you to buy 100 kg. Check the real price after this.”
- Me: “Yes, sir. I will.”
3. Knowledge-Based Questions
- P2: “What do you know about hop shoots?”
- Me: “It’s the world’s costliest vegetable, priced around ₹1 lakh/kg.” (Explained its unique cultivation and use.)
- P2: “Why is it so costly?”
- Me: (Gave specific reasons.)
- P2: “Tell me about saffron.”
- Me: “It recently received a GI tag and is known for its unique cultivation characteristics.”
- P2: “What are GI products? Name three.”
- Me: “GI products are known for their specific geographical characteristics. Examples: Shahi Litchi, Katarni Rice, and Kolhapuri chappals.”
4. Policy Question: Agriculture Minister
- P1: “If you were the Agriculture Minister of India, name three things you’d focus on.”
- Me:
- Address small landholding issues and reduce farmer suicides through better schemes.
- Improve resource distribution and supply chains for marginalized farmers.
- Promote technology adoption in agriculture.
- P1: “Don’t you think acknowledging farmer suicides publicly could harm your government’s reputation?”
- Me: (Explained my rationale, but P1 seemed unconvinced.)
5. Mathematics and Statistics
- P1: “How’s your math?”
- Me: “Good, sir. I studied statistics in my first term.”
- P1: “What is mode? Give an example.”
- Me: “Mode is the value that appears most frequently in a dataset. For example, in agriculture, mode can be used to count the most frequent number of rice tillers in a field.”
- P1: “Good.”
6. Closing Questions
- P1: “Okay, Atul, we’re done. Please go home safely.”
- Me: “Thank you, sir. Thank you, ma’am.”
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