A TRYST WITH THE SBI ASSOCIATES PROBATIONARY OFFICER(PO) INTERVIEW

I had to report to the SBI learning centre,  Nungambakkam, Chennai at 11 pm on 25-02-2015.In my group,there were 14 candidates out of which 2 were absent. The first step was that of document verification. They would leave no stone unturned to examine the authenticity of your documents.I heard one of the verifying panel members stating that he had caught one of the candidates who had produced fraudulent graduation certificate.

Soon after the verification process got completed ,we were provided with lunch coupons. There were only greens(and not bones) in the luncheon. I didn’t want to attend the GD and interview caressing my tummy, and so I deliberately opted for a light breakfast-type lunch.I then headed towards the lounge where everyone had to wait for the next bigger step-GROUP DISCUSSION(GD).

At 2 pm, a middle-aged man with a visible moustache took us to the GD hall. I was very much impressed(and also slightly nervous) as I made my way into the well furnished room with a name plate placed in front of our seats(plus a mini water-bottle,a pad and a pen on the horse-shoe shaped conference table).Fifteen minutes passed by, and the panel members made a grand entry.The Chairman apprised us of the rules and regulations and he gave us the topic-IS MORAL POLICING WARRANTED IN INDIA?

I made up my mind to speak at the second or third turn in the discussion.But somehow, I managed to grab my turn at fifth position in a race where everyone was waiting to be heard.I raised  the following points arguing why I was against the moral policing-subversion of the right to life and personal liberty,mis-interpretation and twisting of existing laws,tolerance as a cherished principle of India’s rich diversity and so forth.Thereafter,a general discussion took place where everyone was free to air his/her views or contradict the other’s opinion.

The GD lasted for about 40 minutes.Then,we were asked to assemble in a separate room and wait for our turns for Personal Interview.I was allotted the serial no.1 which meant that I would be the first among others to be massacred in the interview.One gentleman took me to the interview hall.’May I come in,sirs?’.’Please,come in’.There were five members in the interview panel,including a graceful lady member.The Chairman was at the centre of the sofa,while two each were on his either side.Let me address the chairman as M1,the lady member as M2,and the other three members as M3,M4 and M5.

Me:Good afternoon to you,Sirs.Good afternoon,Mam.

M1:Good afternoon Durga.Please take your seat.

Me:Thank you,Sir.

M1:What brought you to Chennai?A faraway place from your hometown in Assam!

Me:Sir,I came to Chennai to pursue graduation.

M1:(Looking at the Biodata form)So,you did your graduation from AeSI.I have never heard of AeSI.What is AeSI?

Me:AeSI stands for Aeronautical Society of India.AeSI is a professional body imparting knowledge of aeronautical and aerospace sciences.

M2:I see,AeSI is similar to AMIE and IETE.

Me:Yes mam,you are right.

M1:Durga,why banking after Aeronautical Engineering?

Me:I have decided to go for banking partly as a matter of choice and partly due to compulsion. Compulsion due to the fact that there are limited stable career opportunities in the field of aeronautics in India.Choice,because,as a person from engineering background, I have the analytical skills,problem solving and innovative mind that would benefit the banking industry.(The chairman might have thought-Pakka isne ratta maarke aaya hoga-surely he has memorized the answer for the interview).

M1:But you could have gone to foreign countries for employment in Boeing,Airbus etc?

Me:Sir,I am not cut out for engineering.I had joined engineering due to parental pressure.

M1:That means,you have realized this thing quite late.

Me:Yes Sir.

(M1 passes the baton to other members)

M2:What are your views about performance of Indian banks in general?

Me:Banks in India are robust in nature.It is evident from the fact that Indian banks had withstood the global financial crisis in 2008.

M1 interrupts here asking me promptly about what had caused the financial crisis in 2008.I was totally caught unaware by this question. I tried to answer him by saying that the banking business in western countries like USA got bankrupt.(The chairman seems to be unsatisfied with my answer.Above all,I gave a hesitating reply).

M1:Why did the banks could not perform?

Me:Sir,the banks could not recover the money that they had lent to its clients.

M1:Why is it so?Tell me clearly?

Me:I do not know the proper answer,Sir.

M3:What are the recommendations of fourteenth finance commission?

Me:The finance commission chaired by Y.V.Reddy recommended an increase in the devolution of fund to the states which is  42 percent of the net tax receipts.Though the statutory grant has been increased,but there will probably be a reduction in the discretionary grants.

M3:What are the other recommendations of the fourteenth finance commission?

Me:Sorry Sir, I do not know.

M4:Mr.Durga,in the GD, you had mentioned about Perumal Murugan.What was the controversy associated with it?

Me:Perumal Murugan authored a book which did not go down well with the right wing fringe groups.

M4:Why is it so?

Me:It was controversial because the right-wing fringe groups alleged that the book had certain objectionable content which was against the cultural traditions of India(The member nodded his head).

M1:What do you know about Article 21 of Indian constitution?(I had raised this point during the GD)

Me:The article 21 of the constitution guarantees right to life and personal liberty.

M1:Do you know Indian constitution in detail?

Me:Sir, I have read the important articles of  Indian constitution.

M4:In what context did you read the Indian constitution?

Me:Sir, I read the Indian constitution while I was preparing for the Civil Services Preliminary examination.

M4:(turning the pages of my biodata form)You have written that you were disqualified in the UPSC Prelims.Were you disqualified or failed?Do you know the distinction between disqualification and failure?

(I realized that I had misunderstood the difference between disqualification and failure.I was silent)

M1:You should have mentioned ‘Failed’ instead of ‘Disqualification’.You have failed in UPSC prelims,not disqualified.

Me:Thank you Sirs for your insight.

M1:What other subjects did you study for UPSC?

Me:I have studied economics,history,science and geography.

M1:Intersting.Will you be able to answer me if I ask you about Geography?

Me:Yes Sir.I think I would be able to provide you a satisfactory answer(M1 smiled at my answer while looking at the other panel members).

M1:The Indo-Gangetic plains has huge potential for irrigation.Yet,why is it that farmers are not well-off there?

Me:(I paused for a moment)The farmers in India mostly have fragmented lands,which is not suitable for cultivation on a wider scale.Intensive farming and irrigation is quite difficult in small landholdings.

M1:Assam is infamous for flood.What is the main reason?

Me:Assam is a low-lying area.The geographical setting of the region is primarily responsible for floods.The Brahmaputra river causes recurrent floods in the region,when it overflows its beds.

M1:But it should be beneficial as Brahmaputra deposits silt and makes the land fertile.People should be happy.Shouln’t they?

Me:Sir,I would like to differ from you.The extent of flood damage is catastrophic though it bring silt deposits with it.Moreover,the river changes its course frequently.Therefore it is difficult to determine where the silts would be deposited.

M2:Why are the NPAs of the bank increasing?

Me:Dr.Raghuram Rajan recently said in a press conference that the NPAs in India are not alarming.Yet,NPAs affect the operational and management efficiency of the bank.There are basically two reasons for the growing NPAs.First,the misgovernance part.While the SEBI guidelines stipulate a minimum 50 percent of independent directors in the governing board,the public sector banks(PSBs) in India do not follow the required norms.Consequently.there is political interference in the functioning of banks.Second,the PSBs do not have a strong follow-up and credit recovery mechanisms which results in higher NPAs.For example,tractor loans.

M1:Are you sure that PSBs do not have credible follow-up mechanisms.Who told you about this?

Me:Sir,I read it in newspapers(M1 laughs).

M1:Your interview is over.

Me:Thank you Sirs.

(I then went towards the exit.The panel member M5 did not ask any questions.He was keenly observing my body language from the start of the interview.While I pulled the exit door,my eyes fell on him,who was still observing me.Overall,the panel members were very cordial and friendly.The interview lasted for about 20 minutes.As I came out of the room,the document verifying members smiled and asked me how my interview was.I said it was good.It was a memorable interview)