Good afternoon sir. Please. A very good afternoon sir.
Good afternoon now. Please be seated. Thank you sir.
Srishti Dabas. Yes sir. Please say something about yourself.
Sir, I am Srishti Dabas. I was born and brought up in Delhi. I did my schooling as well as graduation from Delhi itself.
I have a brief... experience of working with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and currently I am working with the Reserve Bank of India posted to Mumbai and so I take keen interest in performing Kathak. You are posted at which place? Mumbai?
Yes sir. At what post? As a manager.
RBI? Yes sir. What has been the role of RBI in LPA? So RBI plays two prominent roles.
So first is the proactive and preemptive role whereby RBI keeps a check on the various banks through the Department of Supervision, through the Asset Quality Review by looking where the banks are. whether the NPAs are recorded properly or not. And so secondly is the reactive measure, which comes after the NPAs have increased a lot.
That is through the asset quality review and prompt corrective action. It's also an allegation that RBI was sleeping when the NPAs were increasing. What do you have to say? So as I mentioned about the role of RBI, since there is a pre-emptive role of RBI, so it does keep a check that initially only the reporting of the various financial assets is done properly. However, there are times when there is a pre-emptive role of RBI.
is under reporting of NPAs by the various banks, specifically by the cooperative banks. So in that regard, sometimes it is believed that RBI takes a back foot because of the problems that are associated with the cooperative banks. Cooperative banks have not been great contributor to NPA.
There are large number of the public sector banks. and some of the private sector banks which were involved in that indeed so like the yes Bank recently and even the PMC Bank the Central Bank of India Punjab National Bank State Bank of India Canberra Bank all these banks were having very high and RBI was just keeping quiet okay what is repo rate Sir, it is the main policy rate which is determined by the Monetary Policy Committee and based on the repo rate, the monetary policy transmission takes place and banks further decide on the deposit and lending rates. Do you think time has come to relax it? Sir, since from the last six MPC meetings, the repo rate has been kept constant at 6.5%.
So, indeed in the future, the perception is that RBI might reduce the repo rate. In the next quarter, we can expect it. Sir, the next MPC meeting is scheduled in April.
So, hopefully, sir, considering the GDP and growth. That can be a gift from RBI before election. Sir, it is also being said that till the election perhaps Abhay won't tinker with the reputations and only after the elections.
What is green bond? Sir, green bonds is a novel instrument with which the financing of various green projects is being done. So, it basically is used in, for instance, financing of various... Did RBI issue the green bonds? Yes, sir.
Sovereign green bonds have been issued worth Rs. 16,000 crores in two trances. When was the last one? Sir, the end of previous year, if I am not wrong. You have political science and international relations.
What is the string of pearl and who coined this term? Sir, String of Pearls is believed to be associated with China. The policy of China of increasing their naval presence through building various ports in the Indian Ocean region, for instance in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Oman. And sir, regarding the coining of term, sir, I think it was given by the United States of America.
Oman is also a part of the Congress, sorry, China's String of Pearls. And what is India's reply to that? Sir, as a counter to the string of pearls, India has come up with a novel concept called as diamond of necklace.
Necklace of diamond? Sorry, sir. Sir, so in that India is also trying to enhance its maritime presence. And which are the countries where they are trying to put up?
Sir, India. So for instance, Bangladesh, we are having cooperation with respect to the Chittagong and Mongla port. So even Myanmar, we are trying to have connectivity through their Sittwe port. So with respect to Oman also, India has been trying to enhance the maritime cooperation. Japan, Iran.
Yes, sir. The Chabahar port. Okay, my last question to you.
Your father is in police. What do you have to say about the encounters taking place in adjoining state in UP? Sir, it is a matter of grave concern that such things are taking place because it is completely against the rule of law.
Sir, in my opinion, encounters should not be the way out because it's like using a wrong means to arrive. even if at a right end. So I wouldn't support it.
The only possible reason when it can be used would be for self-defense. However, sir... If you remember, Gandhiji said, you have to use the right process or right means to achieve the right end.
Yes, sir. While Krishna said, you have to reach the right end, whatever may be the means. So do you think that we are following the later one?
So perhaps encounters are a reflection of that. However, given my personal belief, sir, I believe means and ends both are equally important. There will be something done by government of India for de-dollarization, two three things at least. Yes, sir. Sir, through de-dollarization, we are trying to enhance the internationalization of rupee.
So firstly, by enhancing the reach of UPI. by having MOUs with various nations like recently Indonesia. Do you mean that UPI has got any role in de-dollarization?
Sir, when we are internationalizing the usage of UPI, then countries are engaging into exchanges through the use of Rupi, digital transactions per se. So apart from that, sir, the Rupi-Rubel mechanism… So you just want to do UPI, perhaps… you have to go reread it because then what other thing government have done something solids that i'm asking yes sir so the vostro nostro accounts are being used uh for transactions and we have the rupee mechanism and rupee ruble mechanism apart from that various currency swap agreements are also anything relation with russia and other states something done in the past only the how you will get the foreign reserve that is the that will be have some of the ways okay tell me how we get the foreign reserve forex reserve so the forex reserves constitute of the foreign currency assets apart from that the sdrs are also a part of it and gold reserves also so all these things together how we get that sir through our exports when we export then in return and even through the foreign institutional investments. Can you name some of the countries where we have got the trade deficit?
So primarily China, with China we have a huge great debt. How does America stand America? So with America we have a trade surplus. We have the trade surplus.
Yes. And with which countries we have got the free trade agreement? So may I take a few seconds please? Oh yes, yes, yes, yes, just.
Recently it was a lot of news regarding some trade agreement between Europe and India. You can go through those things. So very recently we have signed a trade agreement with the EFTA, the European Free Trade Association.
So apart from that with EU we are still negotiating and we are yet to arrive at FTA. Even UK we are negotiating with Australia and UAE. NETO has got some new addition of the countries.
How it will affect the global politics. First tell me which are the countries? Yes sir, so Sweden and Finland have joined NATO. How can impact the world scenario?
Sir, mostly it will negatively impact because of the perception that is being created that there is expansionism of NATO and now it has touched the borders of Russia also. But how does it affect India? So with respect to India? Yes.
So overall, when the regional and global stability is being hampered, so even India would be impacted in that way. It becomes difficult for India to balance the diplomatic tightrope with respect to nations from the NATO side and Russia. So that would be a challenge.
Okay, my last question, you tell me, we have got the capital subsidy and we have got the PLA. Yes sir. Which you feel is better for our country's economy, growth of our economy?
One side is capital subsidy that government is giving, one side is government also has started sort of PLI. Yes sir. Just a comparison from your side.
So the PLI would definitely be preferred because it incentivizes the various firms and companies to increase their production. and hence there would be increase in employment, investments, exports. So everything, it would be a multiplier impact and a virtuous cycle. However, with regards to subsidies, sir, it is believed that it leads to fiscal deficit also and it puts burden on the taxpayers. Thanks, that's all, Professor.
Thank you, sir. Thank you. Now you tell me, what is a bad bank?
Ma'am, the bad bank NARCL, it has been established to take the various NPAs and bad loans from various banks and financial institutions and to resolve them in order to clear the balance sheets of the various banks. The full form of NARCL? Ma'am, NARCL, it is National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited. Yeah, yeah, very much.
So, okay, now certain amount of stressed assets are supposed to be transferred by March end. Any rough ballpark figure read somewhere? Ma'am, I read that exact figure, ma'am, I am not aware of, but I did read that recently the new chief of NICL has been trying to... push and fast track the process.
Okay you can read the mention some one lakh crores but do read yeah okay. Okay last year in the budget you know the banking acts were proposed to be amended which are the acts not in this budget in the full budget last year this was what kind of a budget was this? This was an interim budget.
Yeah and so which are the acts? Ma'am, one that I can recall is that there has been an amendment with respect to the cooperative banks and RBI was given control over the multi-state cooperative banks. This one is, what are the three acts which govern the banking sector?
Ma'am, one is the Reserve Bank of India Act. The Banking Regulations Act. Yes, yes.
The third one you read, okay? Okay. Okay, all right. So, the purpose was I would... Just say, you know, the purpose was disinvestment, okay?
And any idea as to which bank was supposed to be disinvested? Ma'am, I'd like to read a point. Okay, and why would an amendment be necessary for the purpose of disinvestment? If you've not read it, don't guess. Just go back and read it, okay?
It's about the shareholding. Alright, okay? Thank you.
Alright, okay. We'll move on to something else. Now, Indian trade was impacted during this Red Sea crisis, right?
Yes, ma'am. And so what are the alternate trade routes, especially the one which was proposed? Which one is, there's a proposed trade route also. Ma'am, the proposal was to get it routed from Iraq.
What is the full name of that corridor? the new trade route that was suggested. Ma'am, is it about the IMEC?
Yeah, yeah, very much. Yeah, yeah. Yes, ma'am.
Ma'am, it's the India-Middle East-European trade corridor. Yeah. Which was proposed by India during the G20.
Not proposed. Proposed by the US. Okay. India was the signatory. Anyway, never mind.
You tell me. Yeah. Ma'am, the objective was to have an alternative route and specifically as an alternative to the BRI of China. So it would boost the connectivity from India to Europe, linking the Middle East also and further link to the Central Asia also. So any idea would route, if you just think of the map, as to where will it be passing through?
Yes ma'am, it starts from the Mumbai port of India, then moves on to Israel and Saudi Arabia. And because of the recent war, it is said that it has been disrupted and finally ending to Europe. Yes, where in Europe?
That I'll have to tell you. Okay, alright. So, why is it on the back burner?
Ma'am, because of the Israel-Hamas war and because of the back step that the Israel-Arab normalization has taken. Yes. And when was that normalization supposed to happen?
Ma'am, very recently after the Abraham Accords were signed. So that was just... I mean, what happened that, you know, it was around the 7th of October when all this attacked. Yes, ma'am, when Hamas attacked.
it was about to happen and this so everything yes okay thank you thank you so much srishti this is your first attempt isn't it yes and you are already in one of the best jobs i would say and perhaps the highest paid job in government sector indeed you're written two lakh eighty thousand though i'm not sure if it would be that much is it so much now um sir it varies a bit across cities since i'm posted to mumbai so including the hra and But it is generally higher than even the civil ISIPs obviously. I was selected for this in 85. So I know this. Tell me one thing, why has it taken you so long to appear in civil services? You know, 98 bond, why didn't you appear earlier? So first of all, ensuring financial independence was the primary aim for me and my family.
And it was in 2020 that I completed my graduation post which because of COVID sir. there were certain issues within the family. After that, sir, I applied for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and since that procedure, all the three stages were entirely conducted online. So hence I got into it.
However, that being a contractual job for two years initially, so then I shifted to the Reserve Bank of India and so now looking forward to that. I had some other question with you, but when I saw that you are daughter of a retired ASI, Sir, not yet retired. Sorry?
Sir, not yet retired. Okay, ASI. Okay, he is ASI. He would have started from as a constable then.
Yes, sir. Isn't it? Given the ecosystem, the absence of even hygiene factors at the police station level, long hours of work.
If you were the DG of the state, what would you do to improve the hygiene factor, the ecosystem at the police station level and project the image of police in terms of contribution, long hours, sacrifices, etc. So first of all with regards to the hygiene part sir, so I would ensure that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is taken till the police stations also. Steps are being taken in that regard. However, particularly focusing on the hygiene part and sanitation through awareness and by... Sorry, hygiene factors are part of the management concept which says that, you know, a proper ecosystem and ambience, good office, infrastructure.
Proper hours of work, support system. In that context the hygiene factors, the HUSBANDS, not the SWECHWARE. You know the long hours of work, odd hours of work, no Diwali, no holiday, nothing. These are part of the hygiene factors, the minimum factors which are required for individual to be doing the job properly.
Right sir. From that point of view. Yes sir. Certain police reforms I would focus upon.
So firstly enhancing the infrastructure of the police stations. So including the weapons that the police has, their communication networks. So secondly filling up the vacancies. So that is a grave concern. So there are a lot of vacancies in the police.
So thirdly would be sensitizing and training of the police personnel as well as the citizens to build a direct connect between them and improve the image of police among the people. For that sir I would use community policing also to improve the image of the police among the people. And particularly focusing on the women employees of the police also.
Because one, they are less in number. And second, particularly problems related to them are not taken care of. So that would be a specific area I would work for.
Internationalization, political science. What is track to diplomacy? Can you give two examples, if not in the context of India, abroad also, where it has actually succeeded, track to diplomacy? So may I take something? Yeah, please.
So the track to diplomacy refers to using of various other channels apart from the government and official channels. So for instance through the civil society, through the people to people contacts and improving the relations between nations. So one example that comes to my mind is the civil nuclear deal that happened between India and USA. It is said that there was a lot of role of track to diplomacy in that.
Sir, I need some more time for the second exam. In NISD, what was the nature of your job? There are a lot of courses which NISD does even related to women, children. Anything that you would like to mention?
Sir, there in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, we were posted as state coordinators and we would do inspection of the various institutions which got grants in aid from the ministry. So, including institutions such as old age homes, drug rehabilitation centers, Shreshtha schools for the scheduled caste people. So based on our inspection report, were the grants reduced, increased or stopped altogether? And the inspection would primarily focus upon the infrastructure of the institution, their documentation and the beneficiaries, whether they are actually getting the benefits of the schemes.
Only government of India institutions or state level institutions also? State level also. Thank you.
Thank you sir. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Doing very well. Keep it up.
Thank you sir. Okay. Just a couple of follow-up questions. All right.
Already mentioned a very good service doing very well but you still opted for Group B services. So. So that's primarily because of two reasons. So one as it would act as a feeder service to IAS and so secondly given the work profile of the job so specifically based on the executive functions and the broad spectrum of work that I can do there as compared to RBI sir since there it's more about economic policies per se but in DANX as I've mentioned Sir, I would focus more on social development, understanding the socio-economic challenges that people are facing.
You also opted for many of the account services as well. Indeed, sir. Pretty much similar thing.
Sir, those are down in line in the preference since I was given a choice. Okay, good. That is your choice to make.
Alright. Rajasthan. What is the lure in Rajasthan? Sir, given that it's near to my hometown, the cultural aspects of it being more familiar with.
And sir, being a state where I would get a lot of opportunities to work for, ranging from policy formulation to policy implementation. Sir, resolving various issues. Very good.
What are the social evils in Rajasthan? Sir, there are a number of them. Firstly, child marriage. Okay, next.
Secondly, dowry deaths. Okay. Third is the water crisis.
That is a social issue because it impacts the women particularly. Okay, but I will still categorize it as a geographical issue. Yes, sir.
Okay, what else? Sir, the issues that the lower communities, the minorities face. So minorities. Okay. All right.
We're getting into uncharted water now. We won't go there. Okay.
All right. Can you name three women-centric schemes that have changed the lives of women in our country? And three laws as well.
Just name them. Yes. Sir, schemes, it would be Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme.
Okay, next. Sukanya Samriddhi Ujna. Okay. Sir, PM Awaas. Okay, very good.
Yes. Sir, regards to acts. Sir, the Nari Shakti Women Reservation Act, which was passed. Secondly, the FOSH Act.
So thirdly would be Right to Education Act. Okay, no place for triple talaq, dowry. Yes sir, save in the Domestic Violence Act for that matter.
So many more, okay. Anyways, so according to the Government of India, how many classical dance forms do we have? So there is actually a dichotomy in that. So the Sangeet Natak Academy says that we have 8 classical dance forms.
But the Ministry of Culture has accepted Chow also. So it says that there are 9 classical dance forms. So what do you think? Should it be 8 or 9?
So I believe in inclusion and so it's better that we have as many classical dances as possible if they are meeting a certain criteria to reflect the diversity of the dance form. Finally, India-Russia Youth Program. What is the significance of Ladivostok? So that's primarily for the investment that India has made there. So specifically for the research and development on the import oil, extraction of oil and gas from that area and also connectivity purposes.
Connectivity expand. Sir, a connectivity channel was established starting from Mumbai to Chennai till Vladivostok. Okay, now tell me the answer.
What is the significance of Vladivostok? So, connectivity perhaps would be. Sir, I will read more about it.
Okay, thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir.
Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am.