IAS, UPSC, MPPSC, MPSI, Banking, SSC
| Name | Ram Prasad Meena |
| Optional/Subject of Graduation | Electrical Engineering |
| Graduation Degree and College | B.Tech. (Electrical), IIT Delhi |
| State of Domicile/City and State of Current Residence | Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| Hobbies, Prizes, Position of Distinction/Leadership/Games, etc | Reading Hindi Novels and Poems, Playing Table Tennis |
| Previous/ Current Employment | Working as Assistant Electrical Engineering in the Indian Railway |
| CHAIRMAN: | Please come in Mr. Meena and please be seated. |
| R.P. MEENA: | Thank you Sir . Good afternoon Madam. Good afternoon Sir |
| CHAIRMAN: | So Mr. Meena, you are an electrical engineering from IIT Delhi. Please tell me in simple words, what is Faraday’s law and how is it relevant in our day – to – day life? |
| R.P. MEENA: | Sir, Faraday’s law is one of the basic laws of Electromagnetism that can also be derived from the Maxwell’s equation. In simple words, whenever the magnetic flux around a conducting coil is changed, it induces an electro – magnetic forces or voltage in the coil. This is the principle that is applicable in the generation of electricity in a generator, whether it is in a hydroelectric plant, thermal plant, or a nuclear plant. As such this has a direct bearing on our daily modern lives. |
| CHAIRMAN: | can electricity be generated without the application of Faraday’s law? If yes, name one such technology. R. P. MEENA: Yes Sir, by use of solar energy, in solar panels having photo – electric cells. Here the photo – electric effect is applicable. |
| CHAIRMAN: | Talking of solar energy, India is general, and Rajasthan in particular receives large amount of solar radiation but solar electricity generation is low as compared to other conventional sources despite the great emphasis provided by India’s solar mission. What is the reason for it and what do you think should be India’s focus for augmenting its solar generation? |
| R.P MEENA: | Sir, the photo – voltaic cells usually have low energy efficiency. The same is true for other forms of solar energy utilization, for instance, in solar panels, using the heat of solar radiation to increase the temperature of circulating water. These and other more efficient forms of electricity generation from solar energy involve large capital cost. Therefore large – scale application of this technology is taking place slowly. I think that solar energy in a country like India has bright future, considering that it is renewable, inexhaustible, and is a clean source of energy. This area requires more research to make the technology more efficient and cost effective. Besides, it also requires policies which would make it further commercially viable. Further, considering the world focus on global warming constitution of the international Solar alliance (IAS) in which India has played a leading role, the use of solar energy in future is bound to increase (At this juncture the lady Member interjects) |
| (LADY MEMBER): | Have you heard of the COP 21 in the 2015 UN climate change conference in Paris? |
| R. P. MEENA: | Yes Madam |
| 2nd MEMBER: | What are white Dwarfs? |
| 2nd MEMBER: | Do you know what was its outcome? |
| R.P. MEENA: | Madam I am not sure. |
| 2nd MEMBER: | What was the Kyoto protocol? |
| R.P. MEENA: | It was an international treaty on environment where the developed countries had agreed to undertake emission cuts by certain percentage points below the levels of emission in 1990 |
| 2nd MEMBER: | Did all of the developed nations agree to the emission cuts? |
| R.P. MEENA: | No Madam. America did not agree to emission cuts |
| 2nd MEMBER: | What has been the stand of USA? |
| R.P. MEENA: | It wanted emission cuts on the part of India and China also (Question passes on to the next Member) |
| 3rd MEMBER: | Mr. Meena you are an engineer from IIT, Delhi, a premier institute of technology. Why do you want to join the Civil Services and become a generalist? |
| R.P. MEENA: | Sir, I always wanted to join the Civil Services and serve my people. I feel it is a matter of great prestige to be a part of the Civil Services. Besides I consider Civil Services to have greater variety and challenge than any other service. |
| 3rd MEMBER: | If you always wanted to join the Civil Services, then why did you choose a technical stream and waste a seat in a premier institute like IIT? |
| R.P. MEENA: | Sir, I qualified for the IIT after completing my twelfth standard. At that stage of life Civil Services was not an option for me but appearing and qualifying for IIT was an option, which I did. The engineering stream offered me confidence about my capabilities, a greater level of security in life than what a general science degree would have done. Further, studying in IIT Delhi has been a great learning experience. Besides the government rules do not prohibit an IITian to join the Civil Services. Had there been such a rule I have decided the appropriate path to follow. |
| 3rd MEMBER: | But don’t you think you have wasted government money that has been spent on training you specialist? |
| R.P. MEENA: | No Sir, I do not think so. It is true that the government has spent money on my training. Right now I am working for the Government of India and by joining the Civil Services I will continue to work for the government, though in a different capacity. So there is no wastage of government’s money. Regarding the change of role as a specialist, I have to say, that if I were to pursue an MBA degree and later join marketing profession or other such stream, the government would still place no restriction on such a change of professional stream. As such, if I am to join the Civil Services then it should not be viewed as waste of government money or viewed negatively for abandoning my professional stream. (the 3rd Member passes the questioning to the 4th Member) |
| 4th MEMBER: | Mr. Meena you play table tennis. Do you know the major international table tennis tournaments? |
| R.P. MEENA: | No Sir. |
| 4th MEMBER: | By what other name is this game also known by? |
| R.P. MEENA: | I do not know Sir |
| 4th MEMBER: | you have mentioned reading Hindi novels as your hobby. Whom do you consider as the greatest Hindi novelist and why? |
| R.P. MEENA: | (Thinks for a while): Sir I consider Munshi Prem Chand as the greatest Hindi novelist. His stories and novels are very essence of our rural Indian society. Further, his novels and stories are simple to understand and carry a pertinent social message. |
| 4th MEMBER: | Mr. Meena, you are working with the Indian Railways. What, as per you, are the major challenges before the Indian Railways? |
| R.P. MEENA: | Thinks for a while): Sir, of immediate concern for the Railways is, improving its Operating Ratio. This can only be done by increasing its freight as well as passenger traffic, while managing its expenses. Modernization of rolling stock, locomotives, track electrification, doubling and modernization of lines, and railway safety remain some other challenges. All the above require funds. Thus channelization of new area of revenue while not losing out on its existing freight and passenger revenue remain at the core of the challenge. |
| 4th MEMBER: | Does the Indian Railways make an overall profit on its passenger operations? |
| R.P. MEENA: | No, Sir. It actually makes a loss, there is cross subsidy from the freight revenue. |
| 4th MEMBER: | Then do you think that focusing on passenger traffic would be a prudent option for the Indian Railways? |
| R.P. MEENA: | Sir, Railway have to focus both on freight as well as for the Railways. But passenger movement is a social necessity for the Railways. It can manage to cut its losses or even earn profits if reduces operation in its loss making routes, increases and captures more traffic on remunerative routes connecting metros. Besides new schemes, dynamic fares and discounts have to be built in fare structure to fill its vacant slots and compete with airlines and road sector |
| 4th MEMBER: | Do you think Railway should be privatized? |
| R.P. MEENA: | (Thinks for a while). Sir, complete privatization of Railways may not be an option as of now but privatization of certain services of even operation of routes in participation with private sector can be a viable option. |
| CHAIRMAN: | Thank you Mr. Meena |
| R.P. MEENA: | Thank you Sirs and thank you Madam |
| REMARKS: | Shri R.P. Meen’s performance has been very good. He has answered the questions satisfactorily especially those regarding his entry to the Civil Services, tourism in Rajasthan, and solar energy and Indian Railways. However, he faltered on important, factual question like the one on the COP – 21 in Paris |
| RAMESH: | Thank you Sir, Good day to you all (leaves) |
| RAMESH: | Ramesh has answered the questions well, especially those which were based on views and analysis. However, he has faltered on factual questions especially on Carbon intensity. The Board expected a better response regarding carbon credit and carbon footprint. He also forgot to wish the members when he entered the room. |
