External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently shared insights into his experience taking the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam, recalling that his interview took place on March 21, 1977, the day the Emergency was lifted in India. Speaking at an event in Delhi to a group of new civil service entrants, Jaishankar reflected on the lessons he learned nearly five decades ago.

Jaishankar described the UPSC examination as an ‘Agni Pariksha’ (trial by fire), emphasizing its unique and rigorous nature as a selection process. He highlighted that the real challenge lies in the interview stage. Reflecting on his own experience, he recounted, "My interview was on March 21, 1977. That was the day the Emergency was revoked. Revoked! So, I go in for an interview at Shahjahan Road... First person that morning". The Emergency, imposed by the Indira Gandhi government in June 1975, was indeed lifted on that day in 1977, marking a significant moment in Indian history. General elections were held between March 16 and 20, 1977. The Janata Party, a coalition of opposition leaders, won the election, defeating Indira Gandhi, and Morarji Desai became the next Prime Minister.

Jaishankar revealed that he was asked about the 1977 elections during his UPSC interview. Being a student of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) with a background in political science, he felt "lucky" to be able to answer the questions effectively. He had actively participated in the election campaign, working for the defeat of the Emergency regime. He recounted, "We had taken part in the 1977 election campaign. We had all gone there and worked for the defeat of the Emergency". During the interview, Jaishankar became so engrossed in the discussion that he momentarily forgot he was being interviewed. "At that moment, my communication skills somehow came together," he recalled.

Walking down memory lane, Jaishankar shared that he learned two important things from his UPSC interview: the importance of communication under pressure and the realization that important people may be living in a "bubble". He observed that the interviewers were shocked by the public's strong opposition to the Emergency. "These people were really shocked, they could not believe that this election result had happened, whereas for us, the ordinary students, we could see that there was a wave against the Emergency," Jaishankar recalled. He also said that after the UPSC interview, he learned of the "Lutyens' bubble".

Jaishankar emphasized the importance of understanding ground realities and contributing to India's development towards becoming a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. He highlighted the importance of communicating effectively, especially under pressure, without causing offense, a skill he believes is valuable for civil servants. He also noted that the election results were coming in from the previous day, and the sense of the Emergency's defeat was growing. According to PTI news agency, Jaishankar said that in a way, that is what got him through the interview.