NITI Aayog YP interview- 27th November 2015

I have attended the interview three hours ago, now sitting at Kailash (Kailash Pokhrel- my friend from Janardanam days)'s rented room in Gurgaon and trying to pen down the experience of the interview that I never wanted to attend.

The last few days were terrible since I wrote my last blog-post. After the Prashant Kishore thingi, NISG took a crappy turn. One fine morning (after repeated followups), they informed me I should receive the email offer letter the next day. On the next day, they informed that NeGD CEO himself wants to interview me via Skype. This was quite unusual as he only interviews the Principal Consultant level people. In the meantime, I got the offer to attend YP interview at NITI Aayog.

I was reluctant. Firstly, the repeated experiences and most recently the NISG thing do prove the point that I am nowhere close to getting a job and the astrologer has been right all along. Secondly, NITI Aayog is not going to pay for the traveling and lodging cost. Thirdly, the scope of role of YP is likely to be very limited and the salary component is also very low. Hence, attending this interview is like coming for a purpose that I don't believe, spend own money, less chance of success and even after success no intention of tasting the fruit of success.

But I dodged all the logic I mentioned above, because it has been more than a year and I need to get a damn job. Also, OSD in NITI Aayog is like a dream job and I can get a sense of the organization if I be here for the YP. Also, I offered NISG HR a proposal for face-to-face interaction during my stay in Delhi.

So, here I come! I stayed at Kailash's place as I left my suit and shoe here last time. The interview was at 9-00 AM. Though I was apprehensive about being on time from my experience of NISG interview and Commonwealth Scholarship interview, I didn't take the chance. And, I was right this time.

Yojana Bhawan that houses NITI Aayog is quite close to the Patel Chowk metro station. On entering the first gate of the bhawan, the CISF personnel was 'Saikia'- I spoke in Assamese. There was flow of interview candidates and we were asked to sit in different specified rooms right at the main entrance point. On entering the conference room designated for myself, I saw around 25 people sitting with equal proportion of genders. I believe there were three panels, each consisting of three members. In my panel, I was the first candidate. Soon, they called the names of one girl (corporate lawyer from Mumbai) and myself and escorted us to a different room. There we waited for around 10 minutes before I was called to face the interview panel. As I was the first candidate, the panel members were fresh and eager. There were two gentlemen and one lady. I greeted good morning to all of them.

1) The middle man started - tell us about yourself
     I included parents' profession and information of sibling for the first time in my description.

2) The lady asked- you worked with Ministry of Information Technology- what kind of work you did.
     I explained them about SeMT and NeGP. It seemed they never heard about these terms.

3) The middle man asked after seeing my resume- you run three non-profits; what do they do?
     I took a pause as I didn't remember what are three names I included (ALWAYS CHECK RESUME YOU SUBMITTED). Nevertheless, I started with the library, talked about Xomidhan and ended with Xahitya. In Xomidhan, the third person (who came out to be the main guy later) asked about the business model. I told the expenses are very minimal.

4) The lady asked about the 360 degree performance review paper.
     I explained citing RFD (Result Framework Document) quite a few times. She got confused; she was asking how RFD will measure performance of ministers. I again explained. She did not know much about RFD and also she was not much aware of the 360 degree feedback model. I was searching ways how best I could make the lady understand. I realized I was not behaving in a calm and composed way. Somehow, I was getting tensed. This didn't happen in the NISG or Twitter interview.

5) Now, the third person started. From this point onward, the other two just became listeners. He asked whether I did many coding in Microsoft.
    I explained about ITSM and told that I was not involved in much coding exercise.

6) Then he asked what are the courses I attended in MPP
   Well, I was structuring my answer with political philosophy, but he asked me to get straight to the points. When I told Economics included both micro and macro, he showed displeasure on the course. While listening about Science for Public Policy, he seemed confused. I tried to explain , but he didn't give much attention and focused on the word evidence-based-policymaking.

7) Tell me different kind of evidence techniques.
    I cursed myself for not even opening the notes once before this interview. From my memory, I told about experimental and quasi-experimental methodologies. The interviewer was also seemed in hurry as if he was trying frame a question.

8) Give me one example of quasi-experimental technique
   Difference-in-Difference (DiD)

9) Explain me what it is
    Damn, I didn't remember anything. I took 'incentive to teachers' example and explained RCT. He was focused on DiD. I tried to explain something. He exposed me completely by very pointed question by comparing with RCT. He was asking again and again. I told I have not been able to explain properly. He told I had failed miserably in explaining. I tried again and cursed myself for not opening the notes even once. This is the problem of reluctant activities. I am sorry.

10) The third person was indeed a learned man. He explained the whole concept to me, introduced causal effect too. I admitted my fault, I was red faced.

11) Luckily the third person continued- tell about your paper on Role of Social Media in government.
    I was bringing Shillong traffic police into the scene; he intervened and asked me to make the answer general. Why government should use Social media. I gave him four points -- to make government accessible to citizens, to get feedback and  involve the citizens in decision-making process, to spot a trend of usage over period of time and finally to build a circle of like minded individuals. (I could have talked about cutting cost and save time- now I think).

12) He was telling there are timing issue. Instead of taking opinion of thousand of people on a policy, he can simply call the experts.
    I told that is violating the essence of participatory government and what Modi is doing via MyGov portal. He didn't seem much convinced. I also told that the above four reasons will be applicable at different phases of policy making and resources can be distributed over time.

13) Suppose I am the Communication Officer of NITI Aayog and need to form the Social Media team- how many persons should I recommend?
    I told there should be two teams- one for regular updated from different departments and the other for specific policy/project when a department wants to take feedback from the citizens and spot a trend.

14) The third person had nothing to ask. He asked the other two whether they have anything to ask. After a long time, I looked at the faces of the other two members- they were completely at a loss at our conversation. Naturally, they informed I can leave.

By 9-41 AM, I was free. I took a round of the building searching the rooms of Bibek Debroy and other members. I found their rooms and became happy. I also spent around 15 minutes in the library. First time, I saw a library inside a government ministry in India. I was trying to understand the mood of the place- a very typical government setup. I didn't like much (except the library). I was feeling guilty for not able to answer the DiD thing. In fact, this guilt gradually rises to such extent that I punished myself by not going to Parliament Street to see the parliament; instead I came home, cooked food and now writing this blog spot.

Expectation: nothing much. If Digital Indian turns out to be positive, I will not go for YP. If Digital Indian turns out negative and I don't get shortlisted for YP as well, my self-confidence would touch the rock bottom. Also, in case I get called for OSD, I need to prepare like hell. Anyway, good bye for now. I am feeling relieved (from the guilt conscious) after writing this.

Low time - 17th November 2015

For last 4-5 days I have been feeling very low, mentally too down, no energy, hope or aspiration. I was trying to analyse:

1) The Prashant Kishor effect as I wrote in my last post. It seems Tarun Gogoi reached out to him as well. However, report says IPAC was working fairly independent of Citizens Alliance; but I missed a chance and there is no point of searching 'feel good' points.

Taken at Dudhnoi at a political rally, but captures my mood for this post

2) I have built high hope on the NISG interview. Two weeks have passed and I have not heard back. I was surprised to find the advertisement of consultant-volunteer coordinator position in the NISG website, which was supposed to be a sub-task of the role I applied. My narrative has become- "I completed one year of volunteering, now time to search jobs, waiting result for an interview with Digital India". I am not sure how I would react if this result comes negative.

3) The family issues- we need to complete the half-constructed house, Dada has not been able to manage finance and borrowed money from me, Bou is in hospital, Dada is also not well, Moina is still in transition state, I am in hung state, Maa have frequent health issues and not comfortable to live alone anymore and so on. Overall, some kind of negative and non-aspiring atmosphere at home.

I would be tremendously happy if I got the OSD- NITI Aayog position, Dada transfers back home or within 100 KM range, Moina starts working, we completed the house construction...ok, leave them!

Zubeen fans have organized 'Zubeen Festival'- I believe this is the pinnacle how much people can love you. 

Was the decision of not joining CFBI a mistake?

Bihar assembly poll result is out today. Nitish kumar won, by partnering with RJD and Congress. The main strategist behind this campaign was Prashant Kishore. Yes, the same man from CAG of Modi's campaign. He formed a group called Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC) who sits in the house in front of Nitish's office in Patna. The reason Prashant broke away from Modi camp was evident if I look him from an external consultant point of view, with respect to the party cadres. 

Media report says Prashant, in addition to IPAC, managed to give a government contract to a Noida based company called Citizens Alliance for 'Badh Chala Bihar' campaign. This group came on government money and worked for JDU (Sushil Modi even complained about this publicly). My searches resulted the shocking fact- Citizens Alliance is actually the CFBI; in other words, the private limited company version of CFBI. Hence, thinking wildly, I could have been in Patna witnessing and working on the ground for the most dramatic election post the Delhi election.

I missed it! The reasons I did not join CFBI just after the offer letter- I had to negotiate for salary and the Twitter discussion was going on. Then after visiting the the CFBI office in Noida Sector 62, I could not take a decision as Twitter took longer time and Glassdoor reviews for CFBI were pathetic. After Twitter rejection, there was a thought; but I solely based on the Glassdoor review and decided not to open the CFBI thread. 

In this whole period (from Deceber '14 to July'15), I didn't have the slightest clue about side switching of Prashant Kishore and conversion of CFBI to Citizens Alliance. I made a fool out of myself.

I am trying to console myself by various means why the decision was not a mistake, but the moot point is that I missed an opportunity which I could have easily used in Assam 2016 election as well. Between, media report says Prashant has an Assamese wife.

NISG Interview Experience - 28th October 2015

So after two rounds of telephonic interview (one HR and one technical) NISG called me for the final round in Delhi. I had been dead against going back to the same organization. But couple of reasons forced me doing this- the role is non-technical where you need a Social Science background, the role is in Delhi, Digital India is one of the most talked after initiatives of the Modi government and this role is at the epicenter of Digital India PMU, volunteering period has crossed 1 year and finally, the realization that my career has not reached that point (assuming it exists) where you will just get a job wherever & whenever you apply.

At ISKON-Delhi with Ashok Da

So, I went Delhi, stayed at Ashok da (from Baikunthapur)'s place with six other flatmates and reached the NeGD office at Electronics Niketan on 28th October'15 morning at 9-00AM. I was the first one to reach there and exchanging smiles with the other NeGD employees (Sudipto, Brahmananda, Deepinder, Pranjal Da, Ishan etc). Eventually, the other candidates came and I took the responsibility to give a first smile and initiate a conversation. There were total four candidates for the interview round and I was called last to the interview panel.

The panel had five members including a HR head. They didn't introduce themselves, so I could not recognize. One of the panelist was Mr. Sunil Sharma whom I sent email after Ishan's suggestion. He was in charge for asking maximum questions. Here goes the chronology:

1. So, Manjit, tell us something about yourself.
2. Why do you think you should be hired for this position?
3. Why should Indian youth join Digital India? I told about approaches where ‘WHAT” component is important, means what Digital India wants to achieve from Indian youth. They told they can’t tell me their plan of WHAT and I need to tell them. Then I started explaining my three approaches for engaging youth-from Digital India side, from Youth policy side and from an Indian youth perspective. But just when I told the first, he interrupted.
4. What are the things for which youth will come and join Digital India. Then he asked, suppose I am going to lecture in front of an audience, say at AMITY university, what will I say? I answered some thing, but that was not they wanted to hear.
5. Then there were a few conversation, not exactly question-answer type. I was trying to figure out what actually they wanted to hear from me. Only two panelists were asking questions and they were not asking any strategic questions, meaning they were not much open for new ideas from my side.
6. Then one panelist dropped a bombshell- I was referring so much about policy and other stuff, and he got worried, told me- Manjit you have done so many things- Microsoft, Oxford, McKinsey; so don’t you think you are over qualified for the job—your salary, your scope of work might not match your expectation. I answered this job is based on two important areas of my interest- technology and youth. Also, bit of policy work might be necessary, JD is interesting. So, at this point of time, I am game for this position.
7. From almost that moment, I started driving the the discussion on the panel.
8. I told about my volunteering experience in last one year. They told Digital India wanna do something of that sort and asked my suggestion. I told them my UNV experience and how we  can do that, also bit of policy modification. The interviewers found my answer very good.
9. On guy who has not spoken so far, asked do I have team work experience –he seemed so nervous while asking the question that in my answer, I mentioned twice that his question was very practical.
10. Then all done, I said bye, got up from the chair and started walking out.
11. Then one panelist asked about my expected salary, they have limitations etc. The moment I mentioned 15-16 Lacs per annum they showed nervousness (same with Pranjal da after the interview outside NeGD building),I got worried!
12. I too felt nervous looking at them. The HR lady was speaking for the first time. I took their permission for explaining the reasons why I think my quoted figure is well researched. My three points were - I missed two years of increment at NISG because of my late joining and early leaving , my figure is well researched within NeGD policy and other consultant's salary, I did higher study and one year of volunteering in between. I did not forget to mention the point that by referring back to my old NISG salary they will discourage my volunteering spirit, which is exactly  what Digital India is trying to promote among Indian youth.
13. Then there was discussion on salary for around 4-5 min. The HR lady was asking whether I am open for negotiation, any ceiling for negotiation, blah blah. My position was- I have stated my logic, if you can counter my logic with argument, of course, I am open for negotiation.
14. Th discussion was going no where; I re-stated that I am open for negotiation and that ended the discussion.
15. I came out, asked about my travel reimbursement from the beautiful Shunali and left.
16. Outside I had 45 min discussion with Pranjal Da and heard about his neutral opinion on working with NeGD.
17. In the evening, Pranjal Da called me telling its almost positive. But he was asking me to keep my salary expectation at 13 Lac level. He was constantly advising me on that figure, which I found weird;I guess he was asked to communicate with me. 

I spent the evening at Akshardham temple with Ankur (Haryana) and remained in Delhi for next three days meeting Rita baidew, Pradip da, Kailash , Ritu and Kavita. On the way back I met Mr. Manab Chakraborty (IIM Kashipur) and Kamnashis, IPS. Overall, it was a good trip.

I have left my formal shoe and suit with Kailash. Am I signaling certainty?

17th October 2015 - Four years of the day that ended 'Microsoft torture'

October 17 letter in the year 2011

I still remember the moment. It was afternoon time- I was sitting in my chair, opened yahoo-mail and my life changed in a fraction of second. To appreciate the importance of that moment I must explain what I went through for the year prior to 17th October2011. I didn't have any option; so the question of joining vs not joining didn't come that time. Forget about option, I was dying that time with a 'framed forced resignation notice' on my head. Those were definitely horrible days of my life so far.
I have already clarified in this blog that my current condition is far better than that of year 2011. I am still 'without an option', frustrated, 'desperate for a change' ; but there are two major differences compared to 2011-- a) I am at home and b) the maturity of my thought process post Oxford and post 2011.

The only thing worrying me currently is that I am not doing anything significant that might work as good investment for the future. I keep thinking lot of things, but lack the willpower to drag that thought into concrete output. I wish I have some catalysts here to push me, such as energetic friend, bugging magazine editor, forced obligation etc. I always thought I can pull myself alone- this is again proved to be wrong.

There are a few new thoughts as well-
a) It is not always necessary to be in the government to have work satisfaction. If after so many attempts the government does not want people like me, what else can I do?
b) Like the non-profit, I feel, being in executive role also have arrays of limitations. If I have to do kind of things I imagine, I have to be in legislature.
c) The extent till which people can appreciate 'act locally' endeavor is limited. No matter how much I do at local level, it is limited and outsider also got bored too easily. If that gives you mental peace, fine. But for me, as you know, I dream high; so, limited stuff does not give me slightest satisfaction.
d) Time (which I am defining as the supreme power) always reserves some decisions with it. Maybe there is no need of long-term planning. If someone needs to invest time, he should do it only on short-term goals.

Does that put me in the same line with witch believers cum hunters? May be yes.
Am I expecting a miracle today on 17th October 2015? Definitely no.

7th October 2015 - After spending 30 hours with the World Bank team

The sudden call from Vikram on 5th October morning was rather surprise. But, without asking many questions, I decided to join him on 6th morning at Guwahati. My underlying ambition to work for the bank was definitely the principal reason. Then marathon meetings until 9-00PM and then visit to the Kamrup metro district office on 7th morning- I spent around 30 hours with them, except the sleeping time with Rupak, where I mostly dreamt the WB guys only.

At the Kamrup Metro e-District centre

Although the concrete output was zero, I analyzed and understood many facts. I know more possess the extreme desire to work for the bank now. Here are some thoughts I penned down on 7th October evening , sitting at IITG:

1. World Bank is just like another bank with US playing the role of father with maximum contribution and also attaching some rules with the US congress which even Obama can’t change. The annual profits are shared among the stakeholders.
2.  As a bank they have to search customers and their customers are all public sector entities.
3. Why should country take loan from World Bank- low interest rate, long repayment period, having World Bank portfolio is deemed as the country has transparency etc so credit agencies give more rating, possibility for getting grant, which is a small portion of the bank.
4. How Country decides whether and how much to take loan- for India, it is decided by DEA. Hence every proposal should be made to DEA. See this…very interesting - http://aaad.gov.in/
5. The marketing of the World Bank goes—Vikram will come and talk with different departments and ask them to apply for loan to DEA. On paper, it will be shown the department is applying to DEA for World Bank loan.
6. Ideally, there has to be state share (these days it is 30%). Usually, this 30% is indirectly/secretly adjusted with the 70% of the bank, so that the state needs not to spend any money. There is need to study how this ‘adjustment’ is causing inefficiency compared to central government’s direct funding.
7. The bank feels comfortable to deal with same implementing agency in the name of strict procurement policy etc. The relationship has every possibility of going fishy.
8. The way the initialization the project happens (point 5 above), even if the money is huge (say here $49 million), the politician and the citizens didn’t have single clue. Everything is managed by the bureaucrats and the officers of the departments.
9. From the conversation (say between Vikram and Naimur), it is evident, why the World Bank, UNDP jobs kept circulating among a group of people. As nobody knows much (point 8 above), the recruitment usually confined to a small group except the ones where they need expert people. For this project, Naimur and Shalini are there for years, but they are still not sure who would be the implementing agency for the project. Fuck !
10. The increase of China’s investment in Africa is directly related to the contracts China owned in the minerals of African countries. US, via World Bank, used to do the same thing years back.
11. I got to meet many powerful bureaucrats and got introduced by Vikram with high-flying words. I realized  to control the self obsessed IAS officers and their fishy counterparts like the World Bank ones, Politician is the only profession I should target. I feel like going to Jyotirmoy Sharma now and ask for more involvement. Hmm, I don’t know. What should I do, God?
12. Summery- I feel like  I am not at all interested for a World Bank job now. The experience would be just same as Microsoft type probably.

20th September 2015 - One year and beyond

The biggest challenge these days is to keep myself motivated, optimistic and hence joyful. This is not easy when each day passes without a news, my 'deadline week' keeps changing week after week, a rejection email pops up after 4-day of 'no email sabbatical', my current projects require a break and when numerous questions are directed at me asking 'how are you paying your bills?'.

At times, I think this is enough; but what options do I have? None, absolutely none at this point of time except joining a party, staying at IITG for research, applying to private sector etc type things that I don't want to do.

With Junma

In spite of that, I talk with Satyajit da for Gates Foundation; Pradip da for UNDP; re-establish the connection with Maya, Ranjita and Atif; attend Xomidhan session at Jorhat; write proposal for IITG project; write articles like  স্বাধীনতা নামৰ উদ্যোগটো ; settle native land documents for Rubber subsidy; help 'Balijana Development Block Protection Committee' for their memorandum submission; fight with police for stealing bike case; do trading and so on. But I feel all the time, something is missing somewhere. I have not been able to utilize the best in me.

Then I feel like broken down; the decision to come back to India starts hunting me; I feel deceived, stupid and alone; Am I making a mistake?

One year is a long time .................

The smiling face of maa, the innocent faces of BD and Junma, the hopeful faces of Agia raiz remind me I have not done anything wrong by being here at Agia. But the story should not end here.

How, when, where, why the next phase will start? God- should I still be optimistic?