Women's Day Special: Saloni Khanna on Women in UPSC, Gender Equality, Caste Bias, and Parenting in India | Dostcast

Mar 7, 2025

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Saloni Khanna is a Societal Educator, Assistant Professor, and UPSC mock interviewer. She graduated from Hansraj College, Delhi University, with a degree in Economics in 2013. Early in her career, she interned at Religare Wellness and later worked as a youth influencer for Adidas and Vogue magazine. She also gained experience as an intern at ‘Care’ before serving as a research specialist for the Government of India. Saloni is the co-founder of Skill Up Foundation and is also a part of the UPSC Civil Services mock interview panel.

You can follow Saloni on:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6noFszdNNC-LlsP9o-Dc2w

https://www.instagram.com/thesalonikhanna/?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

In this episode, Vinamre and Saloni talk about:

- Best ways to prepare for interviews, why IAS is preferred over IFS, and whether a rebellious person can crack UPSC

.- India's obsession with English, the importance of preserving Hindi, and governance challenges in cities like Faridabad.

- Caste influence in UPSC interviews, the lack of women in leadership, and the need for equal opportunities.

- Paternity leave in India, declining birth rates, and rethinking traditional parenting models.

- Winning debates, structuring English effectively, and boosting self-esteem.

Don't miss this episode for insights on bureaucracy, interviews, and personal growth.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

1:04 - Best ways to prepare for an interview9:35 - Reason behind designing UPSC interviews

12:10 - Reason why people prefer becoming IAS officers over IFS officers

16:05 - How can a rebellious person crack UPSC?

19:27 - Bad reputation of Indian bureaucracy

24:15 - Obsession with English in India

32:33 - How can we preserve Hindi?

40:00 - Why Faridabad is a failed city

45:07 - Experience of coming to Delhi for the first time

51:07 - How do you win a debate?

56:25 - Importance of structure in English

1:02:25 - Does caste influence UPSC interview questions?1:04:29 - Why are there fewer women in leadership positions?

1:12:53 - The need for equal opportunities for men and women

1:19:50 - Paternity leave for men in India and postpartum depression

1:26:07 - Why are people having fewer kids in urban India?1:29:38 - Is there a need to rethink the traditional model of raising a child?

1:32:31 - What is delayed paternity?

1:38:56 - What can you do to increase your self-esteem?1:45:01 - Conclusion

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