Q1.

Please give details of why you are applying for this role and how you
demonstrate the technical/professional skills outlined in the job description.

I am applying for the role of Political Adviser because it aligns strongly with my academic
background and field experience in Indian politics. With a Master’s degree in Political
Science, I bring a deep theoretical understanding of Indian political structures, federal
dynamics, and electoral systems. This academic grounding enhances my ability to interpret
political events in context and assess their broader impact on bilateral relationships.

Professionally, I served in the Administrative and Data Unit of the Indian National Congress
during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This role involved tracking regional political
developments, managing political data, and drafting strategic briefs based on real-time
political shifts. I developed the skill to monitor evolving political narratives, evaluate
electoral strategies, and understand intra-party movements—critical areas of focus for this
position.

My work also involved analysing parliamentary records, political speeches, and party
manifestos, helping campaign teams respond effectively. I believe these skills—structured
analysis, data interpretation, and concise reporting—will directly support the needs of
British diplomats seeking to understand the Indian political landscape.

Additionally, I have experience in academic assessment within Political Science, which has
strengthened my ability to evaluate political arguments objectively, maintain analytical
rigour, and present findings clearly—skills highly transferable to tracking legislative
developments and advising on political risks and opportunities.

This role represents a unique opportunity to apply both my academic and field expertise in a
diplomatic setting, contributing meaningfully to UK-India relations through timely and
accurate political analysis.

Q2. Please give details of why you are applying for this role and how you
demonstrate the experience outlined in the job description.

My motivation to apply for this position stems from my combined academic and practical
experience in Indian politics. I hold a Master’s degree in Political Science, which has given
me an in-depth understanding of the Indian Constitution, political ideologies, party systems,
and legislative functioning—knowledge that is essential for monitoring Parliament,
elections, and political party dynamics.

During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, I worked in the Administrative and Data Unit of the
Indian National Congress. This gave me direct exposure to political operations, campaign
planning, and electoral monitoring across multiple states. I tracked regional political
developments, helped compile state-specific election reports, and assisted in drafting
internal assessments of party performance. These experiences sharpened my ability to
interpret fast-moving political events and understand their deeper implications—especially
from a national and international policy perspective.
I also have experience in Political Science assessment, where I reviewed academic work
related to governance, policy, and comparative politics. This has equipped me with a critical
lens and strong writing and evaluative skills, enabling me to prepare high-quality, evidence-
based reports—key to advising diplomats and supporting foreign policy discussions.

This role offers a chance to bridge my academic understanding with real-world political
analysis in a diplomatic context. I am particularly excited by the opportunity to advise on
how Indian political developments might influence UK interests, and to contribute to
enhancing bilateral cooperation. My experience positions me well to monitor, interpret, and
report on political trends with clarity and objectivity, in service of the UK’s strategic goals in
India.

Q. Describe a situation that required you to manage a number of pieces of

work at the same time. How did you handle it? What was the result?

During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, while working in the Administrative and Data Unit of
the Indian National Congress, I faced a period where multiple high-priority tasks needed to
be completed simultaneously within a tight deadline. These included preparing
constituency-level performance reports, managing incoming field data from different states,
responding to internal requests for political briefs, and coordinating with the media and
communication teams for timely updates.

To manage this workload effectively, I began by prioritising tasks based on urgency and
strategic importance. I created a shared tracker that broke down each task into smaller
components with deadlines, which helped me visualise progress and stay organised. I also
delegated routine data-cleaning tasks to junior volunteers where possible, allowing me to
focus on analytical and decision-critical work.

I maintained constant communication with different departments to ensure alignment and

reduced duplication of efforts. For each day, I allocated time blocks to handle specific
categories of work—such as mornings for data collation and afternoons for report drafting—
while leaving space for urgent developments, which were common during the campaign.

As a result, I was able to deliver all reports on time, ensure accuracy in data submissions,
and support the leadership team with timely political insights. My ability to multitask under
pressure was recognised by my supervisors, and the internal systems I introduced were later
adopted more broadly within the campaign.

This experience strengthened my ability to manage competing demands efficiently while

maintaining a high standard of output—skills I believe are directly relevant to the dynamic
and fast-paced environment of the Political Adviser role.

Q. Can you give us an example of when you enabled others to see the big
picture / strategic vision? How did you help them to see this and what were
the benefits?
During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, while working in the Administrative and Data Unit of
the Indian National Congress, I noticed that many campaign teams were focused solely on
daily numbers—booth-level turnout, local feedback, and micro-targeting data—without
fully considering how these local trends contributed to the broader national narrative and
electoral strategy.

To help teams see the bigger picture, I proposed and led the creation of a state-wise
political mapping report. It combined polling trends, media sentiment, party messaging, and
constituency-level data to highlight emerging patterns—such as regional shifts in voter
behaviour or the effectiveness of central leadership appeals in local contexts. I presented
this report in weekly review meetings using visual tools like trend charts and thematic maps
to simplify complex insights.

This helped local teams and mid-level managers understand how their work connected to
national-level goals and messaging. For instance, by showing how a regional issue was
gaining traction in multiple constituencies, we were able to recommend coordinated
responses from national spokespersons, aligning local concerns with the broader campaign.

The strategic alignment not only improved message consistency but also boosted team
morale, as field workers saw their efforts reflected in larger shifts. It also helped senior
leadership make informed decisions about resource allocation in key battleground states.

This experience taught me the value of connecting day-to-day activities to a strategic vision
—an approach I would bring to the Political Adviser role to help diplomatic teams
understand the wider implications of political developments in India.

Q. When communicating to others, how have you ensured your

communication is clear, well-structured and tailored to your audience? Tell
us about a time you have done this and the impact it had.

As an Associate in the Assessment team for Political Science, I was responsible for
coordinating and leading a group of 4–5 subject matter experts to develop and review
assessment content for academic and competitive examinations. The team included
individuals with diverse academic backgrounds and varying levels of experience in
assessment writing.

One particular challenge arose during a major review cycle when we had to revise a large
set of questions under tight deadlines. I noticed that discrepancies in interpretations of
assessment standards were slowing the process. To address this, I organised a structured
orientation session where I broke down the assessment criteria into clear, simplified
guidelines using practical examples. I also created a reference document outlining common
pitfalls, ideal response structures, and expectations for question alignment with learning
outcomes.

In ongoing communications, I tailored my approach depending on the recipient—providing

detailed feedback and rationale to junior team members while offering concise strategic
updates to senior reviewers. I maintained regular check-ins to clarify expectations, resolve
doubts, and realign the team’s output to our quality standards.

By ensuring that communication was consistent, structured, and audience-specific, the

team’s efficiency and accuracy significantly improved. We not only completed the revision
ahead of schedule but also received positive feedback from the quality assurance team on
the clarity and academic integrity of the final content.

This experience reinforced the importance of adapting communication styles based on

context and audience—something I would bring to the Political Adviser role, especially when
conveying complex political developments to stakeholders with varied levels of subject
familiarity.

Q. Tell me about a time when you have been faced with resistance or
negativity and how you have responded to this.

A few years ago, I went through a personally difficult phase when I developed an addiction
to online poker. What began as a casual hobby gradually turned into a compulsion, leading
to significant financial loss and emotional stress. The experience was compounded by
internal resistance—I initially found it hard to accept that I had lost control over my actions.
Friends and family expressed concern, but I was reluctant to confront the issue, believing I
could manage it on my own.

Eventually, after a particularly heavy financial setback, I acknowledged the seriousness of

the situation. I recognised that continuing down this path would only lead to deeper
instability—both financially and mentally. This moment of clarity prompted me to take full
responsibility. I permanently quit online poker and actively removed triggers from my
environment, including uninstalling apps and avoiding conversations or content related to
gambling.

I redirected my focus toward rebuilding structure in my life. I re-engaged with my academic

interests in political science and began working consistently in assessment and research-
related roles. The stability of routine work, intellectual engagement, and measurable
progress helped me regain confidence and financial security. More importantly, it restored a
sense of purpose and discipline.

This experience taught me how to face internal resistance, navigate negativity, and make
difficult but necessary choices. It strengthened my emotional resilience—an essential quality
in high-pressure environments—and deepened my empathy for others facing personal
challenges. It also reinforced the value of long-term thinking and accountability, traits that I
bring into my professional life every day.

Further Comments

I have found the application process to be clear, well-structured, and thoughtfully designed
to assess both professional competencies and personal suitability for the role. The questions
provided have encouraged meaningful reflection on my experiences, and I appreciate the
opportunity to demonstrate both my academic background and practical engagement with
Indian politics. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to the important work of the
British High Commission through this role.