(IGP) IAS Pre Paper - 2: GS - Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability - Statement & Courses of Action

In such types of questions a situation would be presented and some courses of action are suggested in the context of those situations. These types of questions are designed to test candidate’s decision making ability. In other words a course of action is ‘a step or administrative decision to be taken for improvement, follow up or further action with regard to the problem on the basis of data provided’. 

To solve these questions, the candidates are advised to keep in mind the following important points:

1. Correct course of action should either lessen the problem or improve the situation created by the problem.
2. Simple problem must have simple course of action and not a complex one which may create more problems than to solve or reduce it.
3. Course of action should be feasible and should relate with the practical aspect of life.

Type 1 Two Courses of Action Based

In these type of questions a Statement is given followed by two courses of action numbered I and II. The candidate is required to grasp the Statement, analyse the problem or policy it mentions and then decide as to which of the courses of action logically follow(s).

Directions (Examples 1 to 2) In each of the questions given below is a Statement followed by two courses of action numbered I and II. A course of action is a step or administrative decision to be taken for improvement, follow-up or further action in regard to the problem, policy etc. On the basis of information's given in the Statement you have to assume everything in the Statement to be true, then decide which of the two given courses of action logically follow.

Give your answer as
(a) If only I follows
(b) If only II follows
(c) If neither I nor II follows
(d) If both I and II follow

Example 1: Statement: A large number of engineering graduates in our country are not in a position to have gainful employment at present and the number of such engineers are likely to grow in future.

Courses of Action:

I. The government should launch attractive employment generating schemes and encourage these graduates to opt for such schemes to effectively use their expertise and knowledge.
II. This happened due to proliferation of engineering colleges in the country and there by lowering the quality of the engineering graduates. Those colleges, which are not equipped to impart quality education should be closed down immediately.
Solution. (a) Only course of action I seems to be suitable for pursuing. The first line of course of action II is not a course of action and second line does not properly address the problem. Example 2: Statement: There have been many instances of dacoity and looting in many passenger trains this years.

Courses of Action:

I. The railway authority should immediately deploy one policemen in each compartment in all the passenger trains.
II. The passengers travelling by train should be given training on how to tackle the dacoits and looters.
Solution. (c) Considering the insufficient number of security personnel the course of action I seems to be untenable. Similarly, course of action II is not practically feasible. Thus, neither course of action I nor II follows.

Type 2 Three Courses of Action Based

In such questions a Statement followed by three courses of action numbered I, II and III. A course of action is a step or administrative decision to be taken for improvement follow - up or further action in regard to the problem, policy etc. On the basis of the information given in the Statement, you have to assume everything in the Statement to be true, then decide which of the suggested courses of action logically follows for pursuing.

Example 3: Statement Many peoples in the locality have fallen sick and admitted in the local hospital after consuming sweets served during a community meal.

Courses of Action:

I. The police should immediately arrest all the peoples responsible for making the sweets.
II. The people admitted in the local hospital should immediately be shifted to bigger hospitals.
III. The local food and drug authority should investigate to find out the cause of the sickness and take necessary action.

(a) Only I follows
(b) Only I and II follow
(c) Only III follows
(d) Only II and III follow
Solutions. (c) Only III follows. After finding the cause of the sickness necessary action should be taken.  Hence this authority should investigate to find out the cause of the sickness and take necessary action. As it is not possible to shift local hospital of bigger hospital.

Example 4: Statement: Many management institutes in the city have enrolled a large number of students for management courses which are not recognized either by the local university or by the department of technical education.

Courses of Action:

I. All these management institutes should immediately derecognized by the university and the department of technical education.
II. All these management institutes should be asked to refund fees to all such students and enroll them only for recognized courses.
III. All such students should be advised to switch over to the recognized courses in other institutes.

(a) Only I follows
(b) Only II follows
(c) Only III follows
(d) Only II and III follow
Solution. (a) Such institutes should immediately be derecognized by the university. Hence I course of action follows. It is not possible to refund fees to all such students and enroll them only for recognized courses. All students could not be advised to switch over to the recognized courses in other institutes.

Example 5: Statement: Higher disposal costs encourage those who produce waste to look for cheaper ways to get rid of it.

Courses of Action:

I. The disposal costs should be made higher.
II. The disposal costs should be brought down.
III. A committee should be set up study the details in this respect.

(a) Only I follows
(b) Only II follows
(c) Either I or II follows
(d) Only II and III follow
Solution. (e) Action II and III are feasible and effective to combat the problem.

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