In this sentence arrangement question, the labelled sentences P, Q, R and S discuss the aims of higher education; choose the order that forms the most logical and coherent paragraph.

Introduction / Context:
This para-jumble question tests your ability to arrange given sentences into a logically coherent paragraph. The sentences discuss the goals of higher education and the need to align educational planning with national development and manpower requirements. To solve such questions, you must pay attention to how ideas are introduced, developed and concluded, rather than focusing only on individual sentences in isolation.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The four labelled sentences are:
- Q: When we set about the task of higher education, we should be absolutely clear in our perception of the goals of education in the specific context of our nation's development.
- R: No doubt, one of the important aims of education would be to create the required range and nature of trained manpower assessed to be needed by different sectors of national growth.
- P: The aim must be to ensure that our country does not experience either paucity or a surfeit of trained manpower in any specific segment of our economy.
- S: The entire educational apparatus must be geared progressively to fulfill the requirements of different phases of our growth in every sector primary, secondary and tertiary.
We must choose the order that makes a smooth and logical argument.

Concept / Approach:
A good paragraph begins with a general introduction, then moves to specific aims, conditions and finally to an implementation or summary statement. Sentence Q clearly introduces the topic of higher education and national development, so it is a strong candidate for the opening. Sentence R explains one important aim of education—creating trained manpower. Sentence P then refines that aim by stating that there should be neither shortage nor excess of manpower. Sentence S finally talks about gearing the entire educational apparatus to meet growth requirements across sectors, which is a natural concluding or summarising remark.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Choose the opening sentence. Q mentions 'when we set about the task of higher education' and refers to the goals of education, which naturally introduces the topic, so Q should come first. Step 2: After stating the need for clarity about goals in Q, R logically follows by specifying one of those aims: creating the necessary range and nature of trained manpower. Step 3: P builds on R by defining that the aim must avoid both scarcity and over-supply of trained manpower in any segment of the economy. Step 4: S then talks about the whole educational apparatus being geared to meet the requirements of our growth phases, primary, secondary and tertiary, which serves as a summary of the implementation needed to achieve the aims mentioned. Step 5: Therefore, the correct order is Q-R-P-S, which corresponds to option QRSP.

Verification / Alternative check:
Test other orders briefly. Starting with P or S is awkward because they both refer to 'the aim' or 'the educational apparatus' without having introduced the broader goal of education first. Starting with S also feels like a conclusion rather than an introduction. Only Q provides a suitable context for what follows. Once Q is fixed at the beginning, R and P naturally develop the specific aims, and S acts as a concluding statement about aligning the system with these aims. Thus QRSP is the only sequence that produces a smooth, logical paragraph.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option SQPR is wrong because S cannot logically open the discussion; it talks about 'the entire educational apparatus' without previous context. Option SRQP likewise starts with S and then jumps in a confusing way. Option SRQP and option PSQR both fail to provide a clear introduction and cause pronouns like 'the aim' to appear before the concept of goals has been properly set up. Therefore, these sequences lack coherence compared to QRSP.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes look only at the last words of sentences instead of overall meaning, or they try to arrange sentences based on superficial links rather than conceptual flow. Another pitfall is ignoring phrases like 'when we set about' or 'no doubt, one of the important aims', which clearly indicate introductory or elaborating roles. Always identify which sentence introduces the main topic, which ones add details, and which one concludes the idea.

Final Answer:
The most logical and coherent order of the sentences is Q R P S, corresponding to option QRSP.