Course of Action Questions

• Statement–Courses of Action (industrial competitiveness): Indian electronic component manufacturers entering West European markets face intense competition from Japanese firms; which course(s) of action logically follow—shifting focus to other international markets or upgrading the quality of Indian electronic components to compete effectively?
• Statement–Courses of Action (inter-state project governance): Orissa and Andhra Pradesh have agreed in principle to constitute a joint control board for improved control, management, and productivity of several inter-state multipurpose projects; which course(s) of action follow—encouraging other neighbouring states to form similar boards, or disallowing the proposed board on the assumption that such joint boards are always ineffective?
• Statement–Courses of Action (non-profit finance): The Government has decided that, from the next Five Year Plan, it will not provide financial support to voluntary organisations and has informed them to raise funds independently; which course(s) of action logically follow—collaborating with foreign agencies for funds, or exploring other diversified sources of financial support?
• Statement–Courses of Action (trade policy and market behaviour): Imported fruits have become widely available in the domestic market, and demand for indigenous fruits has declined; which course(s) of action logically follow—imposing high import duties on these fruits even if domestic fruits are not of good quality, or instructing fruit vendors to stop selling imported fruits so that demand for indigenous produce rises?
• Statement–Courses of Action (higher education capacity planning): There has been an unprecedented increase in the number of successful candidates in this year's School Leaving Certificate Examination; which course(s) of action logically follow—immediately increasing the number of seats in intermediate courses in existing colleges and proactively opening new colleges to accommodate the expanded cohort?
• Statement–Courses of Action (railway safety at level crossings): On average, about twenty people die every day after being run over by trains while crossing tracks at level crossings; evaluate which remedial policy logically follows—(I) instruct railway authorities to close all level crossings outright, (II) impose heavy fines on anyone found crossing when the gates are closed—focusing on practicality, deterrence, and alignment with the stated problem.
• Statement–Courses of Action (school results crisis): A majority of students in many schools are not passing the final examination; decide which action(s) logically follow—(I) close these schools as unproductive, (II) immediately retrench the teachers—considering due diligence, diagnosis, and proportionality.
• Statement–Courses of Action (school safety and discipline): Despite repeated warnings from the principal, a child was caught secretly exploding firecrackers in school; evaluate which response(s) follow—(I) confiscate all crackers and warn the child not to repeat the act, (II) severely punish the child—focusing on safety, pedagogy, and proportionality.
• Statement–Courses of Action (bank NPAs and bad-debt prevention): To avoid repetition of bad debts by learning from past non-performing assets, decide which measures follow—(I) strictly evaluate loan eligibility before sanction, (II) closely and regularly supervise the work for which the loan was granted to ensure instalment payments—assessing prevention and monitoring.
• Statement–Courses of Action (faulty exam questions causing mass failure): A very large number of students failed in a high-school subject because the paper contained faulty questions; determine which action(s) follow—(I) allow all affected students a supplementary examination, (II) suspend those responsible and initiate an enquiry—balancing fairness to students and accountability.
• Statement–Courses of Action (engineer unemployment and policy response): Many engineering graduates presently lack gainful employment and this number is likely to grow; judge which course(s) follow—(I) launch attractive employment-generation schemes that productively use their skills, (II) attribute the problem to proliferation of poor-quality colleges and close institutions not equipped to impart quality education—considering what is implied by the statement.
• Statement–Courses of Action (conjunctivitis patterns around monsoons): Minor cases occur yearly near monsoon boundaries, but this year there is a major epidemic after about four years; decide which action(s) follow—(I) take precautionary measures only every four years, (II) advise people to drink boiled water during the rainy season—based on relevance to eye infections and timing.
• Statement–Courses of Action (pilgrim hypothermia risk on mountain shrine route): Every year many devotees die from severe cold en route to a shrine located atop a mountain range; assess which measure(s) follow—(I) discourage travel without proper warm clothing and essential amenities, (II) the government should provide warm clothes and shelter to all devotees—evaluating feasibility and targeted prevention.
• Statement–Courses of Action (holiday-season train berth surge): There is an unprecedented rise in berth requests on most long-distance trains during the current holiday season; determine which action(s) follow—(I) immediately attach extra coaches to increase capacity, (II) advise passengers to plan travel after the holidays—focusing on demand management and service responsibility.
• Statement–Courses of Action (ministerial resignation before budget): The Finance Minister tenders resignation one month before the Union Budget is due to be presented in Parliament; decide which course follows—(I) accept the resignation and appoint a new Finance Minister, (II) do not accept the resignation—grounding the decision in continuity of budgetary process and governance.
• Statement–Courses of Action (border health & travel control): A large number of travellers arriving in India from country X have tested positive for a highly lethal viral disease; to contain importation risk and protect public health, which course(s) of action logically follow—(I) impose a complete entry ban on all persons coming from country X, including Indian citizens settled there, or (II) immediately set up detection and screening centres at all airports and seaports to identify infected travellers and quarantine those who test positive?
• Statement–Courses of Action (democratic process & turnout): In the recent Assembly elections, overall voter turnout was less than 40%; which course(s) of action logically follow—(I) the Election Commission should cancel the entire election as the votes cast are insufficient to represent the people, or (II) the Election Commission should strip voting rights from all who did not vote?
• Statement–Courses of Action (implementation gap): It is observed that most development plans remain confined to paperwork and do not translate into on-ground execution; which course(s) of action logically follow—(I) instruct officers-in-charge to supervise fieldwork regularly, or (II) curtail the supply of paper to these departments?
• Statement–Courses of Action (price stabilisation for onions in State 'P'): Vegetable traders anticipate a near-term rise in onion prices in State 'P'; which course(s) of action logically follow—(I) the State 'P' government should proactively purchase and store adequate onions in advance to moderate prices, or (II) the State 'F' government should create a network of fair-price shops to sell onions during the shortage?
• Statement–Courses of Action (nutrition guidance vs. bans): Reports indicate Vitamin E from fresh fruits and vegetables benefits the human body, whereas capsule-form Vitamin E does not produce the same effect; which course(s) of action logically follow—(I) ban the sale of Vitamin E capsules, or (II) encourage people to consume fresh fruits and vegetables to meet Vitamin E needs?