Course of Action Questions

• Statement: The world will have to feed more than a billion additional people in the next century; about half will be in Asia and will eat rice as their staple food. Courses of Action: I. Allocate more funds immediately for rice research to help ensure adequate supplies. II. Encourage people in Asia to change their food habits away from rice. III. Grow more rice in countries outside Asia to meet the expected demand.
• Statement: Most development plans remain “on paper” and are not implemented on the ground. Courses of Action: I. Instruct responsible officers to supervise field work regularly and report progress. II. Reduce the supply of paper to these departments.
• Statement: Groundwater in the locality contains high levels of arsenic, making it dangerous to drink. Courses of Action: I. Immediately shift people living in the area to a different locality to avoid a catastrophic situation. II. Arrange for safe drinking water supply (e.g., treated piped water, tankers, community RO units).
• Statement: A large cache of live ammunition has been found in the scrap yard of a local steel factory. Courses of Action: I. Close the steel factory immediately until all ammunition is located and shifted to safe places. II. The government should set up an inquiry to unearth details and recommend corrective measures to avoid recurrence.
• Statement: A group of school students was reported to be enjoying at a picnic spot during official school hours. Courses of Action: I. The principal should contact the parents/guardians of those students and issue a firm warning for the future. II. Appropriate disciplinary action should be taken against the students to set awareness and deterrence for others.
• Statement: There has been a significant drop in the water level of all the lakes supplying water to the city. Courses of Action: I. Impose a partial cut in municipal water supply to manage the situation. II. Appeal through mass media for minimal and prudent use of water by all residents.
• Statement: India has been continuously experiencing military threats from its neighbouring countries. Courses of Action: I. Engage in an all-out war to stop the recurring threats. II. Initiate serious dialogue with neighbours to reduce tensions at the borders.
• Statement: Ten coaches of a passenger train derailed, blocking both pairs of railway tracks. Courses of Action: I. Railway authorities should immediately send men and equipment to clear the tracks. II. Divert all trains running in both directions to alternate routes.
• Statement: Voter turnout was less than 40% in the recent assembly elections. Courses of Action: I. The election commission should cancel the entire election because the votes cast are not adequate to represent the people. II. The election commission should take away the voting rights of those who did not vote.
• Statement: Many medical and engineering graduates are taking up jobs in administrative services and banks. Courses of Action: I. Advise all professionals to refrain from taking such jobs. II. The government should appoint a committee to find reasons for this trend and suggest remedial measures.
• Statement: Drinking-water supply to many parts of the town has been disrupted due to leakage losses in supply pipelines. Courses of Action: I. The government should order an enquiry into the matter. II. The civic body should set up a fact-finding and repair team to assess damage and take effective steps.
• Statement: There is an alarming increase in malaria cases in many parts of the city. Courses of Action: I. Municipal corporation should instruct government hospitals to store adequate supplies of antimalarial drugs and diagnostic kits. II. Municipal corporation should urge people to use mosquito repellents, eliminate breeding sites, and keep premises clean.
• Statement: Many people have encroached upon public land. The civic authority should take immediate steps to remove all unauthorized structures. Courses of Action: I. The municipal corporation should advise all government hospitals to store an adequate supply of anti-malaria drugs. II. All encroachers should immediately be put behind bars and also be slapped with a hefty fine. Which course(s) of action logically follow(s)?
• Statement: The meteorological department has predicted normal rainfall throughout the country for the current monsoon season. Courses of Action: I. The government should reduce the procurement price of food grains for the current year. II. The government should reduce the fertilizer subsidy for the current year. Which course(s) of action logically follow(s)?
• Statement: The number of dropouts in government schools has significantly increased in urban areas over the past few years. Courses of Action: I. The government should immediately close down all such urban schools where the dropout rate exceeds 20 percent. II. The parents of all students who dropped out of government schools in urban areas should be punished. Which course(s) of action logically follow(s)?
• Statement: A very large number of residents gathered outside the local police station to submit a memorandum highlighting police inaction against frequent thefts and burglaries in the neighbourhood during the past few months. Courses of Action: I. The police authority should form a team to meet resident representatives and assure that concrete steps will be taken to stop the menace. II. The police authority should advise the gathered people to disperse and promise them quick action. Which course(s) of action logically follow(s)?
• Statement: At least five students were killed in a stampede in a city school as students rushed to leave the building, fearing an electrical short circuit. Courses of Action: I. The principal of the school should be arrested immediately. II. The government should order the school to be closed permanently with immediate effect. Which course(s) of action logically follow(s)?
• Statement: Two local passenger trains collided while running in opposite directions on the same track because the signalling system failed for a brief period. Courses of Action: I. The services of the motormen of the trains should be terminated immediately. II. The government should immediately constitute a task force to review the functioning of the signalling system. Which course(s) of action logically follow(s)?
• Statement: Almost 90% of the flights of a private airline were cancelled for the fourth consecutive day as pilots refused to join duty in protest against the sacking of two colleagues by the airline management. Courses of Action: I. The government should order the airline to reinstate the sacked pilots immediately to end the crisis. II. The government should take steps to end the impasse between management and pilots to help stranded passengers. Which course(s) of action logically follow(s)?
• Statement: A major part of the local market was gutted due to a short circuit, causing extensive damage to goods and property. Courses of Action: I. The government should issue strict guidelines for all establishments regarding installation and maintenance of electrical fittings. II. The government should relocate all markets to the outskirts of the city. Which course(s) of action logically follow(s)?