Click Here to Join Online Coaching Click Here

www.upscportal.com

Logical Reasoning &

Analytical Ability

www.upscportal.com

Click Here to Join Online Coaching Click Here

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.

Statement and Courses of Action

www.upscportal.com

Click Here to Join Online Coaching Click Here

Type of Questions that could be Asked in CSAT

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 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.

www.upscportal.com

Click Here to Join Online Coaching Click Here

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 poliferation 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.

www.upscportal.com

Click Here to Join Online Coaching Click Here

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.

www.upscportal.com

Click Here to Join Online Coaching Click Here

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 follow(s) 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

www.upscportal.com

Click Here to Join Online Coaching Click Here

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.

www.upscportal.com

Click Here to Join Online Coaching Click Here

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.

www.upscportal.com

Click Here to Join Online Coaching Click Here

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.

www.upscportal.com

Click Here to Join Online Coaching Click Here

Click Here to Join Online Coaching: http://upscportal.com/civilservices/courses

Click Here to Buy Study Material in Hard Copy: http://upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit