Study Notes

COURSES OF ACTION
Study Notes (COURSES OF ACTION)

Questions related to “Course of Action” is often asked in many competitive exams. It checks
your decision making skills.

A Course of Action is basically step taken to counter a problem or situation, to either completely
solve the problem or at least minimize the problem.

Format of the Question:

A Statement is given stating some problem or situation and some actions are listed I & II or
sometimes even more. A candidate has to decide which all Course of Actions will follow in order
to solve or minimize the problem.

Give answer as:

(a) If only I follows

(b) If only II follows

(c) If either I or II follows

(d) If neither I nor II follows

(e) If both I and II follows

Points to remember while solving the problems:

 The Course of Action will be suitable if:

 It solves the problem. Example:

Statement: Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) witnessed violence on

Wednesday night.
Course of Action: The miscreants should be nabbed and put behind bars
immediately. Also enough security should be provided at the institute till matter
resolves.

The course of Action taken follows since it may solve the problem at BIMS

 Even if the course of action doesn’t solve the problem; it should at least minimize
the problem. In other words, it must be able to improve the situation. Example:

Statement says “Many ATM frauds have been reported since few years”
Course of Action: People should be educated by the staffs regarding not
disclosing ATM PINs and other precautionary measures while they apply for ATM
in any bank.

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Study Notes (COURSES OF ACTION)

As we can see the above course of action may not completely eliminate ATM
Frauds but shall be able to at least minimize the frauds.

 It is a practical solution. Example:

Statement: Last night there was a stampede in City Market.

Course of Action: All the markets should be shifted in the outskirt of city.

So though the course of action may minimize the problem it’s not a practical
solution.

 The problem and solution should be well-matched. The solution should not be
too severe for a simple problem or too simple for a serious problem. Example:

Statement: A 15-year-old girl jumped off the metro bridge last month.
Course of Action: Children below 16 years should not be allowed in metros

Now here we can see because of one girl entire population under 16years in age
are being stopped from travelling in metro which is very harsh.

 The Course of Action must not create a new problem. Example:

Statement: Many no. of youths was reported unemployed last year

Course of Action: The government should give unemployment allowance to such
youths.

Here giving unemployment allowance is increasing financial burden on the

government. Also such allowance will make youth less motivated to work since
they are already getting money in form of allowance

 The Course of Action must be related or relevant to the problem: Example:

Statement: Cases of asthma sufferers have been rising.

Course of Action: Wages of hospital staffs should be increased immediately

Here there is no relation between increase in asthma patients and increase in

hospital’s staff wages.

 While evaluating the Course of Action, your individual perception should never come to
play.

 Use your common sense.

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Study Notes (COURSES OF ACTION)

Example:

Statement: A large number of invitees who attended the marriage function fell ill due to food
poisoning and were rushed to various hospitals located in the area.

Courses of Action:

I) The Government should ban such marriage functions till further notice.

II)The local hospitals should be advised but the Government to provide best services to the
affected people

-Corporation Bank(PO) 2010

Give answer as:

(a) If only I follows

(b) If only II follows

(c) If either I or II follows

(d) If neither I nor II follows

(e) If both I and II follows

Answers:

I)This does not follow since its not a practical solution. Also its very harsh. Because of people
getting infected in one marriage function, entire populations cannot be barred of conducting
marriages.

II)It does not follow since the problem is not so severe as to involve government actions in it. It’s
the duty of hospital staffs to provide best services, no government advise is necessary for it.