Course Action
Key Concepts
| # | Concept | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course of Action is a step that will reduce/minimise the problem or prevent it. | It must be practical, logical & directly linked to the given problem. |
| 2 | Valid course: reduces the stated problem only; irrelevant or after-effect options are wrong. | Ask: “Will this definitely help the given situation?” |
| 3 | Government/authority is assumed to have power to implement the action unless the contrary is stated. | Never reject an option only because it looks “bold”. |
| 4 | Ultimate aim is practical solution, not ideal-world solution. | Choose the best among the given, not the perfect. |
| 5 | Chain reaction (action → secondary benefit) is NOT a valid ground; benefit must be direct. | “It will improve GDP” is secondary → reject. |
| 6 | Personal/individual action is weak; systemic/organisational action is strong. | Prefer “bank should install CCTV” over “customer should be careful”. |
| 7 | Two-part statement: treat each part independently; both must be valid for the option to be correct. | “Warn + Punish” → check each verb. |
| 8 | Extreme words (only, always, completely) are suspicious but not always wrong; check context. | In security matters, “only” may be acceptable. |
15 Practice MCQs
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Statement: Large number of pilgrims die every year while undertaking the steep 14-km trek to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
Course of Action:
I. Helicopter service should be made compulsory for every pilgrim.
II. A proper medical aid centre should be set up every 2 km. Answer: B (Only II follows)
Solution: Compulsory helicopter (I) is impractical & economically harsh. Medical centres (II) directly reduce deaths → valid.
Shortcut: “Compulsory/extreme” → doubt; “medical aid” → always welcome.
Tag: Practicality filter -
Statement: Every rainy season a city gets submerged due to choked drains.
Course of Action:
I. Desilting of drains should be completed before monsoon.
II. People should be fined for throwing garbage in drains. Answer: E (Both I and II follow)
Solution: Desilting (I) is direct preventive step; penalty (II) deters repeat offence → both complementary.
Shortcut: “Before monsoon” = time-bound → strong choice.
Tag: Dual valid actions -
Statement: Bank receives complaints that ATM cabins are being used by anti-social elements at night.
Course of Action:
I. The cabin doors should be removed so that nobody can hide inside.
II. Security guard should be posted round-the-clock. Answer: B (Only II follows)
Solution: Removing doors (I) creates bigger security & weather issue → absurd. Guard (II) is standard & effective.
Shortcut: “Absurd physical change” → reject immediately.
Tag: Absurdity test -
Statement: Over-speeding buses cause frequent accidents on a 4-lane highway.
Course of Action:
I. Speed-guns should be installed and fines collected automatically.
II. All buses should be installed with speed-limiting devices. Answer: E (Both follow)
Solution: Both directly curb over-speeding; technology + enforcement combo is best.
Shortcut: “Technology + enforcement” → usually both correct.
Tag: Tech-enforcement combo -
Statement: Fake currency is being dispensed by ATMs in many states.
Course of Action:
I. All ATM cash should be stamped with government seal.
II. ATM cassette loading should be videographed. Answer: B (Only II follows)
Solution: Stamping (I) not feasible for already printed notes; videography (II) deters malpractice → valid.
Shortcut: “Not feasible on existing currency” → reject I.
Tag: Feasibility check -
Statement: Many schoolchildren fall sick after mid-day meal.
Course of Action:
I. Food samples should be tested daily before serving.
II. Teachers should taste food before children eat. Answer: E (Both follow)
Solution: Lab test (I) scientific check; teacher-tasting (II) immediate human alert → both practical.
Shortcut: “Double-check” → both correct.
Tag: Double safety -
Statement: Huge backlog of pending cases in lower courts.
Course of Action:
I. Evening courts should be introduced for pending cases.
II. All cases should be transferred to fast-track courts. Answer: A (Only I follows)
Solution: Evening courts (I) adds working hours → practical. Transferring all (II) is logistically impossible → reject.
Shortcut: “All” = extreme → doubt.
Tag: Extreme-word filter -
Statement: Mosquito-borne diseases rise after rainfall.
Course of Action:
I. Government should spray insecticides immediately after rain.
II. Citizens should use mosquito nets. Answer: A (Only I follows)
Solution: Govt spraying (I) systemic & large-scale; nets (II) individual defence → secondary, not course of action.
Shortcut: “Citizens should” → usually weak.
Tag: Weak individual action -
Statement: Railway tracks are stolen repeatedly, causing derailments.
Course of Action:
I. Track joints should be welded instead of nut-bolt.
II. Patrolling should be increased during night. Answer: E (Both follow)
Solution: Welding (I) makes theft difficult; patrolling (II) deters thieves → complementary.
Shortcut: “Theft-difficulty + surveillance” → both correct.
Tag: Theft prevention combo -
Statement: Cyber-fraud through fake UPI handles is rising.
Course of Action:
I. Digital literacy campaigns should be launched.
II. All UPI transactions should be banned above ₹5,000. Answer: A (Only I follows)
Solution: Campaign (I) directly reduces victim pool; ban (II) kills digital economy → impractical.
Shortcut: “Ban on routine activity” → reject.
Tag: Ban-test -
Statement: Students suicide due to stress of competitive exams.
Course of Action:
I. Counselling cells should be set up in every coaching centre.
II. Exams should be abolished. Answer: A (Only I follows)
Solution: Counselling (I) directly mitigates stress; abolishing exams (II) is utopian & harmful → reject.
Shortcut: “Abolish” = utopian → never correct.
Tag: Utopia filter -
Statement: Pilferage of grains in ration shops.
Course of Action:
I. GPS-enabled trucks for transport.
II. Biometric authentication for beneficiaries. Answer: E (Both follow)
Solution: GPS (I) plugs transport leak; biometric (II) plugs end-user ghost cards → both independent & valid.
Shortcut: “Technology at two points” → both correct.
Tag: Two-point tech -
Statement: Long queues at ticket counters cause passengers to miss trains.
Course of Action:
I. More counters should be opened during peak hours.
II. Ticket checking staff should be lenient. Answer: A (Only I follows)
Solution: More counters (I) directly cuts queue; leniency (II) encourages ticketless travel → not solution.
Shortcut: “Lenient” = creates bigger problem → reject.
Tag: Leniency trap -
Statement: Power theft causes huge loss to electricity board.
Course of Action:
I. Smart meters should be installed that send real-time data.
II. Reward should be given to informers of theft. Answer: E (Both follow)
Solution: Smart meters (I) detect; reward (II) deterrence via public participation → both accepted worldwide.
Shortcut: “Detection + incentive” → both correct.
Tag: Incentive combo -
Statement: Road caves in after heavy rain, causing traffic jams.
Course of Action:
I. Use of plastic waste in road construction should be promoted.
II. Immediate temporary steel plates should be placed over cave-in portion. Answer: E (Both follow)
Solution: Plastic-waste roads (I) long-term prevention; steel plates (II) instant traffic restoration → both valid.
Shortcut: “Immediate + long-term” → both correct.
Tag: Time-horizon combo
Speed Tricks
| Situation | Shortcut | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Option contains “citizens/people should” | 80 % weak → skip unless no better option | “People should carry less cash” → weak |
| Extreme words – all, only, abolish, compulsory | Doubt by default; check feasibility in 3 s | “Only online exams” → doubt |
| Technology + surveillance combo | Usually both correct | GPS trucks & CCTV → tick both |
| Before/after time words | Strong → prefer | “Before monsoon” → immediate action |
| Two-part statement (warn + punish) | Each part must pass filter; if one absurd → whole option wrong | “Warn & imprison for life” → second part extreme → reject |
Quick Revision
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ask “Will it directly solve the stated problem?” |
| 2 | Government is assumed capable – don’t reject for boldness. |
| 3 | Individual action is last resort; systemic action = best. |
| 4 | Chain benefits (GDP, image) are NOT direct → reject. |
| 5 | Feasibility > Idealism; choose possible, not perfect. |
| 6 | “Ban” & “Abolish” are almost always wrong. |
| 7 | Time-bound actions (before monsoon, within 24 h) → strong. |
| 8 | Technology (GPS, RFID, app) → accepted fast in answers. |
| 9 | Penalty/fine options → valid if enforceable. |
| 10 | When both I & II look good → tick “Both”; no negative marking in most RRB tiers. |
BETA
