Course of Action Notes for SSC Exams
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
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PDF Notes: Course of Action Notes for SSC Exams
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In a course of action question, a problem or a situation is given as a statement, and two actions are suggested. You must decide which action should be taken to solve the problem. The suitable action is practical, direct and useful, and not extreme. These course of action notes for SSC explain the rules, the common patterns and the solved examples in simple language.
What Is a Course of Action?
- A course of action is a step or a decision that an authority (government, school or company) should take about a problem.
- The statement tells the problem, and the course of action is the suggested solution.
- The action should solve or reduce the problem, and it should be possible to carry out.
Rules for a Suitable Action
| Rule | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Direct link | The action must be related to the problem in the statement |
| Practical | It must be possible and not too costly |
| Not extreme | Actions like "ban everything" or "close completely" are usually wrong |
| Positive | It should help, and not harm other people |
| Not a repeat | An action that only repeats the problem is not suitable |
| Authority | The action should be taken by the proper authority |
Strong and Extreme Words
| Type | Examples | Usually |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate actions | Should be studied, should be inspected, should be encouraged, should be arranged | Follow |
| Extreme actions | Should be closed immediately, should be punished severely, should be banned completely | Do not follow |
| Useless actions | Should be ignored, should wait for years | Do not follow |
Common Patterns
| Problem | Suitable action | Unsuitable action |
|---|---|---|
| Many trains are late in winter because of fog | Fog-safe devices and better signalling should be arranged | All trains should be cancelled in winter |
| Ground water level is falling fast | Rainwater harvesting should be encouraged | All borewells should be closed at once |
| Dengue cases are rising in a city | The authorities should clean the stagnant water and spray medicine | The people should be asked to leave the city |
| Many students fail in maths | Remedial classes should be arranged | Maths should be removed from the syllabus |
| A bridge is found to be weak | The bridge should be inspected and repaired at once | The bridge should be left as it is |
Solved Examples
Example 1. Statement: A large number of road accidents take place at a crossing because of the absence of a signal.
Courses of action: I. A traffic signal should be installed at the crossing. II. The crossing should be closed forever.
I is direct and practical. II is extreme. Answer: only I follows.
Example 2. Statement: Many people in a village suffer from a disease due to dirty drinking water.
Courses of action: I. The authorities should arrange clean drinking water. II. People should be told to stop drinking water.
I solves the root problem, and II is impossible. Answer: only I follows.
Example 3. Statement: The school results of a state are worse than last year.
Courses of action: I. The education department should find the reasons for the fall. II. All teachers should be sacked at once.
I is a step for a study, and II is extreme. Answer: only I follows.
Example 4. Statement: A fire broke out in a factory and many workers were hurt.
Courses of action: I. The injured workers should be taken to a hospital at once. II. An inquiry should be made into the cause of the fire.
Both are practical and directly related. Answer: both I and II follow.
Quick Tips
- Ask "will this action reduce the problem?" before you choose it.
- Reject the actions with words like "immediately close", "ban completely" or "punish severely".
- Accept the actions about inquiry, repair, awareness and help when they match the problem.
- Both actions can follow, and both can be wrong.
Quick Revision Points
- A suitable action is direct, practical and not extreme.
- Extreme actions usually do not follow.
- Actions about inquiry, repair and help usually follow.
- The action must match the problem.
- Both courses of action may follow.
Practice Questions With Answers
- Problem: heavy traffic jam in a city. Action: more flyovers and better public transport should be provided. Does it follow?
Answer: Yes - Problem: heavy traffic jam in a city. Action: all private vehicles should be banned forever. Does it follow?
Answer: No, it is extreme - Problem: floods in a village. Action: relief and food should be sent to the village. Does it follow?
Answer: Yes - Problem: a school lacks teachers. Action: the school should be closed. Does it follow?
Answer: No - Problem: cases of cheating in exams. Action: strict watch should be kept in the exam hall. Does it follow?
Answer: Yes - Problem: a river is polluted by a factory. Action: the factory should be asked to treat its waste. Does it follow?
Answer: Yes - Problem: a river is polluted by a factory. Action: all factories of the country should be shut. Does it follow?
Answer: No - Which kind of action usually follows?
Answer: A practical and moderate action that is related to the problem - Which kind of action usually does not follow?
Answer: An extreme or unrelated action - Can both courses of action follow?
Answer: Yes
How to Practise This Chapter
Learn the rules, solve ten questions daily and write the reason for every answer. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Logical Reasoning notes page, and also read the Syllogism and Reasoning notes. Read the previous topic, Statement and Argument, and the next topic, Cause and Effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a course of action in reasoning?
It is a step or a decision suggested to solve a problem given in the statement.
How do I choose the right course of action?
Choose the action that is related to the problem, practical and not extreme.
Are extreme actions correct?
Usually no. Actions like banning or closing everything do not follow.
Can both courses of action follow?
Yes. If both are practical and related to the problem, both follow.
Should I use my own opinion?
Think like the proper authority and choose the action that solves the problem in a practical way.
Which words show an extreme action?
Words like immediately close, ban completely, punish severely and shut forever.
What is the difference between a course of action and a conclusion?
A conclusion is a result that follows from the statement, and a course of action is a step to solve the problem.
How much time should I take for one question?
About 30 to 40 seconds.
Is this topic asked in SSC exams?
Yes. It is part of logical reasoning in several SSC papers.
What are common mistakes?
Choosing an extreme action and not checking the link with the problem.
Are inquiry and awareness actions correct?
Yes. Actions like inquiry, repair, awareness and help usually follow.
How many questions come from this topic in SSC exams?
Usually one or two, but the number changes from year to year.
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Statement and Argument Notes for SSC Exams
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Cause and Effect Notes for SSC Exams
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.