Master Course of Action for SSC CGL
Get comprehensive theory, expert shortcuts, and hand-picked practice questions for Course of Action specifically designed for the SSC CGL 2025-26 pattern.
Course of Action is a critical analytical reasoning topic in the SSC CGL reasoning section. In these questions, a problem, situation, or administrative challenge is stated, followed by proposed courses of action. Your task is to act as an administrator and identify which actions are **practical, balanced, and effective** solutions to the given problem.
Learning path
- What is a Course of Action?
- Administrative Logic Rules
- Extreme Traps & Filters
- 20 Practice Questions
1. What is a Course of Action?
A course of action is a step, measure, or policy recommendation designed to solve a problem, mitigate a crisis, or improve an existing situation. A valid course of action must be **feasible**, **directly related**, and **must not create a new, worse problem** than the original one.
Balanced & Constructive
Action focuses on solving the issue smoothly without causing massive public distress.
"Water shortages are rising in Suburb X."
→ "Municipal body should optimize supply timings and repair pipeline leaks immediately." (Valid)
Unrealistic / Harsh Action
Extreme, radical, or excessively punitive measures are always invalid courses of action.
"Some students were caught cheating in the class."
→ "Expel all students in the school and suspend classes for a year." (Invalid - too harsh)
New Problem Creator
An action that seems to solve the issue but creates a larger negative outcome is invalid.
"Traffic congestion is rising on the city bridge."
→ "Completely block the bridge for all private vehicles." (Invalid - causes gridlock elsewhere)
The Feasibility Filter
Can this action be realistically performed using standard administration budgets and resources?
"A local district is facing a minor pest infestation."
→ "Construct a multi-billion dollar air-dome over the fields." (Invalid - economically unfeasible)
2. Administrative Logic Rules
Approach the questions with the mindset of a logical, public-oriented administrator:
Problem Solving vs. Postponement: A good course of action solves or mitigates the problem. Simply setting up infinite committees without immediate action when a crisis is live is generally weak or invalid.
Proportionality: The correction must match the severity of the mistake. Minor administrative errors require alerts/training, not mass suspensions.
Established Procedures: If a safety crisis arises (e.g., toxic gases, floods), evacuations, medical support, and emergency help are universally valid courses of action.
Look for Root Cause: A good administrator addresses both the immediate crisis (short-term) and the underlying root cause (long-term).
3. 20 Practice Questions (Solved)
Statement"A large number of students in the municipal school have fallen sick after eating the mid-day meal."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe school management should immediately stop the mid-day meal service until an investigation is done.
IIAll the sick students should be rushed to the nearest hospital for immediate medical treatment.
"A large number of students in the municipal school have fallen sick after eating the mid-day meal."
The school management should immediately stop the mid-day meal service until an investigation is done.
All the sick students should be rushed to the nearest hospital for immediate medical treatment.
Solution
Statement"There has been a continuous decline in the water level of the city's main reservoir over the last three months."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe municipal authority should immediately impose a limit on daily water supply to residential areas.
IIThe government should launch an extensive public awareness campaign highlighting the importance of rain-water harvesting and water conservation.
"There has been a continuous decline in the water level of the city's main reservoir over the last three months."
The municipal authority should immediately impose a limit on daily water supply to residential areas.
The government should launch an extensive public awareness campaign highlighting the importance of rain-water harvesting and water conservation.
Solution
Statement"A highly toxic gas leak has been reported from a chemical factory in the industrial zone on the city outskirts."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe local administration should immediately evacuate all residents living in nearby localities to safer zones.
IIThe factory management should immediately deploy safety crews to seal the gas leak source.
"A highly toxic gas leak has been reported from a chemical factory in the industrial zone on the city outskirts."
The local administration should immediately evacuate all residents living in nearby localities to safer zones.
The factory management should immediately deploy safety crews to seal the gas leak source.
Solution
Statement"An increasing number of fatal accidents have been reported on the newly opened express highway."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe traffic police department should immediately set up speed radars and penalize over-speeding vehicles heavily.
IIThe express highway should be closed down for all public transport immediately.
"An increasing number of fatal accidents have been reported on the newly opened express highway."
The traffic police department should immediately set up speed radars and penalize over-speeding vehicles heavily.
The express highway should be closed down for all public transport immediately.
Solution
Statement"A large amount of garbage has accumulated on both sides of the main market road, emitting a foul smell."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe municipal corporation should immediately deploy sanitation workers to clear the garbage.
IIThe market association should ask all shopkeepers to close down their shops until the garbage is removed.
"A large amount of garbage has accumulated on both sides of the main market road, emitting a foul smell."
The municipal corporation should immediately deploy sanitation workers to clear the garbage.
The market association should ask all shopkeepers to close down their shops until the garbage is removed.
Solution
Statement"Cases of online banking fraud have risen drastically in the country over the last few months."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe Reserve Bank should launch multi-media awareness campaigns to educate consumers about online safety rules.
IIThe government should instruct cyber-cell departments to track down the fraudulent callers and take strict legal action.
"Cases of online banking fraud have risen drastically in the country over the last few months."
The Reserve Bank should launch multi-media awareness campaigns to educate consumers about online safety rules.
The government should instruct cyber-cell departments to track down the fraudulent callers and take strict legal action.
Solution
Statement"Several train departures have been severely delayed due to thick winter fog covering the northern region."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe railway authorities should equip train engines with modern anti-fog GPS devices to assist drivers.
IIThe railway department should cancel all scheduled trains in the northern region until the winter season ends.
"Several train departures have been severely delayed due to thick winter fog covering the northern region."
The railway authorities should equip train engines with modern anti-fog GPS devices to assist drivers.
The railway department should cancel all scheduled trains in the northern region until the winter season ends.
Solution
Statement"Many employees of the company were caught taking bribes from clients to expedite their work."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe company management should initiate a formal inquiry, suspend the accused employees, and report them to law enforcement.
IIThe company should close down all operations to avoid corporate defame.
"Many employees of the company were caught taking bribes from clients to expedite their work."
The company management should initiate a formal inquiry, suspend the accused employees, and report them to law enforcement.
The company should close down all operations to avoid corporate defame.
Solution
Statement"The city's government-run hospitals are facing a severe shortage of essential medicines."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe health ministry should immediately release emergency funds to purchase and restock these medicines.
IIThe hospital staff should ask patients to purchase all essential medicines from private pharmacies.
"The city's government-run hospitals are facing a severe shortage of essential medicines."
The health ministry should immediately release emergency funds to purchase and restock these medicines.
The hospital staff should ask patients to purchase all essential medicines from private pharmacies.
Solution
Statement"Severe soil erosion has been reported along the riverbanks, threatening the adjacent agricultural lands."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe agricultural department should construct stone embankments along the riverbanks to prevent soil erosion.
IIThe government should immediately ban all farming activities within a 10 km radius of the river.
"Severe soil erosion has been reported along the riverbanks, threatening the adjacent agricultural lands."
The agricultural department should construct stone embankments along the riverbanks to prevent soil erosion.
The government should immediately ban all farming activities within a 10 km radius of the river.
Solution
Statement"Air pollution in the industrial township has crossed the permissible limit by three times."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe pollution control board should order all local factories to immediately install high-grade air filters or face closure.
IIThe local administration should advise residents of the township to remain indoors during peak pollution hours and wear protective masks.
"Air pollution in the industrial township has crossed the permissible limit by three times."
The pollution control board should order all local factories to immediately install high-grade air filters or face closure.
The local administration should advise residents of the township to remain indoors during peak pollution hours and wear protective masks.
Solution
Statement"A large crowd gathered outside the district collector's office and turned violent, throwing stones and damaging public vehicles."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe police force should use mild water cannons or tear gas to disperse the violent mob.
IIThe district administration should deploy an army battalion immediately to shoot down the miscreants.
"A large crowd gathered outside the district collector's office and turned violent, throwing stones and damaging public vehicles."
The police force should use mild water cannons or tear gas to disperse the violent mob.
The district administration should deploy an army battalion immediately to shoot down the miscreants.
Solution
Statement"Many secondary school teachers in the state are not familiar with modern digital teaching tools."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe education department should organize mandatory weekend digital training workshops for all teachers.
IIThe schools should immediately terminate the services of all teachers who do not know how to use digital tools.
"Many secondary school teachers in the state are not familiar with modern digital teaching tools."
The education department should organize mandatory weekend digital training workshops for all teachers.
The schools should immediately terminate the services of all teachers who do not know how to use digital tools.
Solution
Statement"Due to an unexpected heavy landslide, the national highway linking the capital to the hill station is completely blocked."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe border roads organization should immediately deploy heavy bulldozers and cranes to clear the landslide debris.
IIThe traffic police should divert all incoming highway traffic to alternative safe routes.
"Due to an unexpected heavy landslide, the national highway linking the capital to the hill station is completely blocked."
The border roads organization should immediately deploy heavy bulldozers and cranes to clear the landslide debris.
The traffic police should divert all incoming highway traffic to alternative safe routes.
Solution
Statement"Cases of malaria and dengue have risen drastically in the municipal area during the post-monsoon months."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe municipal corporation should conduct regular chemical fogging and spray anti-larval oil on stagnant water.
IIThe health department should launch campaigns advising residents to empty water coolers and prevent stagnant water in their homes.
"Cases of malaria and dengue have risen drastically in the municipal area during the post-monsoon months."
The municipal corporation should conduct regular chemical fogging and spray anti-larval oil on stagnant water.
The health department should launch campaigns advising residents to empty water coolers and prevent stagnant water in their homes.
Solution
Statement"An ancient heritage monument in the city is decaying rapidly due to pollution and public negligence."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe Archaeological Survey of India should immediately initiate a scientific restoration program.
IIThe government should impose strict fines on anyone littering or damaging the monument premises.
"An ancient heritage monument in the city is decaying rapidly due to pollution and public negligence."
The Archaeological Survey of India should immediately initiate a scientific restoration program.
The government should impose strict fines on anyone littering or damaging the monument premises.
Solution
Statement"The city's central market is facing a severe parking shortage, causing heavy traffic jams on adjoining roads."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe municipal corporation should construct a multi-level automated parking complex in the vicinity.
IIAll private vehicles should be completely banned from entering the city central market.
"The city's central market is facing a severe parking shortage, causing heavy traffic jams on adjoining roads."
The municipal corporation should construct a multi-level automated parking complex in the vicinity.
All private vehicles should be completely banned from entering the city central market.
Solution
Statement"A large group of villagers are suffering from food poisoning after drinking contaminated well water."
Proposed Courses of ActionIA medical team should be dispatched immediately to treat the affected villagers.
IIThe village well should be closed immediately and alternative drinking water tankers should be provided.
"A large group of villagers are suffering from food poisoning after drinking contaminated well water."
A medical team should be dispatched immediately to treat the affected villagers.
The village well should be closed immediately and alternative drinking water tankers should be provided.
Solution
Statement"A massive stampede occurred at the railway station today, injuring many passengers who were rushing to board a festive train."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe railway protection force should be deployed to regulate platforms, control queues, and manage festive crowds.
IIAll train services should be completely suspended during festive weeks.
"A massive stampede occurred at the railway station today, injuring many passengers who were rushing to board a festive train."
The railway protection force should be deployed to regulate platforms, control queues, and manage festive crowds.
All train services should be completely suspended during festive weeks.
Solution
Statement"The state capital is facing a severe power crisis with daily power cuts lasting over 8 hours."
Proposed Courses of ActionIThe state power distribution board should optimize load shedding timings and source extra electricity from neighboring surplus states.
IIThe citizens should stop using all electrical appliances at home.
"The state capital is facing a severe power crisis with daily power cuts lasting over 8 hours."
The state power distribution board should optimize load shedding timings and source extra electricity from neighboring surplus states.
The citizens should stop using all electrical appliances at home.
Solution
Strategy errors to avoid
Over-reaction / Extreme Punishment
Avoid picking actions that call for locking down sectors, firing whole blocks of workers, or closing establishments immediately for small mistakes. Administrative actions must be balanced and proportional.
Passive Postponement
Setting up committees to study standard administrative problems (like cleanups, signaling repairs) when an active emergency is occurring is generally weak. Look for immediate, direct actions.