International Skills, Communication & Decision Making (UPSC)

1. You have been asked to give an explanation for not attending an important official meeting. Your immediate boss who has not informed you about the meeting is now putting pressure on you not to place an allegation against him/her. You would : [2011-II]

Given below are eight items. Each item describes a situation and is followed by four possible responses. Indicate the response you find most appropriate. Choose only one response for each item. The responses will be evaluated based on the level of appropriateness for the given situation. Please attempt all the items. There is no penalty for wrong answers for these eight items.

(a) send a written reply explaining the fact.
(b) seek an appointment with the top boss to explain the situation.
(c) admit your fault to save the situation.
(d) put the responsibility on the coordinator of the meeting for not informing.
(e) a and b

Correct Answer: (e) a and b
Note:

Most preferred (a), less prefered (b) (a) A little less positive. A written explanation is too formal and technical. It will not touch the heart. It may raise doubts about the veracity of your statement.

(b) It is only ethical to keep your boss informed of any kind of development in the office.

(c) It does not make sense to cower under pressure. One should be able to stand up for oneself.

(d) It is negative. Making someone else the scape goat means asking for trouble. It will ultimately expose you as a liar who cannot be trusted.

2. A local thug (bad element) has started illegal construction on your vacant plot. He has refused your request to vacate and threatened you of dire consequences in case you do not sell the property at a cheap price to him. You would : [2011-II]

Given below are eight items. Each item describes a situation and is followed by four possible responses. Indicate the response you find most appropriate. Choose only one response for each item. The responses will be evaluated based on the level of appropriateness for the given situation. Please attempt all the items. There is no penalty for wrong answers for these eight items.

(a) sell the property at a cheap price to him.
(b) go to the police for necessary action.
(c) ask for help from your neighbours.
(d) negotiate with the goon to get a higher price.
(e) b and d

Correct Answer: (e) b and d
Note:

(a) This is a little negative as you would be cowering before him. It would only make him all the more daring and proud.

(b) There is no need to buckle under pressure, one can always approach the law enforcing agencies for justice.

(c) Asking for help from your neighbours is positive. But we wouldn't want to trouble them. They may not be interested.
Self help is the best help.

(d) It would not be an easy task negotiating with a goon. It is impractical to throw one's life is danger.

3. You have to accomplish a very important task for your Headquarters within the next two days. Suddenly you meet with an accident. Your office insists that you complete the task. You would : [2011-II]

Given below are eight items. Each item describes a situation and is followed by four possible responses. Indicate the response you find most appropriate. Choose only one response for each item. The responses will be evaluated based on the level of appropriateness for the given situation. Please attempt all the items. There is no penalty for wrong answers for these eight items.

(a) ask for an extension of deadline.
(b) inform Headquarters of your inability to finish on time.
(c) suggest alternate person to Headquarters who may do the needful.
(d) stay away till you recover.
(e) a and c

Correct Answer: (e) a and c
Note:

(a) A little negative. If the work is very urgent. The company may not be able to comply with your request. So you must be prepared for both a yes or a no. Not a very happy state of affairs for either of you.

(b) It is better to leave the decision to the headquarters as to how the job should be done.

(c) The headquarters would like to take care of this themselves.

(d) This is a completely negative approach. You may even lose your job this way. Or even if you retain it you will lose the trust and faith that has been imposed upon you.

4. You are an officer-in-charge for providing basic medical facilities to the survivors of an earthquake affected area. Despite your best possible effort, people put allegations against you for making money out of the funds given for relief. You would : [2011-II]

Given below are eight items. Each item describes a situation and is followed by four possible responses. Indicate the response you find most appropriate. Choose only one response for each item. The responses will be evaluated based on the level of appropriateness for the given situation. Please attempt all the items. There is no penalty for wrong answers for these eight items.

(a) let an enquiry be set up to look into the matter.
(b) ask your senior to appoint some other person in your place.
(c) not pay attention to allegations.
(d) stop undertaking any initiative till the matter is resolved.
(e) a and c

Correct Answer: (e) a and c
Note:

This is the most positive approach to the situation. The very fact that you are open to an enquiry being conducted on the matter proves that you are honest. It reveals your willingness to cooperate with the authorities. Only a courageous person will be willing to undergo such a painful process.

(b) This is a negative option. Your asking for another person to be appointed that means your are being cowardly. You are seeking escape.

(c) If you ignore the allegations you are trying to escape the facts. The rumble will then become a roar one day. It is being cowardly and dishonest to yourself.

(d) If you stop undertaking any initiative till the matter is resolved it means you are over-reacting to the allegations. If that is the case then people will take advantage of the situation by making more such allegations.

5. You have been made responsible to hire boats at a short notice to be used for an area under flood. On seeing the price mentioned by the boat owners you found that the lowest price was approximately three times more than the approved rate of the Government. You would : [2011-II]

Given below are eight items. Each item describes a situation and is followed by four possible responses. Indicate the response you find most appropriate. Choose only one response for each item. The responses will be evaluated based on the level of appropriateness for the given situation. Please attempt all the items. There is no penalty for wrong answers for these eight items.

(a) reject the proposal and call for a fresh price.
(b) accept the lowest price.
(c) refer the matter to the Government and wait.
(d) threaten the boat owners about a possible cancellation of the licence.
(e) b and d

Correct Answer: (e) b and d
Note:

[TIP: This type of question calls for a certain amount of social awareness. An understanding of the victims situation and a practical approach]

(a) If you reject the proposal and call for a fresh price you will be taking matters into your own hands. This is not advisable when there are so many people senior to you. You will also be antagonising the boat-owners to some extent.

(b) Since it is an emergency, it would be better to expedite the process.

(c) There is not so much time left as to refer the matter to the government and then wait for a reply.

(d) Threatening the boat owners means creating big trouble for you and your employers.

6. You are the officer-in-charge of a village administering distribution of vaccine in an isolated epidemic hit village, and you are left with only one vaccine. There is a requirement of that vaccine from the Gram Pradhan and also a poor villager. You are being pressurised by the Gram Pradhan to issue the vaccine to him. You would : [2011-II]

Given below are eight items. Each item describes a situation and is followed by four possible responses. Indicate the response you find most appropriate. Choose only one response for each item. The responses will be evaluated based on the level of appropriateness for the given situation. Please attempt all the items. There is no penalty for wrong answers for these eight items.

(a) initiate the procedure to expedite the next supply without issuing the vaccine to either.
(b) arrange vaccine for the poor villager from the distributor of another area.
(c) ask both to approach a doctor and get an input about the urgency.
(d) arrange vaccine for the Gram Pradhan from the distributor of another area.
(e) b and d

Correct Answer: (e) b and d
Note:

[TIP: In this type of question a positive, optimistic, empathetic and unselfish approach is required especially since it involves someone with whom you are interacting on a everyday]

(a) Not issuing a vaccine to either means incurring the wrath of the Gram Pradhan and the curse of the poor villager.

(b) This would mean that you are very careful for the poor villager.

(c) This would ensure that you are not partial to either of them.

(d) This would mean that you are very careful to the gram pradhar.

7. You have taken up a project to create night-shelters for homeless people during the winter season. Within a week of establishing the shelters, you have received complaints from the residents of the area about the increase in theft cases with a demand to remove the shelters. You would : [2011-II]

Given below are eight items. Each item describes a situation and is followed by four possible responses. Indicate the response you find most appropriate. Choose only one response for each item. The responses will be evaluated based on the level of appropriateness for the given situation. Please attempt all the items. There is no penalty for wrong answers for these eight items.

(a) ask them to lodge a written complaint in the police station.
(b) assure residents of an enquiry into the matter.
(c) ask residents to consider the humanitarian effort made.
(d) continue with the project and ignore their complaint.
(e) b and c

Correct Answer: (e) b and c
Note:

(a) If the residents make a police complaint. It can work against the interest of both parties. Bringing a third party into the dispute means creating a greater misunderstanding between the two of you.

(b) This is most positive step. By assuring residents of an enquiry into the matter you are taking the responsibility for your actions. This way the residents develop faith in your honesty and integrity.

(c) The residents will certainly not stay in the houses by considering the humanitarian efforts. They will be more concerned about the safety of their own lives as well as their belongings. That is a very natural human tendency.

(d) This is completely negative ignoring their complaints you will be making then even more rebellious. The small waves will becomes a Tsunami one day and wash away your project. What is the use of wasting time effort and money on a project that is of no use to the people it is intended for.

8. You, as an administrative authority, have been approached. by the daughter-in-law of an influential person regarding harassment by her in-laws on account of insufficient dowry. Her parents are not able to approach you because of social pressures. You would : [2011-II]

Given below are eight items. Each item describes a situation and is followed by four possible responses. Indicate the response you find most appropriate. Choose only one response for each item. The responses will be evaluated based on the level of appropriateness for the given situation. Please attempt all the items. There is no penalty for wrong answers for these eight items.

(a) call the in-laws for an explanation.
(b) counsel the lady to adjust, given such a circumstance.
(c) take action after her parents approach you.
(d) ask her to lodge a complaint with the police.
(e) a and d

Correct Answer: (e) a and d
Note:

[TIP: In the type of question involving two parties the role of a peace maker. So you must play your cards in such a way that you do hurt the interest of either party]

(a) As an administrative authority one has to resort to the course of law. In this case the views of both parties must be taken into consideration before resorting to any action.

(b) Counselling the lady to adjust would be the most foolish thing to do. If she had been able to adjust she would not have come to you in the first place. No woman in her senses would like to break her own home. Especially not a newly-wed bride.

(c) Her parents may not want to approach you at all. They would not want to spoil their daughter's married life. Considering the amount of money that is spent in traditional Indian marriages. It is only natural that parents expect their daughters to adjust and do not want to approach any one for help.

(d) If she had to lodge a complaint with the police she need not have approached you. The idea is to arbitrate between both parties.

9. You have differences of opinion regarding the final report prepared by your subordinate that is to be submitted, urgently. The subordinate is justifying the information given in the report. You would..... [2012-II]

Given below are seven items. Each item describes a situation and is followed by four possible responses. Indicate the response you find most appropriate. Choose only one response for each item. The responses will be evaluated based on the level of appropriateness for the given situation. Please attempt all the items. There is no penalty for wrong answers for these seven items.

(a) Convince the subordinate that he is wrong.
(b) Tell him to reconsider the results.
(c) Revise the report on your own.
(d) Tell him not to justify the mistake.
(e) a and c

Correct Answer: (e) a and c
Note:

(a) It is only possible to change oneself not others. Convincing the subordinate will not be easy because his ego will not accept that he is wrong.

(b) Here again the same argument will hold true. When he is not sure that he is wrong he may not reconsider the results so faithfully.

(c) It would be most advisable to revise the report on your own. It would involve effort but it would be the most peaceful and positive means.

(d) This would be the most negative way of approaching the matter. Dealing with the subordinated aggressively will only make him rebellions and quarrelsome. It would be better to avoid such a situation.

10. You are competing with your batch-mate for a prestigious award to be decided based on an oral presentation. Ten minutes are allowed for each presentation. You have been asked by the committee to finish on time. Your friend, however, is allowed more than the stipulated time period. You would...... [2012-II]

Given below are seven items. Each item describes a situation and is followed by four possible responses. Indicate the response you find most appropriate. Choose only one response for each item. The responses will be evaluated based on the level of appropriateness for the given situation. Please attempt all the items. There is no penalty for wrong answers for these seven items.

(a) Lodge a complaint to the chairperson against the discrimination.
(b) Not listen to any justification from the committee.
(c) Ask for withdrawal of your name.
(d) Protest and leave the place.
(e) a and c

Correct Answer: (e) a and c
Note:

(a) This would be the most positive approach to the whole situation. Moreover, one has to follow the protocol. So just lodge a complaint since the results are yet awaited.

(b) Taking an aggressive stand against the committee who are the deciding authority will only worsen matters.

(c) By withdrawing your name you are harming yourself. It is a negative approach.

(d) This shows the inclination towards fighting for justice.

International Skills, Communication & Decision Making (UPSC)

1. You have been asked to give an explanation for not attending an important official meeting. Your immediate boss who has not informed you about the meeting is now putting pressure on you not to place an allegation against him/her. You would : [2011-II]

2. A local thug (bad element) has started illegal construction on your vacant plot. He has refused your request to vacate and threatened you of dire consequences in case you do not sell the property at a cheap price to him. You would : [2011-II]

3. You have to accomplish a very important task for your Headquarters within the next two days. Suddenly you meet with an accident. Your office insists that you complete the task. You would : [2011-II]

4. You are an officer-in-charge for providing basic medical facilities to the survivors of an earthquake affected area. Despite your best possible effort, people put allegations against you for making money out of the funds given for relief. You would : [2011-II]

5. You have been made responsible to hire boats at a short notice to be used for an area under flood. On seeing the price mentioned by the boat owners you found that the lowest price was approximately three times more than the approved rate of the Government. You would : [2011-II]

7. You have taken up a project to create night-shelters for homeless people during the winter season. Within a week of establishing the shelters, you have received complaints from the residents of the area about the increase in theft cases with a demand to remove the shelters. You would : [2011-II]

8. You, as an administrative authority, have been approached. by the daughter-in-law of an influential person regarding harassment by her in-laws on account of insufficient dowry. Her parents are not able to approach you because of social pressures. You would : [2011-II]

9. You have differences of opinion regarding the final report prepared by your subordinate that is to be submitted, urgently. The subordinate is justifying the information given in the report. You would..... [2012-II]

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