International Skills, Communication & Decision Making (UPSC)

11. You are handling a time-bound project. During the project review meeting, you find that the project is likely to get delayed due to lack of cooperation of the team members. 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) Warn the team members for their non-cooperation.
(b) Look into reasons for non-cooperation.
(c) Ask for the replacement of team members.
(d) Ask for extension of time citing reasons.
(e) a and d

Correct Answer: (e) a and d

Solution:(a) Warning the team is preferable because you will at least get the work done.

(b) If we can look into reasons for their non-cooperation; we have a chance to rectify the situation.

(c) A negative approach. There is no guarantee that the next set of team members will be cooperative.

(d) This is slightly negative. Extending the time will not change the attitude of the team members.

12. You are the chairperson of a state sports committee. You have received a complaint and later it was found that an athlete in the junior age category who has won a medal has crossed the age criteria by 5 days. 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) Ask the screening committee for a clarification.
(b) Ask the athlete to return the medal.
(c) Ask the athlete to get an affidavit from the court declaring his/her age.
(d) Ask the members of the sports committee for their views.
(e) a and d

Correct Answer: (e) a and d

Solution:This question checks your administrative acumen and sense of balance in decision-making. Since the investigation in the case is over, asking for clarification from the committee that screened the athlete is the best way out.

You will get to know if it was a procedural error or operational error or an unintended mistake. Then you can take action. Best is (a). Or you can even ask the committee for views. This is a more democratic approach since you are heading the committee.

Other options are a little bit on the extreme side and not preferable in this case. The reputation of the athlete is also at stake. Take a balanced, pragmatic approach.

13. You are handling a priority project and have been meeting all the deadlines and are therefore planning your leave during the project. Your immediate boss does not grant your leave citing the urgency of the project. 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) Proceed on leave without waiting for the sanction.
(b) Pretend to be sick and take leave.
(c) Approach higher authority to reconsider the leave application.
(d) Tell the boss that it is not justified.
(e) c and d

Correct Answer: (e) c and d

Solution:This question checks for balance in decision-making and handling organizational pulls and pressures on your personal life.

(a) and (b) are not right for obvious reasons like dishonesty, disobeying official orders and protocols; and irresponsible behaviour.

(c) can get you the leave, within the official channels, but your relationship with immediate boss will be spoiled. He will not like a higher authority overruling him on a matter of leave for you, especially when its an urgent project.

(d) is a more nuanced approach; because its an urgent project (and your leave is not all that urgent and important).

14. You are involved in setting up a water supply project in a remote area. Full recovery of cost is impossible in any case. The income levels in the area are low and 25% of the population is below poverty line (BPL). When a decision has to be taken on pricing 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) Recommend that the supply of water be free of charge in all respects.
(b) Recommend that the users pay a one time fixed sum for the installation of taps and the usage of water be free.
(c) Recommend that a fixed monthly charge be levied only on the non-BPL families and for BPL families water should be free.
(d) Recommend that the users pay a charge based on the consumption of water with differentiated charges for non-BPL and BPL families.
(e) c and d

Correct Answer: (e) c and d

Solution:This question checks your administrative acumen, sense of balance in decision-making and empathy for the marginalised.

Option (a) is implausible/impractical. Option (b) - fixed installation charges will be difficult for BPL to pay. And later making it free for everyone is impractical.

C or D is a more humane and sympathetic approach because BPL are getting either water free or at a differentiated (lower cost) while others are paying to ensure economic viability.

D is preferable because otherwise there will be misuse of BPL water.

15. As a citizen you have some work with a government department. The official calls you again and again, and without directly asking you, sends out feelers for a bribe. You want to get your work done. 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) Give a bribe.
(b) Behave as if you have not understood the feelers and persist with your application.
(c) Go to the higher officer for help verbally complaining about feelers.
(d) Send in a formal complaint.
(e) b and c

Correct Answer: (e) b and c

Solution:This checks tolerance for corruption; uprightness; and integrity. Sending in a formal complaint will be a wrong step as there is no evidence that the official has asked you for a bribe. Giving a bribe will ofcourse be wrong. Behaving as if you have not understood will be a less preferable option because the official has not done it just once.

He has been doing it again and again. So going to the higher officer for help will be the best approach. Because this way not only your case will be quickly resolved, that other official may stop asking future bribes from others in fear of action from higer-ups.

16. You are the head of your office. There are certain houses reserved for the allotment to the office staff and you have been given the discretion to do so. A set of rules for the allotment of the houses has been laid down by you and has been made public. Your personal secretary, who is very close to you, comes to you and pleads that as his father is seriously ill, he should be given priority in allotment of a house. The office secretariat that examined the request as per the rules turns down the request and recommends the procedure to be followed according to the rules. You do not want to annoy your personal secretary. In such circumstances, what would you do? [2013-II]

Given below are six items. Each items 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 six items.

(a) Call him over to your room and personally explain why the allotment cannot be done.
(b) Allot the house to him to win his loyalty.
(c) Agree with the office note to show that you are not biased and that you do not indulge in favouritism.
(d) Keep the file with you and not pass any orders.

Correct Answer: (a) Call him over to your room and personally explain why the allotment cannot be done.

Solution:Option (b) would be abdicating duty, responsibility and decision-making. It gives a very bad signal about your administrative and decision-making acumen.

Option (a) is favouritism and going against the rules. Better avoid this. UPSC traps with such questions of loyalty, nepotism and favouritism.

Options (a) and (c) can be the answer. While (c) is correct, it would be a purely bureaucratic approach to handling situations.

We recommend and prefer (a) because you will be able to balance out all things decision-making; personal relations; organizational health; rules and procedures; integrity and impartiality etc.

17. While travelling in a Delhi-registered commercial taxi from Delhi to an adjacent city (another State), your taxi driver informs you that as he has no permit for running the taxi in that city, he will stop at its Transport Office and pay the prescribed fee of forty for a day. While paying the fee at the counter you find that the transport clerk is taking an extra fifty rupees for which no receipt is being given. You are in a hurry for your meeting. In such circumstances, what would you do? [2013-II]

Given below are six items. Each items 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 six items.

(a) Go up to the counter and ask the clerk to give back the money which he has illegally taken.
(b) Do not interfere at all as this is a matter between the taxi driver and the tax authorities.
(c) Take note of the incident and subsequently report the matter to the concerned authorities.
(d) Treat it as a normal affair and simply forget about it.
(e) a and c

Correct Answer: (e) a and c

Solution:Even though you are in hurry, you can definitely ask back the money from the clerk and then later go and report the authorities. (c) is less preferable not because of the principle involved, but because (a) is more practical in that situation.

Choosing (a) and (c), you are acting against corruption. This shows uprightness; inclination towards justice; dutiful citizenship and zero tolerance for corruption. Other options show carelessness; tolerance for corruption and apathy. You will have to balance ethics with pragmatism.

18. A person lives in a far off village which is almost two hours by bus. The villager's neighbour is a very powerful landlord who is trying to occupy the poor villager's land by force. You are the District Magistrate and busy in a meeting called by a local Minister. The villager has come all the way, by bus and on foot, to see you and give an application seeking protection from the powerful landlord. The villager keeps on waiting outside the meeting hall for an hour. You come out of the meeting and are rushing to another meeting. The villager follows you to submit his application. What would you do? [2013-II]

Given below are six items. Each items 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 six items.

(a) Tell him to wait for another two hours till you come back from your next meeting.
(b) Tell him that the matter is actually to be dealt by a junior officer and that he should give the application to him.
(c) Call one of your senior subordinate officers and ask him to solve the villager's problem.
(d) Quickly take the application from him, ask him a few relevant questions regarding his problem and then proceed to the meeting.
(e) c and d

Correct Answer: (e) c and d

Solution:While all the options seem reasonable; you have to choose the one that reflects the qualities of a citizen-centric civil servant.

Option (a) is not appropriate; because waiting for 2 hours again for him will not be possible. He is from a far off village and has already waited enough. This would give a wrong signal about the administration and put the villager's morale down.

Option (b) will not be appropriate because a junior officer may not be placed well enough to handle the powerful landlord's issue. Moreover, he has come so far to see you and speak to you about his problem. You should not do file and application pushing with him.

Option (c) is more appropriate because a senior subordinate officer will be better placed to deal with his problem. Moreover, you are personally calling the officer and giving him the application. This will show the villager that you are taking the matter seriously.

Option (d) is less preferable because the villager will not have time to discuss his problem. And it may give him an impression that you are not taking the matter seriously. Still it is better than (a) and (b).

19. There is a shortage of sugar in your District where you are the District Magistrate. The Government has ordered that only a maximum amount of 30 kg sugar is to be released for wedding celebrations. A son of your close friend is getting married and your friend requests you to release at least 50 kg sugar for his son's wedding. He expresses annoyance when you tell him about the Government's restrictions on this matter. He feels that since you are the District Magistrate you can release any amount./ You do not want to spoil your friendship with him. In such circumstances, how would you deal with the situation? [2013-II]

Given below are six items. Each items 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 six items.

(a) Releases the extra amount of sugar which your friend has requested for.
(b) Refuse your friend the extra amount and strictly follow the rules.
(c) Show your friend the copy of the Government instructions and then persuade him to accept the lower amount as prescribed in the rules.
(d) Advise him to directly apply to the allotting authority and inform him that you do not interfere in this matter.
(e) b and c

Correct Answer: (e) b and c

Solution:Option (a) is nepotism and corruption straightaway.

Option (d) will be abdication of duty and shirking responsibility to save your image and friendship.

Option (c) is preferable because you will be following rules; avoiding favouritism; and yet be able to save the friendship.

Option (b) is less preferable as denying the quota rudely may cost your friendship. This question checks integrity, uprightness and emotional intelligence together.

20. You are in-charge of implementing the Family Planning programme in an area where there is a strong opposition to the present policy. You want to convince the residents of the need for keeping small families. What would be the best way of communicating this message? [2013-II]

Given below are six items. Each items 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 six items.

(a) By logically explaining to the residents the need for family planning to improve the health and living standards.
(b) By encouraging late marriages and proper spacing of children.
(c) By offering incentives for adopting family planning devices.
(d) By asking people who have been sterilized or are using contraceptives to directly talk to the resident.
(e) a and c

Correct Answer: (e) a and c

Solution:Option (b) might not go well with the traditional villagers; hence less pragmatic.

Option (d) might also not go well with the traditional villagers because they will not like to talk about rural taboos like contraception and sterilization.

Options (a) and (c) go with the cultural context. This question checks your cultural sensitivity and emotional intelligence.

International Skills, Communication & Decision Making (UPSC)

11. You are handling a time-bound project. During the project review meeting, you find that the project is likely to get delayed due to lack of cooperation of the team members. You would. [2012-II]

12. You are the chairperson of a state sports committee. You have received a complaint and later it was found that an athlete in the junior age category who has won a medal has crossed the age criteria by 5 days. You would...... [2012-II]

13. You are handling a priority project and have been meeting all the deadlines and are therefore planning your leave during the project. Your immediate boss does not grant your leave citing the urgency of the project. You would... [2012-II]

14. You are involved in setting up a water supply project in a remote area. Full recovery of cost is impossible in any case. The income levels in the area are low and 25% of the population is below poverty line (BPL). When a decision has to be taken on pricing you would... [2012-II]

15. As a citizen you have some work with a government department. The official calls you again and again, and without directly asking you, sends out feelers for a bribe. You want to get your work done. You would... [2012-II]

20. You are in-charge of implementing the Family Planning programme in an area where there is a strong opposition to the present policy. You want to convince the residents of the need for keeping small families. What would be the best way of communicating this message? [2013-II]

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