- As a civil servant, you are expected to make quick and rational decisions that benefit the maximum. You should not buckle under political pressure and should discharge your duty fearlessly and honestly. The decision making questions test the same qualities. They put you in certain situations and ask you to solve a problem.
- Preparing for the decision making questions would also keep you in good stead for the General Studies Paper IV (ethics paper) in the UPSC civil services mains exam.
- These questions assess your abilities as an administrator.
- There is no negative marking for decision making questions.
- The official answer key gives two possible correct answers to these questions.
Sample questions
Directions: Each item of this section 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.
1. 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 you personal secretary. In such circumstances, what would you do?
(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.
SOLUTION : a and c are the best answers.
1. In these circumstances, option (d) is wrong because it can raise questions your ability to make decisions. Option (b) is related to the use of its discretion by ignoring the office secretariat vote, but the purpose is not suitable. Therefore, option (b) is also wrong. Option (a) is the best answer, while option (c) is the second best answer.
2.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 not permit for running the taxi in that city, he will stop at its Transport Office and pay the prescribed fee of Rs.40 for a day. while paying fee at the counter you find that the transport clerk is taking extra fifty rupees for which no receipt being given. you are in such a hurry for your meeting . In such circumstances, what would you do?
a. go up to the counter ask him to give back the money which he had illegally taken.
b. do not interfere at all between taxi driver and tax authorities.
c. take note of the incident and report to concerned authorites.
d. treat is as normal affair and simply forget about it.
solution: a and c are tha best answer
Option (d) is not suitable for any conscious citizen. Therefore, option (d) is wrong. The case of extra recovery has happened in front of your eyes, so the option (b) is wrong. Option (a) is the best answer, while option (c) is the second best answer.
3.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…
(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 an extension of time citing reasons.
Answer: (b)
4.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…
(1) Proceed on leave without waiting for the sanction.
(2) Pretend to be sick and take leave.
(3) Approach higher authority to reconsider the leave application.
(4) Tell the boss that it is not justified.
Answer: (3)
5.You are competing with your batch-mate for the prestigious award to be decided based on an oral presentation. You have been asked by the committee to finish on time. Your friend, however, is allowed more than the stipulated time period.
(a) Lodge a complaint to 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
Answer: (a)
