“Statement & Course of Action” questions appear in SSC, Bank & Railway exams almost every year. Most students lose marks here not because they lack intelligence but because they don’t know the rules of the game.
What is “Statement & Course of Action”?
A statement describes a problem or situation. Courses of action are proposed steps or solutions. Your job is to decide: which course of action logically follows to address the problem in the statement?
These questions test your practical reasoning, not theoretical knowledge. The correct answer is always the one that is practical, direct, and addresses the root cause of the problem.
The Golden Rules
- Address the problem directly. The course of action must solve or reduce the exact problem mentioned in the statement — not a tangential issue.
- Be practical and feasible. Reject any action that is impossible, too broad, or utopian (e.g., “ban all vehicles forever”).
- Don’t assume, don’t over-imagine. Judge only on what is stated. Don’t add your own assumptions.
- Both courses can follow. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking only one can be correct. If both are logical and practical, both follow.
- Avoid extreme/absolute language. Courses with words like “immediately stop all,” “arrest everyone,” or “completely ban” are usually wrong unless the statement is catastrophic.
- Government/authority actions are generally valid. If the statement is a social or public problem, government-level action is almost always a valid course.
5 Key Tricks to Solve Fast
These smart tricks help you eliminate wrong options quickly and choose the correct answer with confidence.
| Trick | Explanation |
| Root Cause Trick | Ask – does this action fix the root cause or just the symptom? Root-cause solutions always follow. Cosmetic actions rarely do. |
| Feasibility Filter | Can a real authority or person realistically do this? If yes, it follows. If it sounds like a fantasy solution, eliminate it immediately. |
| Extreme Word Alert | Words like “ban all,” “arrest everyone,” “immediately stop” = red flag. These are too extreme unless the situation is a major disaster or crime. |
| Relevance Check | The action must be relevant to the exact problem. If the statement is about road accidents, an action about hospital reform is irrelevant – eliminate it. |
| Both-Can-Follow Rule | Always check both independently. Two practical, relevant actions can and do both follow. |
Download Statement & Course of Action Questions PDF
Download the Statement & Course of Action Questions PDF to practice high-quality questions based on the latest SSC exam pattern. Improve your reasoning skills and accuracy by solving these questions anytime, anywhere.
Practice Statement & Course of Action Questions Live
These questions follow the real SSC exam pattern and are designed to improve your accuracy and confidence. Practice them to avoid common spelling traps and score better in the Reasoning section of upcoming SSC exams. Attempt the 10 Statement and Course of Action questions given below:
1. Statement A large number of people in ward X of the city are diagnosed to be suffering from a fatal malaria type.
2. Statement Several students in a government school fainted due to mid-day meal served there.
3. Statement Reports suggest that counterfeit currency worth crores is being pumped into the economy by foreign agencies.
4. Statement A leading private bank has reported massive NPAs affecting its solvency.
5. Statement A dam built 40 years ago is showing signs of structural weakness, and a large population lives downstream.
6. Statement The number of road accidents at a particular railway crossing has increased significantly over the last two years.
7. Statement There has been a steep rise in the dropout rate of girls from schools in a tribal district.
8. Statement The air quality index in the national capital has reached ‘severe’ category for 15 consecutive days.
9. Statement A private hospital in the city is found to be charging patients far beyond the government-prescribed cap for treatment.
10. Statement Severe drought-like conditions have been reported in several districts of the state for the second consecutive year.
Quiz Summary
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When does a course of action follow?
Understanding when a course of action is valid or invalid is key to solving these questions accurately.
| Follows When | Does NOT Follow When |
| It directly solves the problem | It is too extreme or impractical |
| It is practical and feasible | It solves an unrelated problem |
| It is based on facts in the statement | It requires assumptions not in statement |
| Government/authority can realistically act | It is already part of the problem |
| It addresses the root cause | It blames the victim or punishes victims |
| It is a preventive or corrective measure | It is vague or meaningless |
Common Traps Set by Examiners
Examiners design tricky options to confuse candidates. Knowing these traps helps you avoid common mistakes.
- Too Obvious Trap
An action sounds too simple, so students ignore it. If it’s practical and relevant, it follows. Don’t overthink. - Irrelevant but True Trap
The action may be good in general, but if it doesn’t solve the specific problem, it does NOT follow. - Both Seem Wrong Trap
When both options look wrong, re-evaluate carefully. One is usually less extreme and more practical.
Quick Cheat Sheet
Follow this step-by-step approach to solve questions quickly and accurately in the exam.
- Step 1: Read the statement carefully – identify the core problem
- Step 2: Ask: “Does this action directly solve that problem?”
- Step 3: Check feasibility – can an authority realistically do this?
- Step 4: Watch for extreme language – eliminate if present
- Step 5: Check relevance – is it related to the exact issue?
- Step 6: Decide independently – both options can be correct
Special Cases to Remember
Certain types of problems follow predictable patterns. Recognizing them can save time during the exam.
- Natural Disasters: Immediate relief + long-term prevention
- Crime-related Cases: Strict enforcement + public awareness
- Economic/Poverty Issues: Schemes, subsidies, skill development
- Health-related Issues: Medical camps, awareness, policy reforms
- Government Failure Mentioned: Investigation, accountability, reforms
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