Comprehension
Read the following case and choose the best alternative – Guruji's guidance

Bhola, an avid nature lover, wanted to be an entrepreneur. He dreamt of establishing a chain of huts in Chaptur region to cater to tourists, who came attracted by the beauty and splendour of the Himalayas.

However, he was appalled by current degradation of the Himalayan environment. He remembered the early times when everything was so green, clean and peaceful. Now, greenery was replaced by buildings, peace was shattered by honking of vehicles and flocking of tourists, and cleanliness was replaced by heaps of plastics.

Bhola had a strong sense of right and wrong. On speaking to few locals about the issue, he realized that the locals were aware of these issues. However, they pointed out the benefits of development: pucca houses for locals; higher disposable income and with that, ability to send their children to better schools and colleges, better road connectivity, and access to latest technology in agriculture. Most locals wanted the development to continue.

Saddened by the lack of support from the locals, Bhola took up the issue with the government. He met the chief minister of the state to find out if government could regulate the developmental activities to prevent environmental degradation. However, the chief minister told Bhola that such an action would slow down the economic progress. That also meant loss of substantial tax revenues for the government.

Bhola needed to resolve the dilemma. Bhola always wanted to be an entrepreneur, who could contribute to the society and earn money as well. However, his business would also be responsible for destroying environment. If he did not set up his business, he would not be able to earn money and contribute to the society.

After mulling over the issues, he went to his mentor “Guruji”. Guruji realized that it was really a difficult puzzle: if one saves the environment, there seems to be no development and if the people and the government sought development, the environment and hence future of this planet and human beings was at stake. After careful thought, he felt that the dilemma could be resolved. He fixed up a meeting with Bhola to answer Bhola's queries.
Question: 1

Should Bhola still think of doing business?

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In decision-making questions, the best option usually balances two conflicting needs. Extreme answers that support only one side are rarely correct.
Updated On: Aug 25, 2025
  • Yes, where there is a will, there is a way.
  • No, saving the Earth for our children is more important than earning money.
  • Yes, Bhola should do business while ensuring no environmental damage is done.
  • Yes, but only if the government puts strict environment regulations in place.
  • Bhola should stop thinking about such a dilemma.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understand the dilemma.
Bhola wants to become an entrepreneur, but he is disturbed by the increasing environmental destruction in the Himalayas. His dilemma is clear: if he starts a business, he may add to environmental problems, but if he avoids business, he will not earn a livelihood or contribute to society.
Step 2: Identify the balanced path.
Guruji’s guidance highlights that the solution is not about choosing either development or environment but finding a balance. The best approach is to allow development while ensuring environmental responsibility.
Step 3: Evaluate the options.
- Option A is too vague. It only talks about willpower and ignores the environmental issue.
- Option B is extreme because it prioritizes only the environment and ignores Bhola’s need for livelihood.
- Option C is the most suitable because it allows Bhola to pursue business while making sure no environmental damage is done.
- Option D depends only on the government and shifts Bhola’s responsibility.
- Option E is impractical because it asks Bhola to stop thinking about the issue without providing a solution.
Step 4: Conclude.
The most balanced and practical solution is that Bhola should do business, but he must ensure that no environmental damage takes place. \[ \boxed{\text{Yes, Bhola should do business while ensuring no environmental damage is done.}} \]
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Question: 2

Bhola wanted to advise the government about the new tourism policy. Bhola had developed a few alternatives as given below. Choose the best alternative.

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In policy-based decision questions, always choose the alternative that balances economic growth with sustainability, and that involves multiple stakeholders for accountability.
Updated On: Aug 25, 2025
  • Stop environmental degradation by stopping the developmental activities.
  • Forget about the environment; think about the people as they are the vote banks for politicians to come back to power.
  • Suggest that the government should try to promote eco-tourism, which would be controlled and regulated by the government, as the government could think about the welfare of majority of stakeholders.
  • Suggest that the government should promote eco-tourism with public private partnership with the involvement of NGOs, so that there are checks and balances for inefficiencies and promotion for synergetic efforts between government and private entrepreneurs.
  • Involvement of impartial entities like NGOs who would provide a fair assessment of the policies.
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understand the problem.
The case is about balancing tourism development with environmental conservation. Bhola wants to recommend a tourism policy to the government that ensures sustainable development without ignoring economic benefits.
Step 2: Key requirement.
The best alternative should include both development and environmental care, while also bringing accountability and cooperation between different stakeholders such as the government, private entrepreneurs, and NGOs.
Step 3: Evaluate the options.
- Option A is too extreme because stopping all developmental activities will harm people’s livelihood and growth.
- Option B is also extreme as it suggests completely ignoring the environment, which would lead to disastrous long-term consequences.
- Option C talks about eco-tourism but gives full control to the government. This centralization could cause inefficiencies and reduce private sector contribution.
- Option D is the most balanced, as it suggests eco-tourism but through public private partnership with NGOs. This ensures checks and balances, reduces inefficiencies, and promotes cooperative efforts between government, private sector, and NGOs.
- Option E focuses only on NGOs assessing policies. While useful, it does not directly create a sustainable and balanced development strategy.
Step 4: Conclude.
Option D provides a holistic solution. It ensures that eco-tourism is promoted while balancing the role of government, private entrepreneurs, and NGOs. This partnership fosters responsibility, accountability, and sustainable development. \[ \boxed{\text{Eco-tourism through public private partnership with NGO involvement is the best policy (Option D).}} \]
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Question: 3

Bhola wished he was heading the government. He had listed down five concrete measures he would take if he were to head the government. Choose the best alternative.

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In decision-making questions, look for options that combine accountability with encouragement. A good policy discourages harmful actions and rewards positive contributions.
Updated On: Aug 25, 2025
  • Charge environmental cess from all businesses operating out of Himalayas.
  • Charge cess from anyone who pollutes the environment, be it citizens or industries and reward those who have contributed to afforestation the most.
  • All profit making organizations have to take responsibility of afforestation proportionate to their profitability.
  • Think about maximising the revenues and forget about the environment.
  • Institute a Green Valley Reward, which would be given to businesses highly active in afforestation efforts.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Identify Bhola’s motive.
Bhola’s aim is to stop the degradation of the environment. This means the chosen measure must discourage polluters while encouraging active participation in afforestation.
Step 2: Evaluate each option.
- Option A is unfair because it charges cess from all businesses, even those that may not be polluting the environment. This makes it over-generalized and unjust.
- Option B is the best because it is fair and balanced. It penalizes polluters directly, whether they are citizens or industries, while rewarding those who are actively helping in afforestation.
- Option C focuses only on profit-making organizations and ignores citizens, making it incomplete.
- Option D is extreme as it neglects the environment completely.
- Option E rewards afforestation but fails to punish polluters, so it cannot fully solve the problem.
Step 3: Conclude.
The most practical and balanced approach is to penalize polluters and reward contributors. This ensures both responsibility and encouragement for sustainable practices. \[ \boxed{\text{Option B is the best measure.}} \]
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Question: 4

Visualising he was heading the state government, Bhola thought of a likely problematic situation. Five years have passed. In these five years, Bhola has initiated a lot of pro-environment steps, including making people aware of the importance of pristine environment which brought in tourists in the first place. Now he faced state elections. The opposition accused him of stopping development and causing unemployment under the guise of environment protection. If Bhola were to consider this accusation as a short-term battle, which option would Guruji suggest to Bhola to score a quick win?

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When countering accusations, focus directly on the evidence that relates to the charge. A data-driven rebuttal is always stronger than defensive or emotional replies.
Updated On: Aug 25, 2025
  • Accuse the opposition of having vested interests as the opposition leaders were denied licences for opening new hotels.
  • Point out the improvement in environment since the implementation of pro-environment policies.
  • Compare the unemployment levels since the implementation of the pro-environment policies and if they are less, accuse the opposition of making baseless charges.
  • Point out that this government had initiated a regular cleaning-up drive and the opposition did not consider the data regarding the people who were employed in that drive.
  • Call the charges as baseless accusations being used to malign the good work he had done.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understand the accusation.
The opposition claims that Bhola’s policies increased unemployment under the cover of environmental protection. Hence, the strongest counterargument must directly address the issue of employment data.
Step 2: Evaluate the options.
- Option A is weak because it only attacks the opposition and does not provide evidence.
- Option B highlights environmental improvement, but the accusation is about unemployment, not environment.
- Option C is the strongest because it uses employment data directly to counter the accusation. If unemployment has not increased, Bhola can prove the charges are baseless.
- Option D focuses only on cleaning drive employment, which is narrow and does not cover the overall employment issue.
- Option E dismisses the charges without evidence, which makes it weak and defensive.
Step 3: Conclude.
The most effective response is to compare actual unemployment levels after the policies. This evidence-based reply addresses the core of the opposition’s argument and provides Bhola a strong defense. \[ \boxed{\text{Option C is the best counterargument.}} \]
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