Fundamental Research in Science for Corporate Applications (FuRSCA) is an R&D unit of a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU). FuRSCA’s employees are research scientists who assist the Public Sector Undertaking through their R&D. Given the far-reaching implications of its research, FuRSCA was established as a separate entity near the factory of the PSU.
FuRSCA has three levels of hierarchy viz.: junior, senior and chief scientists and all of them reside on the campus. Hence, every scientist, regardless of hierarchy, resides in a house that is similar in all aspects. Though the scientists are entitled to a house rent allowance (HRA), given the distance of FuRSCA from the city, housing them on the campus makes sense.
The new recruits are provided a transit accommodation in the institute’s studio apartments, until vacant houses are available. For these recruits, a queue has been created on the basis of their date of joining and not on hierarchy, with the most recent recruit going to the last in the queue. Execution of this policy is the responsibility of the FuRSCA Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), who reports to the Director of FuRSCA
Harsh Kohli resides in house no. 324. Since long, Harsh wants to move from a 3 series house to a 2 series house because his mother-in-law, a chief scientist, lives alone in house no. 225. A few years back, Harsh formally requested the CAO to allow him to move to a 2 series house whenever available. Recently, when house no. 224 becomes vacant, Harsh appeals to the CAO for that house, citing his earlier request. Currently, there are five scientists waiting in the queue and Sauf Tangud is on the top of the queue.
From the following options, choose the BEST action to be taken by the CAO without violating the existing housing policy.
From the following options, choose the BEST action to be taken by the CAO without violating the existing housing policy.
- Ask Harsh to move to the house no. 224 immediately, and allocate Harsh’s house to Sauf
- Ask Harsh to join the queue because scientists in the queue should be given priority
- Ignore Harsh’s request since it violates the housing policy
- Create a separate queue for extant residents and give them the first right to refuse
- Allot house no. 224 to Sauf, asking Harsh to negotiate a possible swap with Sauf
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
The CAO has to balance Harsh’s long-standing request with the fairness of the housing policy and the rights of those already in the queue. If house no. 224 (a 2 series house) is given to Harsh directly, then Harsh’s current house (no. 324) becomes vacant. This vacant house can be immediately allocated to the first person in the queue, i.e., Sauf Tangud.
This way:
- Harsh’s request (already on record for a long time) is honored without displacing anyone unfairly.
- The queue system is not violated because Sauf and others still get allocation in turn (starting with Sauf, who gets Harsh’s old house).
- The institute also ensures optimal use of housing without creating unnecessary conflicts.
Conclusion: Allowing Harsh to shift to house 224 and giving his old house to the top of the queue is the fairest and most practical solution, hence Option (1) is correct.
Rawng Regrud joins FuRSCA recently and is placed third in the housing queue. He has been temporarily housed in a studio apartment. Given that the studio apartment is too small, he requests his sister to take care of their ailing parents while he awaits a regular house allotment. As months pass, his sister finds it difficult to accommodate her parents along with her in-laws. She requests Rawng to accommodate them with his family. Since he is third in the queue, he may not get a house allotted in the near future. He approaches the CAO with a request to be moved up the queue on humanitarian grounds.
Which of the following responses by the CAO shall be perceived as the MOST appropriate by all the stakeholders?
Which of the following responses by the CAO shall be perceived as the MOST appropriate by all the stakeholders?
- Ask Rawng to meet with the director of FuRSCA and present his case to get an exception
- Inform Rawng that nothing can be done since violation of rules will set a wrong precedence
- Ask Rawng to negotiate and arrive at a consensus with the two scientists ahead in the queue which the CAO shall implement
- Move Rawng to the top of the queue, and make a rule that scientists with ailing parents shall be given preference
- Facilitate Rawng in getting a house in the city, along with a free commutation for the first three months
The Correct Option is
Solution and Explanation
Option 1: Asking Rawng to meet with the director for an exception might solve his problem, but it bypasses rules and creates unnecessary dependence on personal influence. Other employees may feel the process is unfair or based on favoritism.
Option 2: Simply telling Rawng that nothing can be done is technically correct (rules must be respected), but it shows a lack of empathy and ignores the humanitarian issue. This would create dissatisfaction and lower morale.
Option 3: Asking Rawng to negotiate with others ahead of him in the queue is impractical and unfair. It places the burden on Rawng to solve an institutional problem, and could cause conflict among colleagues. Housing policies should be transparent and not left to personal bargaining.
Option 4: Moving Rawng to the top of the queue and creating a new rule for ailing parents sounds empathetic, but it sets a dangerous precedent. Many others may also demand exceptions, making the housing allocation chaotic and unfair.
Option 5: This is the most balanced and sustainable solution. By helping Rawng temporarily get a house in the city and covering his commute costs for a few months, the CAO shows empathy while also ensuring the housing queue system remains intact. It provides immediate relief to Rawng’s parents without disturbing fairness for others waiting in line.
Conclusion: Option (5) is best because it respects both the rules and humanitarian concerns. It helps Rawng in a practical way while ensuring fairness and avoiding long-term policy issues.
Of late, the CAO has received several requests from the residents of 3 series houses to move to other series houses. The CAO is aware that this is largely because of their own noisy factory nearby. Due to limited housing available on the campus, he must do something before the problem worsens. He wants to find a solution that makes the lives of 3 series residents more comfortable.
Which of the following actions can BEST help the CAO in achieving his goal?
Which of the following actions can BEST help the CAO in achieving his goal?
- Appeal to the top management to make the factory work for only five days a week
- Install expensive sound proof windows in the 3 series quarters
- Provide 3 series residents with a hardship allowance of 15% of basic salary
- Offer a higher HRA to 3 series residents, nudging them to move to the city
- Introduce a policy of accelerated promotion for junior scientists living in 3 series quarters
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
The core problem is noise from the factory disturbing the residents. Monetary allowances (like hardship allowance or HRA) or indirect incentives (like promotions) do not actually solve the issue. Reducing the working days of the factory may affect productivity and is impractical.
The most sustainable and direct solution is to install sound-proof windows, which will immediately improve living conditions for the residents of 3 series houses, ensuring comfort without disturbing factory operations.
Top Questions on Reading Comprehension
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