The Collaborative Challenge: Group Planning Exercise (GPE) in SSB

The Group Planning Exercise (GPE) is a critical non-obstacle task within the Group Testing Officer (GTO) series at the Services Selection Board (SSB). It is designed to assess candidates' practical intelligence, logical reasoning, and, most importantly, their ability to contribute effectively to a group solution under intellectual pressure.

Structure of the Group Planning Exercise (GPE)

This task is conducted in two distinct parts, all centered around a single, complex, real-life scenario presented on a geographical model and a story card.

Part 1: Individual Assimilation and Solution

The GTO first introduces a model (a map/chart) to the candidates and reads out a detailed story referring to the geographical points on the model. He then gives the story card to the candidates and asks them to assimilate the essentials.

• Reading the Story: 5 minutes
• Writing the Solution: 15 minutes

The story typically involves 3-4 problems of conflicting nature, with a red-herring also thrown in. The candidate is required to grasp the essentials of the problems and tackle the issues systematically, priority wise, allocating the available resources.

Part 2: Group Discussion and Final Plan

• Group Discussion: 15–20 minutes

The GTO asks the candidates to discuss their solutions and arrive at a single, common group plan for solving all the problems. Lastly, any one candidate, as selected by the group, is required to stand up and present the final, agreed-upon group plan to the GTO.

The GTO's Assessment Focus in GPE

• Effective Intelligence (Practicality): Is the solution logical, practical, and achievable within the constraints of time, distance, and resources? Is the prioritization correct?
• Reasoning Ability: Can the candidate justify their plan using logical arguments?
• Power of Expression: Can the candidate articulate their ideas clearly and persuasively during the discussion?
• Social Adaptability and Co-operation: Does the candidate contribute positively, listen attentively, and readily adopt better inputs from others to achieve a unified plan?

Sample Scenario and Strategic Solution

Sample Problem:

You are a group of 10 friends out on a cycle excursion cum picnic to spot X from spot Y. En-route at rail crossing Z you found a man waving wildly, he stated having seen some miscreants placing a bomb on the track at spot B, he wants you to help. Nearest town is 8 km away and some tractors are available at vill. C about 3 km away. Mob phones don’t function in the area, a manned level crossing is 2 km down the rail track. While you were pondering another lady came crying toward you seeking some help for her child who has fallen down and broken his legs. As you were about to get started another old man came up asking for your help in putting out the forest fire near his field, which soon threaten to consume his harvested fields with standing cattle fodder.

Strategic Solution and Resource Allocation:

The key is accurate prioritization. Saving human life must always be the top priority.

Prioritization:

1. Problem 1 (Highest Priority): Bomb on tracks (Saving hundreds of lives/major disaster).
2. Problem 2 (Second Priority): Child with broken legs (Saving an individual life/serious injury).
3. Problem 3 (Red Herring): Forest fire (Often beyond a layman’s ability to control; fields are harvested).

Resource Allocation Example:

Task	Allocation (Pairs)	Action/Resource
Bomb Threat	Team 1 & 2 (4 members)	4 Cycles: Go to manned level crossing (2 km) to inform rail authorities.
Injured Child	Team 3 & 4 (4 members)	4 Cycles + Tractors: Secure child, use tractor (3 km away) to transport to nearest town (8 km).
Old Man/Fire	Team 5 (2 members)	2 Cycles: Check fire. If small, douse. If large, inform town later.

Keys to Excelling in the GPE

• Be Contextual: Do not forget time constraints (e.g., approaching train) or the primary goal (the picnic). Plan with approximate time and cushion time for each sub-task.
• Avoid the Red Herring: Learn to recognize and appropriately manage low-priority or impossible tasks (like a large forest fire).
• Cooperation is King: Attempt to rally the group to your plan, but be open and adopt good inputs from others. Do not get argumentative; your goal is to build the best group plan.
• Remain Lively and Cooperative: Be seen as a contributing member, and ensure the work is distributed (never allocate a sub-task to one individual).

GPE Scenarios

The scenarios below are based on common themes in SSB GTO tasks, designed to test your ability to prioritize life over property, manage resources, and handle multiple concurrent crises.

1. The Picnic Emergency

Scenario: A classic scenario that mixes leisure with sudden, high-stakes emergencies, involving a bomb threat, an injured child, and a forest fire.

Aspect	Details
Group Situation	A group of 10 students/friends on a cycle excursion or picnic.
Problems	Bomb on railway track (highest priority), Child with broken leg (high priority), Forest fire near harvested fields (low priority/red herring).
Strategic Priority	1. Bomb Threat (Use cycles to reach manned crossing to call police). 2. Injured Child (Use cycles/tractor for transport). 3. Forest Fire (Address with remaining team if necessary).

2. The Disaster Relief Mission

Scenario: This scenario tests your ability to function under extreme stress and conflicting loyalties (mission vs. personal crisis).

Aspect	Details
Group Situation	A group of 8-10 medical students/relief workers traveling after completing a job.
Problems	School building fire trapping hundreds (highest priority), Mass epidemic reported, Friends molested/kidnapped, Enemy helicopter crash lands.
Strategic Priority	1. School Fire (Evacuate immediately). 2. Kidnapped Friends (Inform Police Station with full details). 3. Epidemic (Allocate a small team to assess). 4. Helicopter Crash (Inform authorities).

3. The Trekking/Boating Crisis

Scenario: Common in GPEs involving rural/wilderness areas, focusing on safety risks and external threats.

Aspect	Details
Group Situation	A group of 8 students enjoying a boating trip or trek near a river/jungle area.
Problems	Removed fish plate on railway track (highest priority), Two girls mauled by tigress (high priority), Terrorists planning road mine (high priority), Haystack fire.
Strategic Priority	1. Removed Fish Plate (Alert authorities via quickest route/PCO). 2. Mauled Girls (Dispatch team for first aid/evac). 3. Road Mine (Inform police post immediately). 4. Haystack Fire (Inform village/check if time permits).

4. The Civil Unrest/Criminal Activity Scenario

Scenario: Designed to test maturity in handling law and order issues without taking vigilante action, coupled with a major disaster.

Aspect	Details
Group Situation	A group of students traveling in a jeep to attend a friend's marriage.
Problems	Aircraft crash with 150 passengers (highest priority), Bride is kidnapped (personal/time-sensitive), Dacoits planning to loot hostel (future threat), Marriage deadline (2000 hrs).
Strategic Priority	1. Aircraft Crash (Dispatch largest team to rescue/inform authorities). 2. Kidnapped Bride (Small team to follow/inform police/family). 3. Hostel Loot (Call police to patrol hostel area). 4. Marriage (Regroup and proceed, accepting delay).

5. The Industrial/Chemical Crisis

Scenario: A specialized scenario that tests knowledge of specialized crisis management and safety protocols.

Aspect	Details
Group Situation	A group of students/engineers near an industrial area during a field trip.
Problems	Chemical/poison leak affecting colony (highest priority), Worker trapped in factory (high priority), Traffic jam blocking ambulances (coordination), Minor electricity short circuit (low priority/red herring).
Strategic Priority	1. Poison Leak Evacuation (Dispatch teams to evacuate and call specialized help/Fire Station). 2. Trapped Worker (Small, cautious team to assess rescue). 3. Traffic Jam (Assign members to direct traffic until police arrive). 4. Short Circuit (Call electrician/school).

In all scenarios, the solution requires structured thinking: Prioritize, Divide Group into Teams, Allocate Resources (including external authorities), and Regroup.
The GPE is your chance to demonstrate clarity of thought, social influence, and the practical application of intelligence—all vital qualities for an officer.