The Group Planning Exercise (GPE) is a key component of the Group Task (GT) series at the SSB, designed to evaluate a candidate’s planning, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. In a typical GPE, you will be presented with a map, a situation, and several problems to tackle within a limited timeframe. You and your group must come up with a detailed, logical plan to address all issues effectively.
Below, you will find a situation. Read it carefully, analyse the information, and then propose a step-by-step plan in the comments section.
Sample GPE Map
Sample GPE Story
You are a group of students from government college of engineering Surendranagar who had gone to Sanand for industrial visit. You have to come back to Surendranagar to attend a farewell party of a friend going abroad by 6pm. Enroute 6pm near the tea shop your vehicle tyre gets punctured and you come to an halt. The driver tells you that it will take 20 mins to repair the tyre. As you are heading towards the tea stall for refreshment you see a person running and shouting coming towards you from heading direction. He informed that 4 naxals have kidnapped the DM from Sanand who had come there for the annual inspection. He also told that they threatened to kill the DM for their leader locked in Morbi central jail if not being released by 5pm today. Further he informed that bodyguards of the DM is seriously injured and are lying unconsciously in the rest house. As you were contemplating the plan of action, a fisherman comes to you on his cycle from river direction and informs you that railway bridge over aji river has developed crack due to heavy rainfall and flash floods due to adjoining areas. All the telephone lines in the area are out of order. He then sees and point you a man who climbing over water tank waiting to do suicide. And you get a sight off that man you hear commotion at the tea shop and find some customers having scuffle with tea shop owner over payment issues.
1. The Mumbai- Ahmedabad Tejas express from Mumbai crosses that bridge at 4:15pm.
2. Time now is 3:15pm.
Placed in such situations what will you do as dynamic youth?
Sample GPE Priority-wise Problems
| PRIORITIES | REASONS | PROBLEMS |
| 1 | Threat to human life | Provide first aid to injured bodyguards lying unconscious in Rest House |
| 2 | Threat to human life | Prevent suicide attempt by man climbing water tank |
| 3 | Urgent | Rescue the District Magistrate kidnapped by Naxals from Sanand |
| 4 | Mass disaster | Save the Tejas Express from crossing the cracked Aji River bridge at 4:15 PM |
| 5 | Minor | Control scuffle between customers and tea shop owner |
Sample GPE Group Division (Assuming 8 Students)
| GROUPS | MEMBERS | ASSIGNED TASKS |
| A | 2 | Alert railway authorities to stop Tejas Express |
| B | 2 | Rescue DM from Naxals |
| C | 2 | Give first aid to bodyguards |
| D | 2 | Handle suicide case + scuffle at tea shop |
Sample GPE Solution Timeline
| TASKS | TIME SLOT |
| Groups formed, task allocated | 3:15 PM |
| Group D handles suicide + tea shop | 3:20 PM |
| Group C reaches Rest House for first aid | 3:25 PM |
| Jeep repaired, Group B departs to rescue DM | 3:35 PM |
| Group A reaches railway authority, stops Tejas Express | 3:45 PM |
| DM is rescued, jeep brings all back | 3:50 PM |
| All regroup near Tea Shop | 5:15 PM |
| Depart for Surendranagar | 5:30 PM |
| Reach Surendranagar for farewell party | 6:00 PM |
For detailed solution, check out Sample GPE With Detailed Solution For SSB Interview – Part 24
