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 Sonpur, who have come to see a film shooting in Nandi hills near Kali temple. While returning from shooting 200 metres short of milk plant, your bus engine got over heated. The driver told you that some water is required and it will take half an hour to cool down. One of you goes to the milk plant to fetch water. On your way, you see a man lying in the bushes in semiconscious state bleeding from his shoulder. On probing, he informs you that he is a member of a terrorist gang who have poisoned the milk plant’s main tank an hour back. Thereafter the leader and the eight others had planned to abduct the heroine camping at Nandi Hills Rest house at 6:30PM to extract ransom. Being an upholder of Women’s honour, he opposed them. At this they shot him and taking him to be dead left him in the bushes. You rushed to inform the chowkidar of the plant so that he could take urgent action but he panicked and told you that a milk van carrying 2000 litres of milk had gone to Ramnagar minutes back for distribution. All the staff except chowkidar have left, since the plant is closed for the day. At the same time a Villager from Ferozpur comes rushing and asks for help as his pet calf has become unconscious after consuming the evening feed of the milk which he had collected from the main tank.
The following additional information is available:
There is half hourly bus service from Sonpur to Ramnagar reaching Ferozpur at 5.45 PM. Ramnagar is a district headquarter. Milk booth near bus stand at Ramnagar is the first delivery point at 6.30 PM. Hasan has a PHC. Hussainpur PP has 3 constables. There is a telephone at milk plant, but it’s dead presently. The motor boat on Krishna River can carry up to 300 Kg, 20 km per hour upstream and 40 km per hour downstream.
Time now is 5.30 PM, as young bright students what action will you take?
Sample GPE Priority-wise Problems
| PRIORITIES | REASONS | PROBLEMS |
| 1 | Threat to human life | Terrorist in semi-conscious state, injured and needs medical aid |
| 2 | Mass disaster | Contaminated milk from the plant has been dispatched to Ramnagar |
| 3 | Urgent | Abduction attempt on the heroine at Nandi Hills Rest House at 6:00 PM |
| 4 | Important | Collect water from plant to fix the bus |
| 5 | Minor | Unconscious calf in Ferozpur needs vet assistance |
Sample GPE Group Division (Assuming 8 Students)
| GROUPS | MEMBERS | ASSIGNED TASKS |
| A | 2 | Stop milk van before delivery at Ramnagar milk booth |
| B | 2 | Alert authorities, prevent abduction at Nandi Hills Rest House |
| C | 2 | Get help for terrorist + calf, inform Hussainpur PP & Hasan PHC |
| D | 2 | Fetch water from plant, repair bus, ensure group’s mobility |
Sample GPE Solution Timeline
| TASKS | TIME SLOT |
| Situation assessed, groups formed | 5:30 PM |
| Group D goes to fetch water; Group A leaves via motorboat downstream | 5:32 PM |
| Group C departs | 5:35 PM |
| Group D starts engine repair | 5:50 PM |
| Group A reaches Ramnagar milk booth, stops delivery | 5:54 PM |
| Bus ready, used as backup transport | 6:00 PM |
| Hussainpur PP dispatched to Nandi Hills RH | 6:10 PM |
| Abduction thwarted, police on scene | 6:25 PM |
| Milk booth secured, public saved | 6:30 PM |
| Group reunites, proceeds to Sonpur | 6:45 PM |
For detailed solution, check out Sample GPE With Detailed Solution For SSB Interview – Part 25
