Statement: Should there be a complete ban on genetically modified imported seeds?
Arguments:
Yes. This will boost the demand of domestically developed seeds.
No. This is the only way to increase production substantially.
Yes. Genetically modified products will adversely affect the health of those who consume these products.
Options
A. Only I and II are strong
B. Only II is strong
C. Only II and III are strong
D. Only I and III are strong
E. All are strong
Correct Answer
Only II is strong
Explanation
Genetically modified imported seeds have been specially formulated to increase the yield and quality of produce. So, argument II is strong. Besides, increase in production holds much more significance than the sale of domestically produced seeds. Thus, argument I does not hold. Also, the genetically modified seeds result in a producer of finer quality which is no way harmful to the consumer. So, III also does not hold strong.
Statement and Argument problems
Search Results
1. Statement: Is caste-based reservation policy in professional colleges justified?
Arguments:
Yes. The step is a must to bring the underprivileged at par with the privileged ones.
No. It obstructs the establishment of a classless society.
Yes. This will help the backward castes and classes of people to come out of the oppression of upper caste people.
Clearly, capability is an essential criteria for a profession and reservation cannot ensure capable workers. So, neither I nor III holds strong. However, making one caste more privileged than the other through reservations would hinder the objectives of a classless society. So, argument II holds strong.
2. Statement: Should the public sector undertakings be kilo wed to adopt hire and fire policy?
Arguments:
Yes. This will help the public sector undertakings to get rid of non-performing employees and reward the performing employees.
No. This will give an unjust handle to the management and they may use it indiscriminately.
Yes. This will help increase the level of efficiency of these organizations and these will become profitable establishments.
'Hire and fire policy' implies 'taking up the performing employees and discarding the non-performing ones'. Clearly, such a policy would stand out to encourage employees to work hard and devotedly to retain their jobs and thus enhance productivity and profitability of the organizations. So, both arguments I and III hold strong. Argument II seems to be vague in the light of this.
3. Statement: Should trade unions be banned completely?
Arguments:
Yes. Workers can concentrate on production.
No. This is the only way through which employees can put their demands before the management.
Yes. Employees get their illegal demands fulfilled through these unions.
No. Trade unions are not banned in other economically advanced countries.
Clearly, trade unions provide a common platform for the workers to voice their demands and protests and thus ensure that they are not subdued or exploited. So, argument II holds strong, while I and III do not. Besides, the idea of imitation of other countries in the implementation of a certain policy holds no relevance. So, argument IV also does not hold strong.
4. Statement: Should education be made compulsory for all children up to the age of 14?
Arguments:
Yes. This will help to eradicate the system of forced employment of these children.
Yes. This is an effective way to make the entire population educated.
No. We do not have adequate infrastructure to educate the entire population.
Clearly, today's children are to make up future citizens of the country and so it is absolutely essential to make them learned, more responsible, more innovative and self-dependent by imparting them education. So, argument II holds strong while I and IV do not. Besides, the goal of literacy cannot be denied for want of infrastructure. So, argument III also does not hold.
5. Statement: Should all the school teachers be debarred from giving private tuitions?
Arguments:
No. The needy students will be deprived of the expertise of these teachers.
Yes. This is an injustice to the unemployed educated people who can earn their living by giving tuitions.
Yes. Only then the quality of teaching in schools will improve.
Only III is strong. The lure of earning private tuitions reduces the efforts and devotion of the teachers towards the students in schools. So, if tuitions are banned, students can benefit from their teachers' knowledge in the school itself. So, argument III holds strong while I does not. However, a person cannot be barred from earning more just because he already has a good salary. So, argument IV is vague. Further, the unemployed people thriving on tuitions can survive with the school teachers holding tuitions too, if they are capable enough to guide the students well. So, argument II also does not hold strong.
6. Statement: Should the income generated out of agricultural activities be taxed?
Arguments:
No. Farmers are otherwise suffering from natural calamities and low yield coupled with low procurement price and their income should not be taxed.
Yes. Majority of the population is dependent on agriculture and hence their income should be taxed to augment the resources.
Yes. Many big farmers earn much more than the majority of the service earners and they should be taxed to remove the disparity.
Clearly, if the income of farmers is not adequate, they cannot be brought under the net of taxation as per rules governing the Income Tax Act. So, I is not strong. Besides, a major part of the population is dependent on agriculture and such a large section, if taxed even with certain concessions, would draw in huge funds, into the government coffers. Also, many big landlords with substantially high incomes from agriculture are taking undue advantage of this benefit. So, both arguments II and III hold strong.
7. Statement: Should all the management institutes in the country be brought under government control?
Arguments:
No. The government does not have adequate resources to run such institutes effectively.
No. Each institute should be given freedom to function on its own.
Yes. This will enable to have standardized education for all the students.
Yes. Only then the quality of education would be improved.
Clearly, the government can pool up resources to run such institutes, if that can benefit the citizens. So, I does not hold strong. II does not provide any convincing reason. Also, it is not obligatory that government control over the institutes would ensure better education than that at present. So, both III and IV also do not hold.
8. Statement: Should the system of Lok Adalats and mobile courts be encouraged in India?
Arguments:
Yes. It helps to grant speedy justice to the masses.
Yes. The dispensing of minor cases at this level would reduce the burden on the higher courts.
Courts are meant to judge impartially. So, argument III is vague. The system of local courts shall speed up justice by providing easy approach and simplified procedures, and thus ease the burden of the higher courts. So, I as well as II holds strong.
9. Statement: Should India acquire/manufacture the latest nuclear weapons?
Arguments:
Yes. The enemies of India are improving their weapons continuously and it becomes imperative to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
No. Instead the money should be diverted to development activities.
No. The international community will isolate Indians and this will bring a setback to Indian economy.
No. It will be against our policy of maintaining world peace.
Clearly, in the blind race for attaining nuclear powers, acquiring nuclear weapons is an inevitability to protect the country from the threat of nuclear powers. So, argument I holds strong. Also, defence of the country is as important as internal development. So, II does not hold. Argument III seems to be vague. Also, India intends to acquire nuclear weapons for self-defence and not aggression. So, argument IV also does not hold.
10. Statement: Should there be a complete ban on manufacture and use of firecrackers?
Arguments:
No. This will render thousands of workers jobless.
Yes. The firecracker manufacturers use child labour to a large extent.
Yes. This will be a concrete step to reduce noise and air pollution.
No. Use of firecrackers makes certain special occasions more lively and joyful.
Clearly, banning a product would surely render jobless the large number of workers involved in manufacturing it. Besides, firecrackers on burning produce explosive sounds and immense poisonous fumes, which cause both air and noise pollution. So, both arguments I and HI hold. However, to stop child labour, it is not necessary to close down the industry but strict laws against child abuse should be enforced and legal actions taken. Similarly, there are many other ways to make parties boisterous and special events enjoyable. Hence, II as well as IV does not hold strong.