Critical reasoning — free school education in India: Should school education be made free across India, weighing the assertion that making schooling free is the only way to improve literacy against the counter-concern that such a policy would add substantially to the already heavy burden on the public exchequer?

Given data

• Statement: Make school education free nationwide?
• Argument I (Yes): Free education is the only way to raise literacy.
• Argument II (No): It would increase the fiscal burden on the exchequer.

Concept/Approach (absolutist claims vs. pragmatic constraints)A strong argument avoids absolute 'only way' claims unless justified. Fiscal sustainability is a legitimate policy constraint that directly bears on feasibility.

Step-by-step evaluation1) Argument I is over-absolute; literacy can also be advanced by incentives, mid-day meals, adult education, infrastructure, conditional cash transfers, etc. Hence, weak.2) Argument II highlights a direct, material constraint (budgetary capacity), which is relevant to nationwide free schooling. Hence, strong.

Verification/AlternativeThe debate would typically consider phased targets or targeted subsidies; none of that rescues the 'only way' claim.

Common pitfallsConfusing desirability (free schooling) with necessity/uniqueness of means.

Final AnswerOnly argument II is strong.