Constitutional rights — Should migration between Indian states be restricted? Statement: Should there be a restriction on migration of people from one state to another in India? Arguments: I. No. Any Indian citizen has a basic right to live anywhere in the country and cannot be stopped. II. Yes. This is the way to bring equitable distribution of resources across states.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Only argument I is strong

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The prompt concerns freedom of movement and residence within India versus a proposed restriction to engineer equity. We must judge which argument is constitutionally and pragmatically stronger.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Indian citizens enjoy fundamental rights including movement and residence subject to reasonable restrictions in narrowly defined circumstances.
  • Equitable resource distribution is a policy goal but typically pursued through fiscal and development instruments, not blanket mobility curbs.


Concept / Approach:
Arguments grounded in constitutional guarantees and widely accepted governance mechanisms are strong. Proposals to curtail fundamental rights require compelling, narrowly tailored justification, which Argument II does not provide.



Step-by-Step Solution:

Argument I: Strong. It invokes a basic right; any restriction would need strict justification, which is absent here.Argument II: Weak. It assumes mobility restrictions will create equity, ignoring practical and legal issues and more effective fiscal approaches (grants, targeted investment).


Verification / Alternative check:
Inter-state migration helps labor markets and national integration; equity is better handled via finance commissions and development schemes, not by curbing rights.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • II strong: unsupported.
  • Either/Neither/Both: do not reflect the clear superiority of I.


Common Pitfalls:
Assuming central planning via movement controls will fairly allocate resources; it often creates inefficiency and rights violations.



Final Answer:
Only argument I is strong

More Questions from Statement and Argument

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