Statement: India is suffering because citizens have given and taken votes based on caste or religion rather than on principles. Assumptions: I. The days of value-based voting are numbered in India. II. Voting based on principles can nullify or mitigate the problems created by caste- and religion-based politics. Choose the option that best identifies which assumption(s) is/are implicit.

Introduction / Context:
The statement blames current electoral behavior (caste/religion voting) for India’s suffering. We must identify the hidden premise(s) without which this evaluative claim would lack force.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Citizens have often voted based on caste/religion.
• “Principles” are contrasted as the better basis.
• We test which assumption is essential.

Concept / Approach:
A necessary assumption supports the causal/evaluative leap. If the speaker proposes principles-based voting as the corrective, the logic presumes such voting alleviates the named harms.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Assumption I: “The days of value-based voting are numbered.” This predicts decline in value-based voting; the statement criticizes present practice, but does not require a trend prediction. Not necessary.Assumption II: “Principles-based voting can counter harms of identity voting.” This is required; otherwise recommending “principles” as an antidote would be pointless.

Verification / Alternative check:
If II were false, the statement’s contrast would lose explanatory power.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Including I adds an unnecessary forecast; “neither” ignores the corrective premise; “either/both” wrongly include I.

Common Pitfalls:
Reading trend claims into a present-tense critique.

Final Answer:
if only assumption II is implicit.