Statement and Argument Questions

• Statement–Argument — Should cricket players found to have a nexus with bookies be punished with a life ban? Arguments: I. No. Imposing a life ban will discourage other players as well. II. Yes. Match-fixing scandals have shaken public trust; a stringent life ban can deter corruption, restore integrity, and protect the game’s spirit.
• Statement–Argument — Should only reputed NGOs be authorised to distribute Public Distribution System (PDS) commodities? Arguments: I. Yes. Reputed NGOs can improve on-ground execution and curb leakages/black marketing, making PDS more effective. II. Yes. NGOs have supported the government on many occasions.
• Statement–Argument — Should the vacation of central government employees be reduced? Arguments: I. Yes. More working days can speed up file disposal and service delivery, benefiting citizens through shorter turnaround times. II. Yes. Vacation makes employees lazy and reduces their stamina for long hours.
• Statement–Argument — Should Indian players who have represented India be allowed to coach other countries’ national teams? Arguments: I. Yes. Experience that does not harm one’s own nation can be shared to benefit others. II. No. It can endanger national prestige because such coaches may reveal team weaknesses to competitors.
• Statement–Argument — Should salaries and perquisites in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) be made equivalent to those in the private sector? Arguments: I. Yes. Pay parity will help PSUs attract and retain competent talent. II. No. PSUs cannot afford private-sector–level compensation. III. Yes. Without competitive pay, PSUs will struggle to compete effectively with private firms.
• Statement–Argument — Should smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol by actors be completely banned in Indian movies? Arguments: I. Yes. A blanket ban will significantly reduce the trend among youth by removing glamorised cues. II. No. Such a ban interferes with the filmmaker’s creative freedom and artistic expression. III. No. Films often mirror society; when the story demands it, such depictions can be contextually necessary with suitable safeguards (classification, disclaimers).
• Statement–Argument — Should sale of vital human organs be made legal in India? Arguments: I. No. It goes against our culture. II. No. Legalisation can fuel coercion, exploitation, and other unhealthy practices if safeguards fail. III. Yes. A regulated framework could curb illegal trafficking and reduce black-market harms.
• Statement–Argument — Should conscription (compulsory service) for defence be made mandatory in India? Arguments: I. Yes. It is the only way to address manpower shortages in defence services. II. No. Instead, improve the compensation and career package to attract volunteers competitively. III. Yes. Many other countries have compulsory service.
• Statement–Argument — Should the Government ban export of all food grains for the next one year to handle a potential drought? Arguments: I. Yes. Temporarily prioritising domestic supply is necessary to ensure food security for citizens. II. No. The Government lacks jurisdiction to ban private exporters. III. Yes. The Government should restrict exports and procure stocks from exporters to stabilise domestic availability.
• Statement–Argument — Should there be a limit on drawing groundwater for irrigation in India? Arguments: I. No. Irrigation is vital for food production, and many regions rely primarily on groundwater. II. Yes. In several areas, falling water tables pose serious environmental and sustainability risks. III. Yes. International agencies have cautioned India against further groundwater extraction.
• Statement–Argument — Should there be a complete ban on setting up thermal power plants in India? Arguments: I) Yes; this is the only way to prevent any further addition to environmental pollution. II) No; there is already a huge electricity shortage in many parts of the country, so generation capacity must be augmented. III) No; many developed countries continue to establish thermal power plants. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should there be a restriction on constructing high-rise buildings in India’s big cities? Arguments: I) No; large Indian cities lack adequate open land to house a growing population, so vertical growth is essential. II) Yes; only builders and developers benefit from high-rises. III) Yes; government should first strengthen infrastructure for existing buildings before permitting new high-rises. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should road repair work in big cities be carried out only late at night? Arguments: I) No; if done only at night, the work pace may suffer and projects may not complete efficiently. II) No; it would entail additional electricity use for lighting and safety. III) Yes; daytime repair causes major disruption to commuters and public transport. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should the Government close all educational institutions for a month to curb the fast spread of a contagious viral infection? Arguments: I) No; closures alone cannot curb spread and must be combined with other public-health measures. II) No; students may crowd malls, markets, and playgrounds during the break, worsening transmission. III) Yes; young people are more prone to infection and should stay indoors. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should all deemed universities be derecognized and attached to Central or State universities? Arguments: I) Yes; many deemed universities do not meet full university standards, compromising education quality. II) No; autonomy has enabled innovative, industry-aligned courses free from rigid controls. III) Yes; several institutions operate primarily as money-spinning businesses where education takes a back seat. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should all management institutes be brought under government control? Arguments: I) No; government lacks adequate resources to run all such institutes effectively. II) No; institutes need operational autonomy to innovate and respond to industry. III) Yes; standardization would ensure uniform education for all students. IV) Yes; only then will quality improve. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should wearing helmets for both rider and pillion on motorbikes be enforced strictly? Arguments: I) Yes; it is the law and should be enforced uniformly. II) No; individuals should decide how to protect themselves. III) No; helmets protect only the head, not the rest of the body. IV) Yes; helmets are necessary because the head is highly vulnerable. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should the Election Commission mandate that political parties allot 33% of tickets to women? Arguments: I) Yes; compulsory quotas will ensure significantly higher representation of women in politics. II) No; parties may push women into low-probability seats, undermining the intent. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should university degrees be completely delinked from employment eligibility criteria? Arguments: I) Yes; many current subjects lack practical application in their course structure. II) Yes; delinking will reduce the rush for conventional degrees and curb the pool of ‘‘educated unemployed’’. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should a law be enacted so that people elected on a party ticket must remain in that party? Arguments: I) Yes; otherwise there is no effective solution to defections. II) No; it will cause frequent elections whenever no party gains a majority. Choose the strong argument(s).