Statement and Argument Questions

• Statement–Argument — Should there be a re-election if the winner’s candidature is cancelled? Arguments: I. Yes. The elected winner reflects the will of the majority; cancelling the candidature requires a fresh mandate to preserve democratic legitimacy. II. No. It would be unfair to the runner-up who finished second and could otherwise be declared the winner.
• Statement–Argument — Should India enact a law allowing mutual transfer of convicts between India and other countries? Arguments: I. Yes. It helps ensure the convict faces appropriate consequences consistent with the country whose law is invoked and supports sentence management. II. Yes. It deters criminals from sheltering in jurisdictions that cannot transfer them for serving sentences, closing safe-haven loopholes.
• Statement–Argument — Should sex determination through ultrasound and female foeticide be made a non-bailable offence? Arguments: I. Yes. Prompt and stringent non-bailable provisions are necessary to deter gender-biased practices and protect the girl child. II. No. People should enjoy their freedom, and such restrictions curtail it.
• Statement–Argument — Should all universities be allowed to operate educational FM radio? Arguments: I. No. Universities might drift towards commercial use, undermining academic objectives. II. Yes. It will reduce the urban–rural information gap and widen access to education.
• Statement–Argument — Is “Each one teach one” the best policy to spread elementary education in India? Arguments: I. Yes. If 60% literates teach 40% illiterates, universal coverage becomes plausible with minimal additional infrastructure. II. No. People are too time-pressed and focus on livelihood, so they cannot contribute.
• Statement–Argument — Should the minimum age (25 years) for entry to bars and pubs be reduced? Arguments: I. Yes. By 18–20 years, citizens vote and can distinguish right from wrong; denying entry is paternalistic. II. No. Social maturity and economic independence usually accrue later; lowering the age risks harm via premature exposure and poor decisions.
• Statement–Argument — Should police pickets on roads be disallowed from stopping buses to check travellers’ luggage? Arguments: I. Yes. Such checks inconvenience travellers and worsen traffic congestion. II. No. Blanket disallowance would unduly curtail necessary policing powers used for safety, interdiction, and crime prevention.
• Statement–Argument — Should frequent strikes called by teachers be banned? Arguments: I. Yes. Repeated strikes severely disrupt students’ learning and harm their interests. II. No. If teachers serve students well, they should not be deprived of a platform to express grievances.
• Statement–Argument — Should strict action be taken against people who use ancient rocks/heritage formations for advertisements? Arguments: I. No. It is the cheapest and most cost-effective advertising medium and should not be banned. II. Yes. Heritage sites must be conserved; advertising defaces and degrades irreplaceable cultural assets.
• Statement–Argument — Should the constitutional provision allowing premature dissolution of a state assembly be amended? Arguments: I. Yes. The power has sometimes been used by ruling governments to serve partisan interests rather than constitutional necessity. II. No. Premature dissolution can be essential to fulfil constitutional obligations when stable governance is impossible.
• Statement–Argument — Should AIDS tests be made mandatory in India for brides and grooms before marriage? Arguments: I) Yes; India bears a high burden of HIV/AIDS, and pre-marital screening could help reduce transmission and protect spouses and future children. II) No; compulsory testing would humiliate couples and may stigmatize them socially. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should there be a censor board to supervise advertisements issued by companies? Arguments: I) No; it is impractical to create separate censoring bodies for many different domains. II) Yes; several advertisements have shown content that provokes public controversy and can harm social norms and vulnerable groups. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should students be allowed to work while studying? Arguments: I) Yes; many students lack the financial background to fund their education, and work makes pursuing studies feasible. II) Yes; vocational and practical experience builds self-sufficiency and makes academic learning more meaningful to the real world. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should an employer have the right to terminate an employee on the ground of disability? Arguments: I) Yes; if a disability prevents the employee from performing essential duties, the employer’s objectives suffer and termination should be permitted. II) No; humanity and equal opportunity require accommodation and protection, and disability alone should not justify termination. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should a person debarred from contesting elections be allowed to become a state Chief Minister? Arguments: I) No; a debarred person cannot meet the constitutional requirement of becoming an MLA/MLC within six months, making such appointment untenable. II) Yes; in a democracy, popular mandate should override technical legal disqualifications. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should the government enact stricter laws against the spread of hutment (slum) colonies? Arguments: I) No; the government must provide food, shelter, and clothing to every citizen. II) Yes; unchecked proliferation of hutments strains civic amenities and destabilizes the population–infrastructure balance. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should scientists be allowed to pursue human cloning? Arguments: I) Yes; cloning technologies may fight disease and help childless couples have a baby. II) No; high malformation rates in animal cloning and ethical concerns about “playing with nature” make it unacceptable. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should State Electricity Boards conduct raids to check use of air-conditioners (ACs) during peak hours? Arguments: I) Yes; electricity is critical infrastructure, and conserving it at peak times protects grid stability and public services. II) No; enforcement should focus on connected-load violations and electricity theft, which are the real problems. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should a person found guilty of rape be punished with capital punishment? Arguments: I) Yes; severe punishment deters grievous crimes and may change the behavior of would-be offenders. II) No; capital punishment could incentivize the offender to kill the victim to destroy evidence. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should government doctors come under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA)? Arguments: I) No; fear of litigation may hinder bold, time-critical care in emergencies, risking patient lives. II) Yes; patients pay for care and deserve accountability and compensation if harmed by negligence, so doctors should be within CPA. Choose the strong argument(s).