Statement and Argument Questions

• Statement–Argument — Should TV channels be allowed to telecast soft-porn films? Arguments: I. Yes. It will satisfy youthful impulses and thereby reduce offences against women. II. No. It conflicts with social values and may harm children who use TV for entertainment and learning.
• Statement–Argument — Should government hospitals charge user fees from government employees who pay income tax? Arguments: I. Yes. User fees can ease fiscal pressure and the revenue can fund better services for those in need. II. No. Charging tax-paying employees is unjust since they already contribute revenue to the state.
• Statement–Argument — Should the habit of classroom absenteeism be checked in educational institutions? Arguments: I. Yes. Otherwise the institute’s image in society will suffer. II. No. Checking absenteeism encroaches on individual liberty.
• Statement–Argument — Should children be completely prevented from using the Internet? Arguments: I. No. The Internet is an educational medium that blends learning with engagement. II. Yes. Pornographic and harmful sites strongly affect children; surveys suggest many users are minors.
• Statement–Argument — Should people be banned from providing services to more than one firm/organisation? Arguments: I. Yes. It will reduce unemployment to some extent by distributing work. II. No. Such a ban would frustrate skilled professionals and reduce flexibility, causing dissatisfaction and productivity loss.
• Statement–Argument — Should people be allowed to carry traditional arms during long train journeys? Arguments: I. Yes. It will reduce dacoity and chain-snatching on trains. II. No. Allowing arms will inconvenience passengers and worsen law-and-order risks in crowded, confined spaces.
• 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).