Statement and Argument Questions

• 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).
• Statement–Argument — Should foreign scholars be allowed to deliver lectures in India? Arguments: I) Yes; open exchange of ideas is central to scholarship and benefits students and researchers. II) No; such discourses may harm traditional culture and values. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should the government allow migrants from other countries to work in India? Arguments: I) No; given widespread unemployment and poverty, allowing foreign workers may aggravate domestic job scarcity. II) Yes; every country must provide livelihoods to all humans irrespective of citizenship. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should the government hike postal rates? Arguments: I) No; many poorer citizens rely on postal services, and higher rates would impede their communication. II) Yes; sustained losses from under-priced services harm public finances and service quality. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should a poverty-ridden country invest money in hosting international games? Arguments: I) Yes; such events bring countries together and foster coordination and goodwill. II) No; hosting requires huge expenditures that can crowd out poverty-eradication programmes. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Three million tonnes of foodgrains vanished from Food Corporation granaries. Should the officials explain it to the people? Arguments: I) No; such losses are routine and do not deserve explanation. II) Yes; large-scale bungling by public officials must be accounted for because it is the public’s loss. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Have economic reforms proved effective? Arguments: I) Yes; there has been a substantial improvement in GDP growth. II) No; the observed progress is mainly due to favorable monsoons. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should firms prioritize acquiring new clients? Arguments: I) Yes; new clients expand the revenue base and future growth opportunities. II) No; focusing on acquisition can degrade service to existing clients. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should India be ruled by a coalition of regional parties? Arguments: I) Yes; greater state voice at the centre could reduce alienation and secessionist pressures. II) No; coalition governments are unstable and crisis-prone. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should tobacco production be banned in the country? Arguments: I) Yes; consumption in any form is injurious to health and imposes huge social costs. II) No; tobacco provides income to farmers. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should India immediately stop digging coal from its mines? Arguments: I) Yes; present coal stocks will not last long at the current mining rate. II) No; India lacks sufficient alternative energy sources to replace coal quickly. III) No; an immediate stop would harm millions of livelihoods and disrupt industry. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should there be a complete ban on Indian professionals taking jobs abroad after receiving their education in India? Arguments: I. Yes. This is the only way to sustain India’s current rate of technological development. II. No. Indians settled abroad remit large amounts of foreign exchange that significantly add to reserves. III. No. Practical knowledge gained while working abroad ultimately helps India’s economy (skills, networks, technology). Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should admission to all professional courses be based on past academic performance rather than entrance tests? Arguments: I. Yes. This helps candidates who cannot afford the costs of entrance tests. II. Yes. Many deserving candidates with high qualifying marks perform poorly on one-off entrance tests. III. No. Standards across Boards/Universities vary; a common entrance calibrates candidates on a single yardstick. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should all graduates be allowed to enroll in any post-graduate course of their choice regardless of undergraduate background or capacity constraints? Arguments: I. Yes. Students are the best judges of their own capability and should face no restrictions. II. No. Post-graduate programs require relevant prerequisites; eligibility conditions must be met. III. No. Institutes have limited seats and cannot accommodate all interested graduates in any subject they choose. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should religion be taught in schools? Arguments: I. No. India is a secular state. II. Yes. Teaching religion can inculcate moral values among children. III. No. We should prepare the young for the 21st century instead of teaching religion. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).