Statement and Argument Questions

• Statement: Should India have only a few large banks instead of numerous banks? Arguments: I. Yes. Larger banks can better withstand intermittent market shocks, protecting depositors. II. No. Post-merger redundancies cause job losses. III. Yes. Consolidation can strengthen the sector and foster healthier competition. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should income generated from agricultural activities be taxed? Arguments: I. No. Many farmers face natural calamities, low yields, and low procurement prices; their incomes should not be taxed. II. Yes. Since a majority depends on agriculture, taxing them will augment resources. III. Yes. Some large farmers earn far more than many salaried earners; taxing them reduces disparity. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should the rule mandating helmets for both rider and pillion on motorcycles be enforced strictly? Arguments: I. Yes. It is a rule, and rules should be followed strictly by all. II. No. Individuals should decide how to protect their own lives. III. No. Helmets protect only the head; the rest of the body remains unprotected. IV. Yes. The head is highly vulnerable; helmets significantly reduce severe injury risk. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should people convicted of heinous crimes like murder or rape (beyond all reasonable doubt) be given the death penalty? Arguments: I. No. Death penalty should be reserved only for the rarest of rare cases. II. Yes. It is the only way to adequately punish such offenders. III. Yes. Severe punishments deter such crimes and make society safer. IV. No. Truly repentant offenders should get a chance at reform and a normal life. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should candidates with qualifications higher than the job’s stated requirement be debarred from applying? Arguments: I. No. It will aggravate educated unemployment. II. Yes. Overqualified hires create complexes among employees and affect work adversely. III. No. It violates the individual’s basic rights to seek employment. IV. Yes. Productivity will increase if only optimally qualified candidates are hired. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should Class IV (Grade 4) children have a Board examination? Arguments: I. Yes. It motivates children to study and achieve higher marks, building knowledge earlier. II. No. Children will be forced to study and may not enjoy learning. III. Yes. In a competitive world, children must be prepared from the beginning to face difficult exams. IV. No. Board exams add pressure at a tender age and reduce time for play. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statements: Should there be reservation of jobs in the organizations in the private sector also, similar to public sector undertakings in India? Arguments: I. Yes. This would provide development opportunities to weaker sections and reduce the gap between affluent groups and the downtrodden. II. No. The private sector does not receive government assistance and therefore should not be burdened with such policies. III. No. Nowhere else in the world is such a practice followed. IV. No. Private sector managements would not agree to such compulsion. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument or arguments.
• Statement: Should all youngsters below 21 years of age be disallowed from going to beer bars? Arguments: I. No. It is not correct to prevent mature adults above 18, who can vote, from recreation. II. Yes. The entry fees to such pubs should also be hiked. III. No. There is no such curb in many Western countries. IV. Yes. Disallowing entry can help prevent bad company and harmful habits at a young age. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument or arguments.
• Statement: Should consumption of aerated drinks be banned in India? Arguments: I. Yes. This is the only way to reduce the risk of exposing people to certain diseases. II. No. Each individual should have the right to choose what to consume. III. No. There is no confirmed evidence that such products have adverse effects on the human body. IV. Yes. It is banned in many other countries. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument or arguments.
• Statement: Should all management institutes in the country be brought under government control? Arguments: I. No. The government does not have adequate resources to run such institutes effectively. II. No. Each institute should be given freedom to function on its own. III. Yes. This would enable standardized education for all students. IV. Yes. Only then would the quality of education improve. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument or arguments.
• Statement: Should all indirect taxes in India be combined into a single tax on all commodities? Arguments: I. Yes. This will simplify tax collection and reduce administration costs. II. Yes. Manufacturers and traders will benefit, which will in turn boost tax collection. III. No. No other country has adopted such a system. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument or arguments.
• Statement: Should all slums in big cities be demolished and residents relocated outside city limits? Arguments: I. No. Residents would lose home and livelihood; relocation can cause severe hardship. II. Yes. Big cities need space for development; slums should be removed. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument or arguments.
• Should there be a total ban on trapping wild animals? Consider the following arguments and identify which one is strong: 1. Yes, because trappers are making a lot of money by catching wild animals. 2. No, because bans on hunting and trapping are usually not effective in practice.
• Should India become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council? Arguments: I. Yes, India has emerged as a country that values peace and international harmony. II. No, India should first solve internal problems such as poverty and malnutrition.
• Should the railways immediately stop issuing free travel passes to all of their employees? Arguments: 1. No, because railway employees have the highest right to travel free on the trains of their own organisation. 2. Yes, because stopping free passes will save money that can be used to provide better facilities for passengers.
• Is the Government justified in spending a large amount of money on defence? Arguments: I. Yes, because the safety and security of the country are of prime importance. II. No, because during peace time this money could be used for the development of the country.
• Should jobs be delinked from academic degrees and diplomas when employers recruit candidates? Arguments: 1. No, because a very large number of people with low academic qualifications will start applying for many jobs. 2. No, because the importance of higher education will be diminished if jobs are not linked with degrees and diplomas.
• Should the cutting of trees be completely banned in order to protect the environment? Arguments: I. Yes, because a total ban is necessary to restore ecological balance and protect forests. II. No, because a complete ban on cutting trees would badly harm timber based industries.
• Should there be a ban on affiliation of student unions with political parties in colleges and universities? Arguments: I. Yes, because political parties often take undue advantage of student unions to serve their own selfish interests. II. No, because without the support of political parties many student unions will not be able to survive.
• Reliance Jio has sharply reduced the cost of Internet access in India, creating winners and losers among customers, other telecom companies, the Government and existing shareholders. Statements: A. The final group of losers is the current shareholders of Reliance Industries Limited, whose share price fell when Jio was announced. B. This shows that the stock markets short term reaction is usually proven correct in the long run. C. The first group of losers is the shareholders of other telecom companies, who face lower profits because of Jio. D. The large amount of revenue that the Government of India earns from auctioning spectrum is not always a good thing, because a large fraction of Government spending is wasted. E. The second loser is the Government of India, since the big money it was earning from selling cellular bandwidth was actually coming from the pockets of mobile consumers. F. The first obvious winners are customers who enjoy cheaper Internet access. G. The second winner is Mr Ambani, who can make a lasting impact as the person who brought affordable Internet to millions of Indians. Question: Which of the above statements supports the decision of other telecom companies that oppose the Reliance Jio scheme?