Statement and Argument Questions

• Statement–Argument — Should Indian scientists working abroad be called back to India? Arguments: I) Yes; they must serve the motherland first regardless of facilities and recognition. II) No; (irrelevant) this encourages kidnappers to continue sinister activities. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Is paying ransom or acceding to kidnappers’ conditions for political figures a proper course of action? Arguments: I) Yes; the victims must be saved at all costs. II) No; paying ransom encourages kidnappers to persist and escalate. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should higher education be restricted to only those who can bear the cost? Arguments: I) Yes; higher education is expensive and should not be free. II) No; many brilliant students cannot afford fees and should still access higher education. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should tuition fees in all postgraduate courses be hiked considerably? Arguments: I) Yes; higher fees will induce seriousness and improve quality. II) No; a steep hike will exclude meritorious poor students from postgraduate study. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should school education be made free in India? Arguments: I) Yes; free schooling is the only way to lift literacy levels. II) No; it will add to the already heavy burden on the exchequer. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should manufacture of firecrackers be completely banned in India? Arguments: I) No; a ban would render thousands of workers jobless. II) Yes; the industry extensively uses child labour, which is unacceptable. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should young entrepreneurs be encouraged? Arguments: I) Yes; they help drive industrial development. II) Yes; they reduce pressure on salaried employment markets by creating jobs. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should luxury hotels be banned in India? Arguments: I) Yes; international criminals operate from such places. II) No; affluent foreign tourists would have no suitable place to stay. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should colleges in India have student uniforms like schools? Arguments: I) Yes; uniforms improve ambience as all students dress decently. II) No; college students should not be regimented and should choose their attire within norms. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement–Argument — Should sale of all China-made toys be banned in India? Arguments: I) Yes; very cheap imports will drive domestic manufacturers out of business. II) No; Indian toys are of better quality and will be affected. Choose the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should there be no examinations up to Standard IX in all schools in India? Arguments: I. No. Students need to experience examinations from a young age. II. Yes. Removing exams will encourage lateral thinking and support creative pursuits. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Considering increasing life expectancy in India, should the retirement age for government jobs be raised? Arguments: I. Yes. Many other countries raised retirement ages long ago. II. Yes. Lakhs of employees actually demand it. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should new universities be established in India? Arguments: I. No. We have not yet achieved universal literacy. II. No. We already face the problem of highly educated but unemployed youth. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should all government-owned educational institutions be handed over to the private sector? Arguments: I. Yes. Their educational standards will improve. II. Yes. Their educational standards will decline. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should an organisation like the United Nations (UN) be abolished? Arguments: I. Yes. The Cold War is over; such bodies have no role now. II. No. Without them the world will plunge into another world war. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should non-vegetarian food be totally banned in our country? Arguments: I. Yes. It is expensive and beyond the means of most people. II. No. In a democracy nothing should be banned. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should a public holiday be declared upon the demise of important national leaders? Arguments: I. No. Unscheduled holidays hamper national progress. II. Yes. People would like to pay their homage to the departed soul. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should graduation be the minimum educational qualification for entry-level jobs in public sector organisations? Arguments: I. Yes. Graduates always perform better than non-graduates due to higher education. II. No. Many cannot afford to wait for graduation yet can perform equally well at such jobs. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should India have only two political parties? Arguments: I. Yes. Many developed countries have only two parties. II. No. Indian voters are not mature enough to choose between only two parties. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).
• Statement: Should the sale of tobacco products be restricted to only a few licensed outlets in each city/town? Arguments: I. Yes. Concentrating sales points will substantially reduce tobacco consumption. II. No. Buyers should find tobacco products at convenient locations. Choose the option that best identifies the strong argument(s).