A statement is followed by two arguments (I) and (II). Choose which of the argument(s) is/are strong. Statement : Should every house use solar energy in order to reduce the need of electricity in Rajasthan ? Arguments : (I) Yes, it will conserve our natural resources and it will promote environmental compatibility. (II) No, solar panels are costly and all the house owners cannot afford it without subsidy.

Correct — option (1), Only argument (I) is strong.

An argument is strong when it is directly related to the question in the statement and gives a significant reason bearing on it. It is weak when it is beside the point, trivial, or rests on a difficulty that can be removed.

Argument (I) answers the question on its merits. It says using solar energy will conserve natural resources and promote environmental compatibility. That is a significant benefit tied directly to the proposal, so (I) is strong.

Argument (II) objects that panels are costly and that not every house owner can afford them without subsidy. Its own words name the remedy: subsidy. A cost that subsidy can meet is a hurdle in carrying out the proposal, not a reason why houses should not use solar energy. So (II) is weak.

That makes the answer Only argument (I) is strong.

The idea to remember: an objection that names its own remedy is about how to carry out a proposal, not whether to adopt it.

Why the others are wrong

• (2)
  Only argument (II) is strong. — Option (2) makes the cost objection decisive and discards the environmental reason.

  But (II) concedes that subsidy removes its own obstacle, so it does not show the proposal is undesirable. Meanwhile (I) gives a significant benefit directly related to using solar energy, which is what makes an argument strong.

• (3)
  Both of the arguments are strong. — Option (3) accepts (I), rightly, but also accepts (II).

  Argument (II) is true as far as it goes — panels cost money — but it names subsidy as the way around that cost. It is a point about implementation, not a reason against houses using solar energy, so it does not carry the weight of a strong argument.

• (4)
  Neither argument (I) nor argument (II) is strong. — Option (4) rejects (I) along with (II).

  Argument (I) is not a vague slogan: it names what using solar energy achieves — conserving natural resources and suiting the environment — and those are significant benefits of the proposal itself. A relevant, significant reason for "Yes" is a strong argument even if the proposal has costs.

In statement-and-argument reasoning, a policy question is followed by arguments for and against. Each argument is judged on its own, not on whether one agrees with its side.

A strong argument is directly related to the question, touches a significant aspect of it, and is consistent with known facts.

An argument is weak when it is irrelevant, trivial, based on mere opinion or imitation, or when the problem it raises has a ready remedy. A remedy named inside the argument itself — "without subsidy" — turns an objection into a note about implementation.

Key facts

• A strong argument is directly related to the question in the statement and gives a significant reason bearing on it.
• An objection with a ready remedy, especially one named in the argument itself, is weak.
• The Union Cabinet approved PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana on 29 February 2024, with an outlay of ₹75,021 crore.
• PM-Surya Ghar targets rooftop solar for one crore households, with free electricity up to 300 units a month.
• Its central subsidy at 2024 benchmark prices: ₹30,000 for 1 kW, ₹60,000 for 2 kW, ₹78,000 for 3 kW or higher.

Common traps

• A true fact does not by itself make a strong argument. Solar panels do cost money, but (II) concedes that subsidy removes that obstacle.
• Strength does not depend on the side taken. A Yes can be weak and a No can be strong; test each for relevance and weight.
• Read the qualifier inside an argument. "Without subsidy" limits argument (II)'s own objection.

UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2023 and 2018 here once those papers are published on this site.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Statement: Should plastic carry bags be banned in all cities of Rajasthan? Arguments: (I) Yes, they choke drains and harm cattle that eat them. (II) No, shopkeepers will have to change the way they pack goods.

  • (a)Only argument (I) is strong.
  • (b)Only argument (II) is strong.
  • (c)Both of the arguments are strong.
  • (d)Neither argument (I) nor argument (II) is strong.
  Answer(1) — (I) gives significant harms directly caused by plastic bags, so it is strong. (II) points to a minor adjustment, not a reason against the ban, so it is weak. Option (2) reverses the two, option (3) accepts the trivial objection, and option (4) discards a relevant, significant reason.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  Statement: Should all coal-based power plants in India be shut down from next month? Arguments: (I) Yes, some other countries have shut down some of their coal plants. (II) No, coal supplies a large share of India's electricity, so a sudden shutdown would cause severe power shortages.

  • (a)Only argument (I) is strong.
  • (b)Only argument (II) is strong.
  • (c)Both of the arguments are strong.
  • (d)Neither argument (I) nor argument (II) is strong.
  Answer(2) — (I) rests on imitation of other countries and gives no reason tied to India, so it is weak. (II) is factual, directly related to "from next month", and significant, so it is strong. Options (1) and (3) accept the imitation argument; option (4) rejects the strong one.