The question given below consists of a statement, followed by three arguments numbered I, II and III. You have to decide which of the arguments is/are ‘strong' arguments and which is/are ‘weak' arguments and accordingly choose your answer from the alternatives given below each question. Statement: The central government has told the Supreme Court that anti-adultery laws were required to protect the ‘sanctity of marriage and the institution of family', and any attempt to do away with these laws would hurt ‘Indian ethos'. The government was responding to a court notice on a public interest litigation which wanted the law struck down as it was not gender neutral and the provisions were tilted against men. Which among the following arguments support the above statement regarding the ‘revision of such laws' in the best possible manner? Arguments: I. It seemed to suggest that women were chattel owned by men and could be guided and misguided. II. This would erode the sanctity of marriage as an institution and the societal fabric. The issue of making the provision gender neutral was already pending before the government. III. Any step towards decriminalising the offence in the interim would be detrimental to Indian ethos which gives paramount importance to the institution and sanctity of marriage. Correct Answer Only III is strong. The correct answer is option 3, i.e. only III is strong. We first make sure to read the statement carefully and then see what immediate inferences can be drawn based on our first reading. The next step is to look at the arguments given in the options, analyse them and see if they seem relevant with respect to the information/data provided to us. Finally, it is very important to study the question closely. The above statement talks about the anti-adultery laws and the government's demand to strike it down as it is gender biased. Argument (I) is ‘strong' and supports the fact that it should be struck down as it states the fact that the males consider women as their possession and such laws will strengthen that. It is only in the direction that such laws should be revised. (III) support the fact that such laws should not be banned as they convey that such laws are important to maintain the sanctity of Indian marriages. Thus, option 3 captures the correct argument and supports the statement in the best possible manner and is our answer choice. Hence, the rest of the options can be rejected.