Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
3. Do you think opinion polls should be banned as they are antithetical to free and fair elections? Critically analyse. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Every election season, we find television channels flooded with opinion polls. Critics have often questioned their authenticity. All political parties too have opposed these polls, demanding a ban — except when they are shown as winning. The media, on the other hand, invariably opposes the idea of a ban as seat forecasts attract primetime viewership.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about if there should be a ban on opinion polls in India.
Directive word:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you must examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a balanced judgment on the topic.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by defining the concept of opinion polls.
Body:
In the first part, mention the various drawbacks of opinion polls and reasons what it should be banned – Manipulations, Voter influencing, corruption, Propaganda, Consensus among political parties, Ban on exit polls etc.
Next, mention the reasons as to why it doesn’t warrant a ban – freedom of speech, a sample survey, not enough to influence voters etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward how to properly regulate opinion polls without affecting the free and fair elections.
