Very often, candidates applying for jobs are invited to participate in a GD. This is usually the case for profiles that are extremely competitive and generate more supply than the demand can accommodate. That said, interviewers can opt to hold rounds of group discussions for any reason. And when they do so, it is important that candidates are prepared to face it.
Therefore, here are some group discussion topics with answers. This will give you a fair idea of the latest GD topics trending in job interviews and how to answer them. We recommend that you read on for the latest group discussion topics and prepare yourself well for an impending, competitive interview.
Time and again candidates ask, what are the general topics in GD? Well, here we have tried to create a list of the most common GD topics for interview in our POV.
Corruption is a necessary evil.
Agree: Yes. Corruption has been prevalent since the beginning of time. The issue is so deep-rooted that it refuses to go even with strict regulations. Even now, in the 21st century, things in the government functionary don’t move unless you bribe the authorities. The police collect bribes incessantly sometimes while indulging in unethical practices to extort a bribe from shops and business owners. The incessant corruption has led to the highhandedness of those in power, who often exploit the powerless people. In India, corruption can be found everywhere, from the level of sarpanch to the level of the minister. In such a case, although it is an evil better not indulged in, it is necessary to get things done, and, hence, is okay.
Disagree: No, corruption is no longer a necessary evil. The millennials today are more aware of their rights and duties. They no longer accept corruption as a normal entity. They do not hesitate from questioning the system. Moreover, the world is so connected, thanks to technology and social media, that it is easy to become aware of and publicly shame acts of corruption. Millennials use the combination of social media and technology as a powerful medium to highlight the wrongdoings in society and bring many corrupt officers to book. In the past 10 years, the Indian government has aggressively pushed for the digitization of government services and departments. This has greatly streamlined the process and has reduced human interaction, thus, eliminating the need to pay bribes to get the work done, bringing in more efficiency.
Is it practical to have a world without borders?
Agree: Yes. If we wish to seek a peaceful future, where people, regardless of their race, religion, creed or geography, forgo their hatred and decide to coexist and spread humanity. Greed is the root cause of all evil. Many governments and countries are war-torn because they cannot let go of their greed. The ones with abundant resources always aspire to exploit the ones in need. If we, as humans, understand the purpose of our existence in this world and learn to share what we have in abundance with the deprived without expecting much in return, then the world could be a better place and we can coexist without the need to intrude each other’s sovereignty.
Disagree: No. A world without borders is practically a myth. This concept cannot be applied in reality. If you were to ask for one single reason, here is why. The strong will always try to overpower the weak. This is the simplest law of nature. Therefore, a weaker civilization cannot thrive without a properly demarcated and protected sovereign nation. Moreover, the government propaganda of many countries forces its citizens to believe that they are the greatest and that the others are lesser people, thus, convincing them for invasion or gaining control over other nations. Therefore, even if we wish to have a world without borders, practically, it would never be possible due to the vested interests of those with power and authority.
Social media is killing creativity.
Agree: Yes. What started as a great innovation is slowly becoming a social evil. Plus, with the advent of smartphones, people have become more addicted to social media, with the platform affecting an individual’s personal and professional lives simultaneously. Today, many people, especially the younger generation, spend prolonged hours aimlessly browsing or scrolling through social media feeds. This has made them less active and more redundant, greatly decreasing their productivity. Moreover, long hours of social media deprives them of engaging in more creative activities such as reading, painting, sports and even socializing. Creative activity increases the cognitive ability of the brain, allowing people to think, observe, ask questions and seek answers, rather than aimlessly look at the screen for hours.
Disagree: No. Contrary to popular belief, social media holds great power and influence. Social media is a great platform for creative people to showcase their talent across domains and genres. In recent years, many international icons have emerged out of social media. Justin Beiber and Rihanna are the best examples of artists who were popular on social media before touching international superstardom. In India, the world of social media is filled with numerous creative talents that regularly showcase their talent on different platforms for their online audience. Social media platforms are the cheapest way to reach out to the world. Creatively talented people can have the entire world watching and applauding their talent. This compels many others to also explore their creative side and reach out to the wider audience on social media.
Neutral: Social media is a subjective concept. Those who are creatively talented will find ways and means to showcase their talent, and no doubt they are the biggest beneficiaries of social media. But this is very relative. Not everyone likes to indulge in creative pursuits. Some are good at outdoor activities while some others are good at reading, painting or simply meeting people and socializing. Prolonged use of social media can deprive an individual of exploring their natural traits, rather than forcing them to seek validation on social media. On the other hand, it is a great platform to stay connected with people. Therefore, it is important to maintain balance. Too much of anything is not good and that is something we need to remember.
What is better — a joint family or nuclear family?
Agree: Yes. A joint family acts as a great support system for each member of the family. If a young working couple has quite a young child, they don’t have to worry about the wellbeing of their child when they are away at work because their family members will be looking after the child. This is not possible in a nuclear family. Further, one will never feel alone in a joint family set up, as you will always have someone to share your joys, happiness, sadness and grief with, strengthening the family bond and dependability on one another.
Disagree: No. Young working couples love to have more from their life, which may not be always possible in a joint family. Plus, as both partners work through the week, they may expect to spend their weekends in a more private manner, which may not be possible in a joint family. In a joint family structure, different family members have different ideologies, which may not match the way a young couple think or want to go about their lives. Additionally, there tend to be property issues and other such issues with differences of opinion in a joint family. Besides, mostly the man has to move to an urban place for work, thus, it only makes sense to take his wife and child along rather than leave them behind and see them rarely.
Reservation system should be completely removed.
Agree: Yes. Our reservation system today is biased and unjustified. It only serves the purpose of a few, while many deserving individuals lose out on opportunities. Reservation is pulling the country backwards and saddling its system with an incompetent workforce. Some of the most developed countries in the world do not have a reservation system, while India is still haggling with the ‘developing nation’ tag since the past three decades. For a country like India, which mostly has a young population, we cannot rely on the reservation system as it will only shoot the unemployment rate up, leaving its highly employable age group dissatisfied and distressed.
Disagree: No. It is high time that India’s reservation system is modified and transformed, but it need not be removed. Contrary to popular belief, it still provides better opportunities to the deprived and lesser privileged sections of the society. Not every child is the same. While a child from a well off family can go to a good school and get exposed to multiple opportunities all through life, a poor family cannot even afford basic education for their children. They do are not privileged with easy exposure. Reservation provides a level playing field for all. Yes, it should be amended from time to time to become more inclusive and relevant, but it should not be completely removed or expelled. Moreover, the population demography of India is far different than in the West. We should not simply abolish a system without fully understanding its complications on our nation and its citizens.
Let us check out the current affairs GD topics for an interview.
Should India implement a uniform civil code?
Agree: Yes. It is high time that India implemented a uniform civil code. All Indians should be considered equal in the eyes of the law. It is important for the overall unity and integration of India. In this modern world, our religious laws are fueling differences and discontent among people and are pulling us down. This has also led to grouping, further affecting the unity of the nation. While Christian, Parsi and Hindu laws have gone through amendment with time, many personal Muslim laws still remain unlegislated, which leads to the exploitation of the weaker section of people within the religious group. A uniform civil code will give equal rights to every Indian citizen, regardless of their race religion, caste or creed.
Disagree: No. A uniform civil code will only complicate things further for the country’s citizens. Implementing the law is easier said than done. The people will never be able to know what the law holds and the things they are entitled to and prohibited from doing. This communication gap can result in confusion and distrust among the masses, which is not a healthy sign for a democracy. Besides, India is a multicultural, multilinguistic and multi-region democracy, and it has been successful in maintaining a balance in its pluralism. The implementation of the uniform civil code may create an imbalance in the society with many from the minority believing that the laws have been moulded as per the majority. This could result in further tensions among people.
India is ready for 100% digital or cashless payments.
Agree: Yes. India has successfully managed to secure its digital payments’ networks. Plus, India’s digital payment capabilities became more prominent post demonetization. Now that India can effectively safeguard user data by authenticating, encryption and tokenization of the system, it should march towards 100% digitization of payments systems. However, they should first ensure that the required infrastructure is in place before the rollout. Also, they should plan this rollout in a phased manner so that people gradually adapt to the change in the payments process. Plus, digital payments will bring the marginalised and poor into the formal banking system, resulting in more effective implementation of government schemes and services.
Disagree: No. India is still not fundamentally ready for 100% digital payments rollout. In a nation where 96% of the cash is still in circulation even after the demonetization, it won’t be easy to ask the masses to adopt digital payments. Though people are gradually adopting the concept, fundamentally, we are still far away from an eventuality. Plus, a considerable amount of the rural population has still not been included in the central banking system, depriving them of many government schemes and benefits. The formidable illiteracy rate coupled with higher levels of financial illiteracy among common Indians is also a major concern for a 100% rollout. Moreover, the instances of cloning, online account fraud and hacking are on the rise. And, an unsuspecting individual is an easy target for such thefts. Therefore, 100% of digital payments rollout is not feasible.
Are an increasing number of mobile network towers near residential areas harmful?
Agree: Yes. Mobile network towers should not be constructed in nearby residential areas. Approximately 45% of the mobiles towers are illegal and emit higher electromagnetic radiations than the permissible limit. Exposure to these radiations can cause headache, fatigue, memory loss, sleep disorders, cardiovascular problems, skin diseases, joint pain, hearing issues and depression. Prolonged exposure to these harmful radiations can even cause cancer. Besides, higher radiations are also harmful to the local fauna, as the natural electro-magnetic natural sensors within birds become affected, greatly affecting their ability to find their route in flight.
Disagree: No. The EMF or Electromagnetic Field Radiation norms of the government of India are far stringent than those of other countries. Therefore, radiation of lesser intensity gets emitted, which has a negligible effect on humans. Moreover, the government carries out audits periodically to ensure that companies follow public safety radiation norms. Therefore, these negligible radiations do not cause any health problems, including cancer, among people living near these mobile towers. The government also levies heavy fines and ensures strict punishment for mobile companies involved in the illegal construction of mobile towers. Moreover, the vision of digital India will remain a distant dream if individuals do not have easy access to data and the internet.
Air India must be privatized.
Agree: Yes. Air India has been a terrible underperformer for decades. It is the most money guzzling thorn in the Indian government's crown. It swallows tonnes of government capital giving not much in return. The only advantage it has is that it helps to salvage people from war-torn countries. It has little to no merit in being called the national carrier. Offering an ethnic service, most often it runs late, thanks to the numerous ministers and dignitaries who frequent its services, delaying them incessantly. Picture this: Air India is the only Indian carrier that flies to most international destinations and has the maximum domestic services. Still, it has not been able to mint out any profits. Its perineal losses have become a huge burden of the government and the reserves of the nation. Therefore, it is time now that the government looks to privatize the national carrier.
Disagree: No. It should not yet be privatised by the government. Despite its several setbacks, it is still the most affordable carrier in India for international travel. Plus, it has the highest fleet connecting the most nations around the globe. This makes it the preferred go-to carrier for middle-class Indians for international travel. Despite the huge financial losses it has been incurring, due to government intervention, it is still able to fulfil the foreign travel needs of many, which would no longer be possible if it got privatised. Nevertheless, the previous attempts by the government to invite bids for privatization hardly enticed any positive response from the aviation titans around the world owing to its stringent agreement terms and conditions. Moreover, oil prices are experiencing a sharp decline. This could ease off some financial burden for the carrier. And, maybe things could become bright again.
Let us check out the general and relevant GD topics for interviews.
The government must allocate more funds for primary education.
Agree: Yes. Our primary education system needs an immediate revamp to attract more children to school. This can only be done if we provide better facilities to schools along with better infrastructure. We could at least provide the basic facilities, then we will be able to attract more children to school. This would not just increase the literacy rate, it will also lay a solid foundation for adequate revamps in middle and secondary education, which generally experiences the highest dropouts, especially among girls, due to lack of basic toilet and sanitation facilities. Therefore, the government should allocate more funds to address the dismal primary education system and train teachers to be good providers of education to children.
Disagree: No. The flow of funds to the primary education system is mired in corruption. The funds don’t get utilised properly. It is evident from the current state of primary schools across rural India, where children don’t even have basic sanitation facilities. Plus, the local authorities are doing their best to add salt to the wounds. Teacher absenteeism and inefficient teachers are common problems in most schools. So, the government should first try to streamline the primary education system and make it more efficient and accountable. All local bodies should take collective responsibility to run and maintain a school. Once the groundwork is properly done, then the government can think of allocating fresh funds to primary education.
Can politicians control the high dropout numbers in government schools?
Agree: Yes. Politicians have the authority and the clout to control the dropout rates in government schools and to persuade students who have already dropped out to return to school. With this regard, the health minister has launched a scheme called ‘Vidyanjali’ under the ‘Sarva Sikha Abhiyan’ scheme. Under this initiative, volunteers seek and pursue the dropped out students to return to school. It also encourages co-scholastic activities in schools, improves community involvement in primary and elementary schools, and effectively engages children in public speaking, creative writing, reading, etc. The government also runs the ‘Ishan Vikas’ initiative, which spots bright students from the 9th to 11th standards and those who display good calibre. These students will be taught and trained to become scientists and researchers in the future. The government arranges orientation programmes for such students at IIMs and IITs.
Disagree: No. Politicians may have the clout and authority to bring about change in society but they lack the will and outlook to positively influence change in the educational system. Most politicians are content with the current state of affairs, after all, it is getting them the votes they need. And they don’t want any change in their power dynamics. Most politicians don’t want their people to get educated. They want to play the politics of fear to suppress their masses, and education and awareness will kill that fear and will enable people to ask questions to the system, which would not work into the interest of the politicians. Most of the time, our politicians themselves are not educated, this itself explains the apathy of the system. According to UNESCO data, approx 45 million children drop out of school every year in India to help their parents earn a livelihood. Hence, let’s leave the politicians out and involve interested volunteers and government officials for the cause.
Mobile phones should be banned in schools and colleges.
Agree: Yes. Today, mobile phones are a source of immense distraction. While they are a brilliant tech, they don’t allow a student to concentrate on their studies. Recent studies have shown that schools and colleges that don’t allow mobile phones have displayed better academic results than institutions that allow mobile phones on campus. Though mobile phones with an active internet can become sources of information, however, the problem is that it is misused most of the time, creating nuisance during classes and sessions. At least, they schedule strict guidelines on the limited use of mobile phones so that students can focus more on their studies.
Disagree: No. The mobile phone is a technological necessity. It is meant to help humans to increase their productivity. The modern smartphones are a great tool for information with its fast internet connectivity, which can be used to enhance the knowledge of children and add on to what they are taught day-to-day. Plus, many schools nowadays encourage students to engage in research activities and find unique solutions to a set of everyday problems. With the help of a mobile phone or tablet, the students can do online research on their projects and can gather relevant material for their answers. This encourages more interactive learning among students. Also, the mobile phone is also a way to help the students stay connected with their parents.
Attendance should be made compulsory in schools and colleges
Agree: Yes. Attendance should be made mandatory in schools and colleges. After all, it is a matter of basic discipline. And during their formative years of life, students should compulsorily attend educational institutions to gain knowledge. Not attending school regularly will lead to indiscipline in and disrespect of the educational institution. Students not going to school regularly will not take their studies seriously, hampering their chances of becoming successful professionals in the future.
Disagree: No. Attendance is important but it should not be made compulsory in colleges. The classic example of this is the reputed university — JNU. The classes in this institution run at full capacity, even though attendance is not mandatory. Here, students can decide whether to attend a particular class or not. They can use their time more productively by indulging in a creative or research-based activity related to their studies. Rather than being strict with attendance, the institutions should focus on increasing their education quality to attract more students into the classrooms.
This is the collection of the most asked GD topics during the interview. Read through it and make the most out of your interview. While these are only a handful of topics, we recommend that you do your research and prepare for a few more such topics the next time you are shortlisted for a group discussion. All the best, dear candidates!