Assertion (A): Public opinion polls conducted by Indian media houses lack professionalism.
Reason (R): Because Indian publics have no consistent opinions nor the media houses enough resources.
Codes:
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true.
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Correct Ans: (C)
Public opinion polls play a vital role in reflecting people’s voices in a democracy. However, in India, many such polls conducted by media houses often lack professionalism. So, the assertion (A) in this case is true. Now, let’s examine the reason (R).
The reason claims that Indian publics do not have consistent opinions, and media houses do not have enough resources. This is only partially true. Yes, media houses may struggle with limited budgets, poor sampling methods, or lack of trained research professionals. These factors certainly affect the quality and accuracy of their polls.
However, to say that the Indian public lacks consistent opinions is a broad generalization. Many Indian citizens form opinions based on personal experiences, media exposure, or political ideologies. While opinions may differ across regions and groups, this does not mean they are inconsistent. In fact, in large-scale surveys conducted professionally (like by CSDS or Pew), public opinion does show clear trends.
Moreover, the lack of professionalism stems more from poor research methods, biased questionnaires, or quick turnaround times, rather than from the public’s inconsistency.
Therefore, the assertion is true, but the reason is false. The lack of professionalism in polls is mainly due to methodological and resource-related issues within the media houses, not the public.
Hence, the correct answer is (C) — Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
