Students’ Speak: 10 CAT GD & PI topics you could prepare for

Keep yourself updated with current affairs and, with quantitative facts. This will help you to outperform in GDPI. 

Soni shares 10 topics you could prepare for the CAT Group Discussion and Personal Interview phase. She gives away both for and against comments.

1. Patriarchy still exist

For: If you look around in today’s youth, why are only men expected to pull the chair for the women and hold the doors? Why are they considered to pay the bills? Why are they considered to be gentlemen? Meanwhile, the same – when a woman pays the bill she herself feels little superior of herself or if both the gender have split the bill, they feel superior which shouldn’t be a feeling. Patriarchy hasn’t left us yet. Still, in many households, the elder males’ decisions are considered, the mothers’ or grandmothers’ are given a preference of choice in the opinions.

Against: Seeing the women these days taking up any career they want, working in any organisation of their choice, staying wherever they want to. Pursuing their own desires and openly challenging their problems is where we should focus on. Patriarchy is just a word now which cultivates under-achieved women. They blame patriarchy because their problems don’t fit in their fists.

2. Freedom: A myth?

For: Freedom is a myth because the world is still fighting for its place. Women haven’t still secured their complete rights. Why they are not allowed to go to “funeral” in India? Why are they considered so emotional than men? Just because biology said that women have more emotional hormones than men? Whereas it isn’t only about them, the men out there are also facing issues when they use feminism as a wrong incentive to attain something. Freedom wasn’t there, it was just an idea or belief.

Against: Freedom isn’t a myth because there are so many changes in today’s time. Still, the world is developing with the idea of freedom as required. Women are almost given equal rights in the areas of education even in rural areas. The employment percentage has increased from the past decade. Freedom has been introduced in most of the homes, girls drink and stay out just like boys. Lesbians and gays are being accepted. Freedom is evolving and changing.

3. Social media

For: Social media has given the introverts a great space to excel themselves. The keyboard is the key to someone’s heart. The people living in distant areas, social media made it easy to connect. You get to know about anything at any time. Huge popularity is using social media for good cause. It also helps people with the easiest of means required. Many people are earning money from social media. Jobs, relationships, bank payments, shopping has become easy and faster.

Against: Many people are facing problems because of social media. Bunch of particular age popularity is facing the trauma of how they can’t stay a day without being on social media. Many people have gotten specs because being on their phone or say laptops 24x7. Some also used it to harass or misuse it completely. People are suffering from laziness because of this.

4. Should national anthem be played in cinemas halls?

For: National Anthem brings the feeling of patriotism in people’s heart and by playing it in cinema halls the government does not let that feeling of patriotism fade or die. Being an Indian, we should actually stand whenever and wherever the National Anthem is played and never forget that we got freedom due to a lot of sacrifices done by our ancestors. We shall have that feeling of respect for our National Anthem and stand when it is played and not the other way around.

Against: I often think about what is the need to play the National Anthem in cinema halls. The sole purpose we go to a cinema hall is for enjoyment but the government is basically forcing us to stand during the National Anthem by playing it right before the movie starts. In fact, there is a law that states that playing the national anthem under a roof or inside of a room is not allowed as it is a direct disgrace to our National Anthem plus there is no place for patriotism in a cinema hall. Playing it every single day before every show is just overdoing it.

5. Change is the only constant

For: Life is exquisite and dazzling, but only a few see it. Perchance it is due to the trials and strife it throws our way. It is the daily ebb and flow that makes us live life and feel truly alive. Change is something that is vital to us and everybody around us. It is an important phenomenon the universe that helps a person to grow their character 

Against: Not everybody likes change, not everybody wants change. Change is not always positive. Change can be of two types – positive change and negative change.  Like too many cooks spoil a broth similarly too many changes can destroy an environment and the best example of it would be our planet Earth itself. Similarly, awfully humongous changes heavily impact or wreck somebody’s life.

6. Traffic rules getting stricter in India

For: The amendment passed for traffic rules seems quite right. Lately, today’s youth doesn’t seem to care about their life or anyone else’s. The way some guys ride their bike seems to be beneath the dignity, couples use empty roads for their desire, placing the vehicle by blocking the roads should not be accepted. Even many people use to drive without the license so that’s under control now. So as the violation fine is high and the general documents are needed to carry, the safety of people seems to be under control.

Against: India being always in its own rhythm, it's hard for people to get used to new rules because they are habituated with old ones. Besides even the strictness being on high level there’s always misleading business going down under. Police might stop and take fine from someone forcefully who wasn’t actually at fault and use that money on themselves. So being strict or not, it's causing the same for public just benefit for some police mindsets.

7. Should celebrities be allowed to join politics

For: Celebrities should be allowed, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be. One interested in a field should always choose to go because there is where you excel. They are already popular and their involvement in societal welfares would contribute to huge part in main issues happening around the world like poverty, education in rural areas, girl rights, etc.

Against: Back in times the celebrities who have joined politics, have not made a huge impact so that’s a negative effect of how the role is been played in politics. Their main job is to act, which is considered to pretend, and no one is needed in politics to pretend because it is about helping the area for an outcome so celebrities coming into politics would have a drawback.

8. Ayodhya Ram Mandir

For: A conflict between two factions cannot be justified as right or wrong, which remains the same for the Ayodhya conflict that occurred in the recent events. The only one good thing that came out of this conflict was that even after so many upsetting events, which took place in the past few decades, both Hindus and Muslims respected the court’s decision and stayed in harmony

Against: There was conflict even after the Supreme Court declared its statement about the Ayodhya Mandir. The aggravations caused in the past by Hindus were spurious as this debate was suppressed a long time back. The wrongful destruction of the Masjid is the cause of this decades-long issue that has troubled India. The resolution that we reached does not justify the casualties incurred and the damage caused by both factions. The prevalent hostility between Hindus and Muslims has grown stronger due to this “solution” legalised by the Supreme Court.

9. Mental illness in India treated right?

For: Mental disorder rate is been increasing in day to day life. There are many official websites where people can lay or say vent their thoughts out. There are helpline numbers provided, anyone can reach anytime to them – they are available 24x7 for people suffering. Young ones are suffering mostly from anger, depression, anxiety, change in behaviour frequently, negative thoughts constantly or it could be an eating disorder, too. Physiatrists help them to talk it out and tasks are provided to them to keep on track.

Against: I don’t think illness is being treated right in India. If you compare with other foreign countries, people don’t heal in India at all. Because here, they are treated as some negative aspect. But it's not. It is an illness and every illness has a cure if they are given the right medicine. One is excessive stress is also called suffering from it but people around in the environment act like its normal. There are many household areas where one wants to seek help but can't because society in India has made it seem like its something bad. But the truth is from the percentage of 100, only 50 percent seek help. Guess why the suicide rate is increasing.

10. Paying higher for brands

For: Paying high for the brands is perfectly alright because it is your satisfaction. You buying stuff from wherever you feel comfortable, that’s why choices are made. If paying higher for particular brands seems impeccably to you then why have another thought unless you are short of money.

Against: Paying higher for expensive brands seems useless all the time. The sellers on the street might have some low quality but everyone today just uses clothes for like five times. Also, if you buy from the streets you are paying a low class from which the money goes into a dream. Their daughter or son might be able to get into school because you paid for the items. But in expensive brands where does the money goes? Into expansion, into advertisements and different things.

About the Author:

Madhvee Soni is a second-year student of 'Integrated Masters of Business Administration' at Ahmedabad University. She has served as a volunteer with organisation such as 'U and I' NGO and also in different events. She has a keen interest in novels and also loves to explore new places and indulge in fitness activities.