Question

Statement I: Hallmarking of gold jewellery has been made compulsory
Statement II: Many persons do not prefer to buy Hallmarked jewellery

• A. Statement I is the cause and statement II is the effect
• B. Statement II is the cause and statement I is the effect
• C. Both the statements are independent causes
• D. Both the statements are independent effects

Hint:

When the two statements occur in the same sector but stem from different sources (policy vs. behaviour), they are often independent causes.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understand Statement I — A regulatory decision has been made to make hallmarking compulsory for gold jewellery to ensure purity and standardisation.
Step 2: Understand Statement II — Consumer preference data shows that some people avoid hallmarked jewellery, possibly due to cost or mistrust.
Step 3: Check direct cause-effect — Making hallmarking compulsory does not automatically cause people to dislike hallmarked jewellery; dislike could exist for unrelated reasons.
Step 4: Reverse check — People’s reluctance to buy hallmarked jewellery would not directly lead to a government mandate to make hallmarking compulsory — in fact, it’s usually consumer demand or fraud prevention that drives such laws.
Step 5: Independent cause check — Both are independent situations affecting the jewellery market: the first from a legal perspective, the second from a consumer behaviour perspective.
Step 6: Conclusion — Since neither statement is the cause or effect of the other, they are best classified as independent causes.