In the question given below, a passage/statement is

Solution

Consumer groups argue that high domestic taxes, not global crude oil rates, are the main cause of high petrol prices. To strengthen their argument, the false statement must weaken the government’s claim (that global crude oil prices caused the hike) and support the consumer groups' alternative explanation. Let’s evaluate each: Statement I: Domestic fuel taxes have remained unchanged for the past year. If this is false, it would imply taxes have changed.
However, this does not necessarily strengthen the consumer groups’ claim unless the direction of change is known. No clear strengthening effect. Statement II: Several countries with similar crude oil import dependence have much lower petrol prices than India. If this is false, it would imply other countries do not have lower prices, which weakens the consumer groups’ argument (because comparisons would no longer support the claim). Statement III: Global crude oil rates have actually decreased in the past few months. If this is false, then global crude prices have not decreased, meaning they may have risen or stayed stable.
This would strengthen the consumer groups’ argument because it undermines the government’s narrative that rising crude oil prices caused the increase. Thus, only Statement III, when false, strengthens the consumer groups’ claim.