In the question given below, a passage/statement is given followed by three statements which may or may not strengthen/weaken the assertion made in the passage. Answer the questions as per the individual direction given. Passage: A government report claims that the recent increase in petrol prices is primarily due to rising global crude oil rates. However, many consumer groups argue that domestic taxes on fuel are disproportionately high and are the real reason for the steep prices faced by citizens. Direction: Which of the following, if false, would strengthen the argument made by the consumer groups? Statements:
I. Domestic fuel taxes have remained unchanged for the past year.
II. Several countries with similar crude oil import dependence have much lower petrol prices than India.
III. Global crude oil rates have actually decreased in the past few months.

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.