Which of the following is the major roadblock in the acceptance of a system like UBI ........

English Language (IBPS PO) Reading comprehension (P)

Direction 0: Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. Certain words are printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of these.
The danger of so-called “free money” not only underpins critiques of universal basic income (UBI), but also the incredibly strong narratives that underlie the attitudes to work in the UK (and elsewhere) – and our unemployment benefit system. Paid employment is held up as one of the ultimate markers of being a valuable member of society, with those not in paid work (always described in these narratives as a voluntary position, rather than as the result of issues outside their control) seen as a drain on society. Those out of work are positioned in direct contrast to those in paid employment: the shirkers versus the strivers. The negative psychological, social and physical effects of these narratives and assumptions are now being investigated, and the centrality of
work in our lives and society questioned. The notion that paid employment is the cure to all ills has been seriously undermined if it were ever true. Work as the best route out of poverty may still hold true for some, but the majority of households in poverty in the UK are now consistently those with at least one person in work. The likelihood of people becoming stuck in low-wage, low-skilled work is significant, and hard work among the lower paid is doing nothing to reduce economic inequalities. For its proponents, a UBI can provide a lifejacket and a route through some of these challenges. A UBI could provide a stable income floor, a guaranteed minimum below which no one would fall. Depending on the amount paid, it could enable low-paid workers to turn down the worst jobs on offer, or enable time away from paid work to retrain, or start a business. It would financially compensate those (usually women) caring for family for their work, support more people to be creative, to volunteer, or simply to do nothing. A UBI is not designed to promote “laziness” or any other type of behaviour, simply to allow individuals to make their own decisions about
how they wish to spend their time.

Which of the following is the major roadblock in the acceptance of a system like UBI?

The ability of an economy to fund all its citizens, irrespective of the fact that they are engaged in paid work or not.

The notion that paid employment makes an individual a worthy member of society, while those not involved in paid work are lazy.

The willingness of an individual to choose whether he/ she wishes to opt for universal basic income or strive hard to earn money.

One day free money would essentially undermine recipients’ motivation to undertake paid work.

The realisation that there is a likelihood of people ending up getting low wage and that hard work among the lower paid is doing nothing to reduce economic inequalities.

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Explanation:

It is the ingrained idea of relating paid work with worth that downplays a scheme like UBI. The author discusses in detail that "Those out of work are positioned in direct contrast to those in paid employment: the shirkers versus the strivers". This conditioning acts as a
major roadblock in the acceptance of the system. Option D has not been discussed in the passage and can be eliminated.