1000+ Group Discussion Topics with Answers

  • In a group discussion, a group of ten to twelve candidates are seated in a circle according to given chest numbers.

  • A topic is announced and also the total time for discussion which is normally 30 minutes.

  • Each candidate has to voice his opinion and offer counter arguments.

  • The examiner watches the discussion from behind a screen and evaluates the candidates for the final interview on the basis of their personality, knowledge, communication skill and leadership traits

  • Group Discussion is, unlike interview, many on many conversations which is not pre planned and is spontaneous. Here, any intersecting topic may be given to judge your public speaking talent.

  • The discussion revolves around a specific subject given to the GTO or examiner.

  • Candidates may speak whatever they like but remaining confined to the given topic only.

  • The topic is given by the GTO or examiner, no doubt, but he does not interfere once he announces the subject.

  • In a group we witness cordiality, friendliness, informality and free atmosphere. Normally, the age, educational qualifications, background, experience and aptitude of the candidates being the same, they have no fear or complexes and thus it becomes easy to assess their natural group behaviour.

  • Speaking in a group enables you to shed your shyness, nervousness and inhibitions.

  • You get to learn many new things and thus your field of knowledge is expanded.

  • Your thinking is stimulated. Discarding your prejudices and emotions you learn to think objectively, where irrelevant ideas have no place.

  • A group discussion helps you cultivate the qualities of self confidence, mental alertness, self assertion but without offending the feelings of others, ability to discuss a subject without losing your temper, power of reasoning and ability to refute arguments offered by others without allowing any unpleasantness or ill feeling and disagreeing with grace even changing your original ideas during the course of the discussion if required in the light of facts and figures provided by the other speakers/participants.

  • You get to know other members of the group, understand your strengths and weakness and thus assess yourself in relation to others forming the group.

  • Your true personality is revealed and qualities of leadership crystallize.

  • Lastly, it provides you a wholesome entertainment in which all others too are equally entertained.

  • Being shy or nervous because all others in the group are your equals, not seniors.

  • Interrupting a participant before his arguments are over.

  • Getting emotional and criticising others without first offering valid arguments in favour of your viewpoint.

  • Making fun of any participant even if his arguments are wrong or illogical.

  • Changing your stand until fully convinced of its incorrectness, and changing it ultimately only unwillingly and peevishly.

  • Trying to monopolise the discussion.

  • Engaging yourself in side or sub group conversations.

  • Repeating and using irrelevant material.

  • Weeping looking at the GTO/examiner or addressing yourself to him.

  • Worrying about making some grammatical mistakes, for your interest and the matter you put across are important, not grammatically correct language.

  • Even, monotonous tone.

  • Correcting a mistake or an inaccurate statistics used by others if it not relevant to the discussion.

  • Using humour unless demanded by the occasion.

  • Taking vote on a topic.

  • Do not express your stand initially.

  • Listen to others. It is necessary to initiate a Group Discussion.

  • Initiate the discussion if you familiar with the topic.

  • Intervene if the discussion is turning out to be hostile. It reflects your leadership.

  • Speak to the point without Repeating.

  • Back your points with Facts and Figures.

  • Be Gentle with your presentation.

  • Be Natural, Calm and Maintain your Composure.

  • Be Participative and Reciprocative.

  • Say ‘Thank you’ before ending your presentation.

  • Think before you speak.

  • Say what you feel, without going in “Favour” or “Against” it.

  • Do not be loud or aggressive.

  • Do not go overboard with enthusiasm if you are familiar with the topic.

  • Do not interrupt other speakers.

  • Do not deprecate other speakers.

  • Do not speak first if you are unfamiliar with the topic.

  • Do not change your opinions.

  • Do not ask irrelevant questions.

  • Do not stop abruptly.

  • Do not get nervous if the previous speakers have presented their points in a better way.

  • Do not exhibit your emotions.

Frequently Asked Questions

A GD is generally for a duration of 15-30 minutes.

There is usually one member for one group, but there may also be three to four panel members to evaluate.

Usually some time(two to five minutes) is given to collect one’s thoughts, but there could be instances when this does not happen.

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Don’t ever make the mistake of addressing the panel members. The GD is between you and the other members, not the panel members. You must avoid even looking at the panel members while the GD is in progress.

There is no rule for it but normally it is semi-circular, or circular, or seating alongside a rectangular table, depending upon the venue. It is best not to bother about trivial issues like this, which you have no control over.

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If you are initiating the discussion, you could do so by collectively addressing the group as “friends”. Subsequently, you could use names (if the group has had a round of self introduction prior to starting the discussion and you remember the names) or simply use chest numbers or in case there is no number use pronouns like “he” or “she”.

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It is the best to avoid slang.