Political Science & International Relations

Crash Course & Test Series - 2020

Test 01
Time Allowed: 3 Hours Max Marks: 250

Name
Test Date
Email Address
Mobile
UPSC Roll No

Instructions:
1. There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and candidate has
to attempt five questions in all.
2. Question Nos. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, any
three are to be attempted choosing at least ONE question from each
section.
3. Content of the answer is more important than its length.
4. Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the admission
Certificate, which must be stated clearly on the cover of the booklet in
the space provided.
5. Content of the answer is more important than its length.
6. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-Cum-Answer
Booklet must be clearly struck off.
7. All parts of the question should be written at one place itself.
8. Write the test in exam atmosphere.
9. Filling all the details in BLOCK LETTERS is mandatory.
S. No. a b c d e Total
1
2 X X
3 X X
4 X X
5
6 X X
7 X X
8 X X
Grand Total
 Very
Poor Average Good Excellent
Good
Understanding of
Questions
Structure & Flow
(a) Introduction
(b) Conclusion
(c) Overall
Subject
Knowledge
Presentation
(a) Underline
(b) Paragraph
(c) Overall
Overall Remarks:

Dear Student,

All the best for next test..!!!

Que.1(a) Normative Approach in Political Theory. (10 Marks)

1
2
Que.1(b) Feminist Theory of State. 10 Marks.

3
4
Que.1(c) Foucault’s Theory of Power. 10 Marks.

5
6
Que.1(d) Aurobindo’s Concept of Indian Nationalism. 10 Marks.

7
8
Que.1(e) Concept of “Dharma” in Indian political philosophy. 10 Marks

9
10
Que.2(a) “One with immediate proximate territory is the natural enemy.”
(Kautilya). Discuss. How far is it appropriate to consider Kautilya as
Indian Machiavelli. 20 Marks

11
12
13
14
Que.2(b) Gramsci’s Theory with its reconceptualization of the relations
between base and superstructure and recasting power as hegemony
marks a major breakthrough in Marxist theory. Comment.
15 Marks

15
16
17
Que.2(c) “Power is what keeps the public realm …in existence .”(Hannah
Arendt). In light of the above statement, critically examine the
relevance of Arendt’s theory of power. 15 Marks

18
19
20
Que.3(a) “Politics becomes a much more elusive quarry…The nature of
political theory is both internally complex and deeply contested.”
Andrew Vincent. Critically analyse. 20 Marks

21
22
23
24
Que.3(b) How does Rawls explain Democratic equality? How does Rawls use
the idea of a veil of ignorance to argue that fair and just distribution
can be defended on rational grounds. 15 Marks

25
26
27
Que.3(c) Ambedkar’s vision for social justice was closely related to the
concept of good society, rationality and scientific outlook. Comment.
15 Marks

28
29
30
Que.4(a) Give the salient features of the theory of natural rights. What is the
relationship between natural rights and human rights ? Analyse the
debate around the Asian values ? 20 Marks

31
32
33
34
Que.4(b) “Liberalism has many critics, both within and without”. Elucidate.
15 Marks

35
36
37
Que.4(c) “The concept of equality is a fundamental concept in normative
political theory. However, it is also one of the most complex and
contested.” Elucidate. 15 Marks

38
39
40
Que.5(a) Relative Autonomy Theory of the State. 10 Marks

41
42
Que.5(b) Affirmative Action. 10 Marks

43
44
Que.5(c) Relationship between Liberty and Equality. 10 Marks

45
46
Que.5(d) Difference between Domination and Hegemony. 10 Marks

47
48
Que.5(e) Concept of Overdeveloped State. 10 Marks

49
50
Que.6(a) “Deliberative democracy questions narrow and the limited
conception of political participation in liberal democracies.”
Comment. Discuss the normative ideals related to deliberative
democracies. 20 Marks

51
52
53
54
Que.6(b) Fascism is a hotch potch of several ideologies and creed. Critically
examine. 15 Marks

55
56
57
Que.6(c) “Plato’s philosophy is the most savage and most profound attack on
liberal ideas which history can show.”(Crossman). Discuss.
15 Marks

58
59
60
Que.7(a) “What is taken as Gandhi’s critique of modernity, generally refers to
his critique of the doctrines of materialism and instrumental
rationality.” David Hardiman. Explicate. 20 Marks

61
62
63
64
Que.7(b) What are the components of the philosophy of radical humanism?
To what extent can it be described as the philosophy of freedom?
15 Marks

65
66
67
Que.7(c) Gender is a social and cultural construct. Elucidate. How the concept
of feminist political theory differ from conventional political
theory? 15 Marks

68
69
70
Que.8(a) What were the intellectual factors responsible for the rise of
Behaviouralism? Compare Behaviouralism with post-
Behaviouralism. 20 Marks

71
72
73
74
Que.8(b) Explain the concept of political obligation. Elaborate Hobbes theory
of political obligation. 15 Marks

75
76
77
Que.8(c) Compare and contrast the monistic theory of sovereignty with the
pluralistic theory. Explore the relationship between globalization
and sovereignty. 15 Marks

78
79
80
Space for Rough Work

81
Space for Rough Work

82
 Political Science & International Relations
Crash Course & Test Series - 2020
Test 01
Time Allowed: 3 Hours Max Marks: 250

There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and candidate has to
attempt five questions in all.

Question Nos.1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, any three
are to be attempted choosing at least ONE question from each section.

SECTION ‘A’.

1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each : 10*5=50

1(a.) Normative Approach in Political Philosophy. 10 Marks
1(b.) Feminist Theory of State. 10 Marks
1(c.) Foucault’s Theory of Power. 10 Marks
1(d.) Aurobindo’s Concept of Indian Nationalism. 10 Marks
1(e.) Concept of “Dharma” in Indian political philosophy. 10 Marks
2. (a.) “One with immediate proximate territory is the natural enemy.” (Kautilya).
Discuss. How far is it appropriate to consider Kautilya as Indian
Machiavelli. 20 Marks
2. (b.) Gramsci’s Theory with its reconceptualization of the relations between base
and superstructure and recasting power as hegemony marks a major
breakthrough in Marxist theory. Comment. 15 Marks
2. (c.) “Power is what keeps the public realm …in existence .”(Hannah Arendt). In
light of the above statement, critically examine the relevance of Arendt’s
theory of power. 15 Marks
3. (a.) “Politics becomes a much more elusive quarry…The nature of political
theory is both internally complex and deeply contested.” Andrew Vincent.
Critically analyse. 20 Marks
3. (b.) How does Rawls explain Democratic equality? How does Rawls use the idea
of a veil of ignorance to argue that fair and just distribution can be
defended on rational grounds. 15 Marks
3. (c.) Ambedkar’s vision for social justice was closely related to the concept of
good society, rationality and scientific outlook. Comment. 15 Marks
4. (a.) Give the salient features of the theory of natural rights. What is the
relationship between natural rights and human rights ? Analyse the debate
around the Asian values ? 20 Marks
4. (b.) “Liberalism has many critics, both within and without”. Elucidate.
15 Marks
4. (c.) “The concept of equality is a fundamental concept in normative political
theory. However, it is also one of the most complex and contested.”
Elucidate. 15 Marks
SECTION ‘B’
5. Comment on the following in about 150 words each : 10*5=50
5. (a.) Relative Autonomy Theory of the State. 10 Marks
5. (b.) Affirmative Action. 10 Marks
5. (c.) Relationship between Liberty and Equality. 10 Marks
5. (d.) Difference between Domination and Hegemony. 10 Marks
5. (e.) Concept of Overdeveloped State. 10 Marks
6. (a.) “Deliberative democracy questions narrow and the limited conception of
political participation in liberal democracies.” Comment. Discuss the
normative ideals related to deliberative democracies. 20 Marks
6. (b.) Fascism is a hotch-potch of several ideologies and creed. Critically examine
15 Marks
6. (c.) “Plato’s philosophy is the most savage and most profound attack on liberal
ideas which history can show.”(Crossman). Discuss. 15 Marks
7. (a.) “What is taken as Gandhi’s critique of modernity, generally refers to his
critique of the doctrines of materialism and instrumental rationality.”
David Hardiman. Explicate. 20 Marks
7. (b.) What are the components of the philosophy of radical humanism? To what
extent can it be described as the philosophy of freedom? 15 Marks
7. (c.) Gender is a social and cultural construct. Elucidate. How the concept of
feminist political theory differ from conventional political theory?
15 Marks
8. (a.) What were the intellectual factors responsible for the rise of
Behaviouralism? Compare Behaviouralism with post-Behaviouralism.
20 Marks
8. (b.) Explain the concept of political obligation. Elaborate Hobbes theory of
political obligation. 15 Marks
8. (c.) Compare and contrast the monistic theory of sovereignty with the pluralistic
theory. Explore the relationship between globalization and sovereignty.
15 Marks
Tips for Writing Good Answers:-
1. Read the question carefully and at least 3-4 times.
2. Note down concepts, facts, examples, keywords related to
the question.
3. Draw a rough outline of the flow.
4. Pay adequate attention to the introduction and
conclusion.
5. Introduction must offer your brief interpretation of the
question and how you propose to develop it.
6. Conclusion must summarize your response to the
question.
7. Make sure answer is
a. Logical and coherent
b. Clear connection between sentences and
paragraphs.
c. Written correctly giving adequate compatibility to
your expression, style and presentation
d. Do not exceed the word limit
e. Write neatly
f. Underline points you wish to emphasize.