Political Science and

International Relations
For
Civil Services Examination

A Book on Analysis of Previous Year Question Papers

(2013-2021)
For a well directed and well rounded approach to preparation

By

PSIRsimplified
Join us at Telegram Channel- PSIRsimplified

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How to use this booklet?

 First, read the syllabus carefully, 2-3 times.

 Then go through a particular topic page by page according to

syllabus- book/notes of your choice.

 Then come to the booklet and find the kind of questions that have
been asked on that particular topic.

 Try to understand the depth and breadth of understanding of the

topic that is required. Try to analyse the nature of question.

 If you have already read the subject once, you must be familiar
with “deconstruction and double reading”. You have to follow a
slightly similar approach.

 If you haven’t, the next section is what you need to read.

 After analyzing the topic with the help of PYQs, try to solve them-
Write answers to those questions. I mean what better test series
with quality of questions you can get than UPSC PYQs.

 Get them evaluated by experts-consolidate the strengths and

work on weaknesses- till you get command over the subject- both
understanding wise and answer writing skill wise. At the end of
the day, your answers are going to get you selected, at least for
the personality test, right?

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Why and How to analyze previous Year Questions

 Analysis helps to understand the depth and

breadth of understanding needed-demand of
UPSC with respect to the coverage of syllabus
horizontally and vertically.
For example
Straight forward questions

1. Comment on: Pluralist theory of the State

(2019)
2. How is the President· of India elected? Outline
the salient characteristics of the electoral college
of the Indian President.

In Depth Questions

1. Comment: Hobbesian notion of Political

Obligation (2017)
2. Critically examine John Rawl's argument for
democratic equality (2016)
3. Rawls' theory of justice is both contractual and
distributive. Examine

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  Concrete preparation of the static part- important
subtopics that are repeated again and again.
1. Questions on judicial review, Judicial activism
and Judicial overreach are frequently
2. Realist and Marxist Approach to study IR, UN
peacekeeping are more frequently asked
3. Questions on SAARC, NAM, etc are very much
static as there is nothing new that has happened
in the recent past. If something significant does
happen with respect to these organizations, it
will be covered in current affairs, otherwise, you
can always prepare for these topics according to
past questions.

 Guide to linkages of topics- Students will have to

link various topics in answer writing to add value
to the answer. As the subject itself is dialectics,
that should be reflected in the answers. The
linkages can be identified through Previous
questions asked on the topics.

1. Discuss the communitarian critique of

liberalism. (2013)
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 2. Comment on: Judicial activism and social
change (2012)
3. How is liberty a precondition for equality?
Explicate the relationship between equality and
liberty. (2014)
4. Comment on: Views of Gandhi and Ambedkar
on ‘social justice’ (2011)

 The syllabus has been set long before but there

are many new entrants in the subject of political
science like multiculturalism, communitarianism,
and post-modernism which don’t find place in the
syllabus but are asked in the questions. PYQs will
help us identify those new topics and prepare
them well. As questions often are repeated or
asked in different approach, students will be well
advised to prepare them in depth.

 Most importantly, PYQs help us in understanding

trends of the questions
1. According to relative importance and we can use
this analysis to prepare smartly- give more time
to such questions.
2. Newer dimensions of old topics

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 1. Critically examine India's position on South China
Sea Dispute (2019)
2. Discuss the role of Indian diaspora in promoting
Indo-US relations. (2018)

This is how you can analyze the Previous year papers and
get to know about recent trends, some low hanging fruits,
and some lesser important topics so that you utilize your
time better and in well directed manner to study efficiently.

So, please go ahead and analyze the papers according to

above discussion. All the best!!

Note
The booklet contains papers since 2013 because since
then the marking system and total marks allotted to
the optional changed.

Still, there are 500+ question which is a good sample

size for analysis. You are anyway going to join good test
series where you will prepare for huge number of
questions.

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 Table of Content
Sr Topic Page No
No
Paper 1 Section A
1 Political Theory: meaning and approaches. 11
2 Theories of state : Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, 11
Pluiralist, post-colonial and Feminist
3 Justice : Conceptions of justice with special 12
reference to Rawl’s theory of justice and its
communitarian critiques.
4 Equality : Social, political and economic; 13
relationship between equality and freedom;
Affirmative action
5 Rights : Meaning and theories; different kinds 13
of rights; Concept of Human Rights.
6 Democracy : Classical and contemporary 14
theories; different models of
democracy—representative, participatory and
deliberative.
7 Concept of power : hegemony, ideology and 14
legitimacy
8 Political Ideologies : Liberalism, Socialism, 15
Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism and Feminism.
9 Indian Political Thought: Dharamshastra, 16
Arthashastra and Buddhist Traditions; Sir Syed
Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M. K. Gandhi, B. R.
Ambedkar, M. N. Roy.
10 Western Political Thought : Plato, Aristotle, 17
Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx,
Gramsci, Hannah Arendt.

Paper 1 Section B

1 Indian Nationalism:
(a)Political Strategies of India's Freedom
struggle : constitutionalism to mass
Satyagraha, Non-cooperation, Civil
Disobedience ; millitant and revolutionary 20
movements, Peasant and workers' movements.

(b)Perspectives on Indian National Movement:

Liberal, Socialist and Marxist; Radical humanist 21
and Dalit.

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 2 Making of the Indian Constitution : Legacies of 21
the British rule; different social and political
perspectives.
3 Salient Features of the Indian Constitution :
22
The Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties,
Directive Principles;
23
Parliamentary System and Amendment
23
Procedures;

Judicial Review and Basic Structure doctrine.

4 4.
(a) Principal Organs of the Union Government : 24
Envisaged role and actual working of the
Executive, Legislature and Supreme Court.
25
(b) Principal Organs of the State Government :
Envisaged role and actual working of the
Executive, Legislature and High Courts.
5 Grassroots Democracy : Panchayati Raj and 25
Municipal Government; Significance of 73rd
and 74th Amendments; Grassroot movements.
6 Statutory Institutions/Commissions : Election 26
Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General,
Finance Commission, Union Public Service
Commission, National Commission for
Scheduled Castes, National Commission for
Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for
Women; National Human Rights Commission,
National Commission for Minorities, National
Backward Classes Commission.
7 Federalism : Constitutional provisions; 27
changing nature of centre-state relations;
integrationist tendencies and regional
aspirations; inter-state disputes.
8 Planning and Economic development : 28
Nehruvian and Gandhian perspectives; Role
ofplanning and public sector; Green
Revolution, land reforms and agrarian
relations; liberalization and economic reforms.
9 Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics. 29
10 Party System : National and regional political 30
parties, ideological and social bases of parties;
Patterns of coalition politics; Pressure groups,
trends in electoral behaviour; changing

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 socio-economic profile of Legislators
11 Social Movement: Civil liberties and human 31
rights movements; Women’s movements;
environmentalist movements.

Paper 2 Section A
1 Comparative Politics : Nature and major 33
approaches; Political economy and political
sociology perspectives; Limitations of the
comparative method.
2 State in Comparative Perspective : 34
Characteristics and changing nature of the
State in capitalist and socialist economies, and
advanced industrial and developing societies.
3 Politics of Representation and Participation : 35
Political parties, pressure groups and social
movements in advanced industrial and
developing societies.
4 Globalisation : Responses from developed and 36
developing societies.
5 Approaches to the Study of International 37
Relations : Idealist, Realist, Marxist,
Functionalist and Systems theory.
6 Key Concepts in International Relations : 39
National interest, security and power; Balance
of power and deterrence; Transational actors
and collective security; World capitalist
economy and globalisation
7 Changing International Political Order :
(a) Rise of super powers; Strategic and 40
ideological Bipolarity, arms race and cold war;
Nuclear threat;
41
(b) Non-aligned Movement : Aims and
achievements. 41
(c) Collapse of the Soviet Union; Unipolarity
and American hegemony; Relevance of
non-alignment in the contemporary world.
8 Evolution of the International Economic 42
System : From Brettonwoods to WTO; Socialist
economies and the CMEA (Council for Mutual
Economic Assistance); Third World demand
for new international economic order;
Globalisation of the world economy.
9 United Nations : Envisaged role and actual 43
record; Specialized UN agencies—aims and

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 functioning; need for UN reforms.
10 Regionalisation of World Politics : EU, ASEAN, 44
APEC, AARC, NAFTA.
11 Contemporary Global Concerns : Democracy, 45
human rights, environment, gender justice
terrorism, nuclear proliferation.

Paper 2 Section B

1 Indian Foreign Policy : Determinants of foreign 48

policy; the institutions of policy-making;
Continuity and change.
2 India’s Contribution to the Non-Alignment 50
Movement Different phases; Current role.
3 India and South Asia :
(a) Regional Co-operation : SAARC-past 51
performance and future prospects.

(b) South Asia as a Free Trade Area. 51

(c) India’s “Look East” policy. 52

(d) Impediments to regional co-operation :
River water disputes; illegal cross border 52
migration; Ethnic conflicts and insurgencies;
Border disputes.
4 India and the Global South : Relations with 54
Africa and Latin America; Leadership role in
the demand for NIEO and WTO negotiations.
5 India and the Global Centres of Power : USA, 55
EU, Japan, China and Russia.
6 India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace- 57
keeping; Demand for Permanent Seat in the
Security Council.
7 India and the Nuclear Question : Changing 59
perceptions and policy.
8 Recent developments in Indian Foreign Policy : 60
India’s position on the recent crises in
Afghanistan, Iraq and West Asia, growing
relations with US and Isreal; Vision of a new
world
order.

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 Paper 1 Section A

1. Political Theory: meaning and approaches.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Examine the importance of behavioural approach in 15 2021

political theory. What led to its decline

2 Discuss the significance of normative approach to 15 2020

political theory

3 Comment on Resurgence of political theory 10 2019

4 Comment on Decline of political theory 10 2018

5 Comment on the post-behavioural approach 10 2016

6 Discuss David Easton’s model of systems analysis 15 2015

7 “...political theory is not an escape mechanism but an 10 2014

arduous calling” (John Plamentz). Comment

2. Theories of state: Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluralist,

post-colonial, and Feminist.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Comment on Feminist Critique of the State. 10 2021

2 Comment on Tools of legitimation of the state. 10 2021

3 Comment on Post colonial theory of the state. 10 2020

4 Comment on Pluralist theory of state. 10 2019

5 “Nothing against the state, nothing over it, nothing 10 2018

beyond it” (Mussolini) Comment.

6 Critically examine the neo-liberal theory of state. 20 2018

7 Comment on Neo-liberal perspective of state 10 2017

8 Discuss Feminist theory of the state. 15 2016

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 9 Examine the challenges to sovereignty of the state in 20 2015
the contemporary world.

10 Examine the conception of the state in the 15 2014

ideologies of fascism and marxism.

3. Justice: Conceptions of justice with special reference to

Rawl’s theory of justice and its communitarian critiques.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 How has Rawls enriched the idea of justice in 20 2021

liberalism

2 Make a comparative assessment of Greek perspective 20 2020

of justice with the Rawlsian concept of justice

3 Examine communitarian perspectives in justice 15 2019

4 Comment on Distributive justice 10 2018

5 Analyse John Rawls justification to achieve the goals of 15 2018

justice

6 Rawls theory of justice is both contractual and 20 2017

distributive. Examine

7 Critically examine John Ralws’s argument for 15 2016

democratic equality

8 Comment on ‘Difference principle’ in Rawls theory of 10 2015

justice

9 Explicate the conception of justice in the critiques of 20 2014

communitarian theorists

10 Comment on “Original position” 10 2013

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4. Equality: Social, political, and economic; relationship
between equality and freedom; Affirmative action.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Comment on “Affirmative action” 10 2021

2 Comment on Equality of outcome as a political idea 10 2021

3 Comment on Equality of opportunity 10 2020

4 Equality means fair treatment rather than equal 15 2018

treatment. Comment

5 Comment on “Affirmative action” 10 2016

6 How is liberty a precondition for equality? Explicate 15 2014

the relationship between equality and liberty.

5. Rights: Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights;

Concept of Human Rights.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Can there be universal conception of rights? Give your 15 2021

arguments

2 Assess the significance of right to property in political 15 2020

theory

3 Discuss the doctrine of ‘rights as trumps’ 15 2019

4 What do you understand by three generations of 20 2018

human rights?

5 The implementation of human rights is regarded as a 15 2016

matter of changing the conduct of states. Comment

6 Comment on Idea of natural rights 10 2015

7 Analyse the relationship between natural rights and 20 2013

human rights

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6. Democracy: Classical and contemporary theories; different
models of democracy—representative, participatory and
deliberative.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 “Free and fair deliberations is key to the foundation of 15 2021

democracy”. Explain

2 “Representative democracy…..means the people as a 15 2020

body must be able to control the general direction of
government policy”. (J.S. Mill). Comment

3 Comment on Deliberative democracy 10 2019

4 Comment on substantive democracy 10 2018

5 Critically examine Macpherson’s views on democracy 15 2018

6 Deliberative democracy does not have its salience 15 2017

without participation and participatory democracy
does not have its credence without deliberations

7 Explicate features of representative democracy 15 2016

8 Comment on the difference between participatory 10 2015

and deliberative democracy

9 Explicate the features of deliberative democracy 15 2014

10 Comment on: "India has thrown up a form of judicial 10 2014

democracy that has no parallel anywhere else, and
has nurtured a kind of civil society that is uniquely its
own." (Bhikhu Parekh)

7. Concept of power: hegemony, ideology, and legitimacy.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 “Political ideology is primarily concerned with the 15 2021

allocation and utilization of power”. Comment

2 Examine the nature and meaning of power 15 2020

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 3 Comment on end of ideology debate 10 2019

4 Explain the relationship between power, authority 15 2018

and legitimacy

5 Distinguish between power and authority 15 2015

6 Discuss the crisis of legitimacy in capitalist societies 20 2015

(Habermas)

7 Examine the conditions that are required for the 15 2014

maintenance of legitimacy in modern societies.

8. Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism,

Fascism, Gandhism and Feminism.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Comment on Liberalism as a revolutionary idea 10 2020

2 Explicate the ideological components of Gandhism 20 2020

3 Distinguish between liberal feminism and radical 15 2019

feminism

4 What is the contemporary relevance of Marxism 15 2019

5 Comment on Post modernism 10 2017

6 Comment on Eco-feminism 10 2017

7 Define socialism. Discuss the salient features of Fabian 15 2017

socialism

8 What do you mean by multiculturalism? Discuss 20 2017

Bhikhu Parekh’s views on Multiculturalsim.

9 Write a brief note on end of history debate 15 2017

10 “The Political ideology of globalization is neo- 20 2016

liberalism”. Comment

11 Discuss the key features of pre-Marxist socialist theory 15 2015

12 Discuss the relationship between base and 15 2015

superstructure in Marxist theory.

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 13 Comment on the view that socialism in the 21st century 20 2014
may be reborn as anti-capitalism

14 Comment on Personal is political 10 2013

15 Discuss communitarian critique of liberalism 20 2013

16 Explain Berlin’s notion of value pluralism 20 2013

9. Indian Political Thought: Dharamshastra, Arthashastra,

and Buddhist Traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo,
M. K. Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, M. N. Roy.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 “When a nation becomes devoid of arts and learning, 15 2021

it invites poverty”. (Sir Syed Ahmed Khan). In the light
of this statement, assess the role of Sir Syed Ahmed
Khan as a reformer in modern India

2 Do you think Buddhist traditions have lent greater 20 2021

ethical foundation to the ancient Indian political
thought? Give your arguments.

3 Ambedkar’s ideas on constitutionalism 10 2020

4 Explain the sources of ancient Indian political thought 15 2020

5 Comment on M.K. Gandhi’s concept of swaraj 10 2019

6 Discuss Kautilya’s views on the elements of the state 15 2019

7 Discuss Ambedkar’s ideas on ‘annihilation of caste’ 15 2018

8 Comment on ‘According to Sri Aurobindo, Swaraj is a 10 2017

necessary condition for India to accomplish its
destined goal’

9 What do you understand by the notion of Statecraft? 15 2017

Discuss the theory of statecraft as given by Kautilya.

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 10 Comment on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s idea of state 10 2016
socialism

11 Discuss Sri Aurobindo’s views on cultural nationalism 20 2016

12 Examine Gandhi’s critique of ‘Modernisation’ 15 2016

13 Comment on Gandhi’s views on state 10 2015

14 Compare and contrast the views of Kautilya and 15 2015

Machiavelli on Statecraft

15 Comment on "Nationalism is not a mere political 10 2014

programme but a way of life like religion." (Aurobindo
Ghose).

16 Evaluate the contributions of Buddhist tradition to 15 2014

Indian political thought.

17 Comment on “Sri Aurobindo's "idea of freedom". 10 2013

18 Comment on Syed Ahmed Khan as modernizer 10 2013

19 Examine Ambedkar’s criticism of Marxism 15 2013

20 Examine the significance of Dharma in ancient Indian 15 2013

political thought.

21 Analyse, as per Kautilya, the Saptanga theory of the 15 2013

state

10. Western Political Thought: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli,

Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx, Gramsci, Hannah Arendt.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Comment on J.S. Mill’s idea on women suffrage 10 2021

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 2 Marx’s concept of alienation is an essential part of the 15 2021
reality in capitalism. Explain

3 Explain the Aristotelian view of politics. To what extent 20 2021

do you think it has contributed to the development of
modern-day constitutional democracies?

4 Comment on Machiavelli’s secularism 10 2020

5 Trace the evolution of western political thought from 20 2020

ancient to contemporary period.

6 Discuss Karl Marx’s concept of class. 15 2020

7 Explain Aristotle’s critique of Plato’s Idealism 20 2019

8 According to Gramsci, ‘hegemony is primarily based on 20 2019

the organisation of consent’. Comment

9 Critically examine Hannah Arendt’s conceptual triad of 20 2019

labour, work, and action.

10 John Stuart Mill is a reluctant democrat- C.L. Wayper 10 2018

11 John Locke is the father of liberalism. Explain 20 2018

12 Critically examine Machiavelli’s views on religion and 15 2018

politics.

13 Comment on Hobbesian notion of political obligation 10 2017

14 Everywhere, inequality is a cause of revolution.- 15 2017

Aristotle. Comment

15 Differentiate between freedom and liberty. Discuss 15 2017

Marx’s notion of freedom.

16 “How would I and my fellow human beings behave if we 10 2016

were to find ourselves in a state of nature, and what
does this behaviour tells us about our innate pre-
dispositions?” (Thomas Hobbes). Comment

17 Comment on Gramsci’s concept of hegemony 10 2016

18 Explain Marx’s understanding of Human essence and 15 2016

Alienation.

19 Discuss Hannah Arendt’s analysis of the role of ideology 20 2016

in modern totalitarian regimes.

20 Comment on Aristotle’s concept of equality 10 2015

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 21 ‘‘Plato was an enemy of open society’’. (Popper) 20 2015
Comment

22 Discuss Gramsci’s notion of ‘organic intellectuals’. 15 2015

23 “All silencing of discussion is an assumption of 10 2014

infalliability”. (J.S. Mill) Comment

24 Comment on: "Power is never the property of an

individual; it belongs to a group and remains in
existence only so long as the group keeps together."
(Hannah Arendt)

25 Explain how Machiavelli's application of empirical 20 2014

method to human affairs
marks an important stage in the evolution of political
science.

26 Central to Aristotle's political thought is his 15 2014

classification of the different
types of political constitutions in the Politics. Evaluate.

27 “Covenants without swords are but words and of no 10 2013

strength to secure a man at all” (Hobbes) Comment

28 Explain as per Gramsci, the distinction between 15 2013

hegemony and domination.

29 Discuss in what sense Marx’s understanding of state can 15 2013

be considered as materialistic.

30 Comment on the assertion of Laslett that Filmer and not 15 2013

Hobbes was the main antagonist of Locke

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 Paper 1 Section B

1. Indian Nationalism
(a) Political Strategies of India’s Freedom Struggle:
Constitutionalism to mass Satyagraha, Non-cooperation, Civil
Disobedience; Militant and Revolutionary Movements,
Peasant and Workers Movements.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Comment on Role of socialists in Indian National 10 2020

Movement

2 Trace the role of militant and revolutionary movements 10 2020

in Indian National Movement

3 National movement in India was anti-imperialist and 20 2019

increasingly radical in its socio-economic and political
programmes. Discuss

4 Comment on- Revolt of 1857 is a 'Sepoy Mutiny' or 'First 10 2018

War of Independence’

5 Comment on: The success of Mahatma Gandhi lay in 10 2017

transforming both political and non-political
movements into a unified nationalist movement.

6 Differentiate Moderate Nationalism from 15 2017

Extremist/Militant Nationalism in terms of their
objectives and means

7 Comment on Satyagraha as a strategy in the Indian 10 2015

National Movement

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 8 Explain how peasant movements promoted nationalist 15 2014
ideas during the struggle for Indian independence

(b) Perspectives on Indian National Movement; Liberal,

Socialist, and Marxist; Radical Humanist and Dalit.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Analyze the Marxist perspective of the nature of 10 2021

Indian National movement

2 Comment on Dalit perspective on Indian National 10 2019

Movement

3 Critically examine the Radical Humanist perspective 10 2016

on Indian National Movement

4 Comment on Marxist understanding of India’s 10 2013

freedom movement

2. Making of the Indian Constitution: Legacies of the British

rule; different social and political Perspectives.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 “Indian constitution is a product of a historical 10 2021

process, rich with constitutional antecedents”.
Comment

2 “The constitution makers faced a great task of forging 10 2021

a common national identity in the face of unparalleled
social and cultural diversity in India”. Comment

3 Comment on Indian constitution makers’ concern on 10 2020

social inequality

4 Unity and integrity of India was perhaps the single 10 2019

uppermost factor in minds of the constitution makers.
Comment

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3. Salient Features of the Indian Constitution:
The Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive
Principles;

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Mention the founding principles that define India’s 10 2021

constitution

2 “Constitutionally reconciling the Fundamental Rights 20 2021

with Directive Principles of State Policy has led to
frequent amendments of the constitution and judicial
interventions”. Comment

3 Comment on Right to constitutional remedies in India 10 2020

4 Comment on the relevance of the Directive Principles 15 2019

of State Policy in an era of liberalization and
globalization.

5 Indian Constitution is a ‘Lawyer’s paradise’.- Ivor 10 2018

Jennings. Comment

6 Right to privacy is an intrinsic part if right to life. 10 2017

Comment

7 Underline the significance of first constitutional 10 2021

amendment

8 The purpose of the 42nd Constitutional amendment 10 2016

was to make the economic and social democracy
explicitly visible. Comment

9 Discuss the Right to information and underline the 15 2016

challenges being posed before it.

10 Comment on Secularism in the Indian Constitution 10 2015

11 In the light of neo-economic policies adopted since 20 2015

1991, examine the relevance of the term ‘socialist’ in
the preamble of the Indian constitution.

12 Discuss the ‘Right to education’ and the concerns 15 2015

raised by it.

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 13 Increasingly higher focus on Directive Principles of 10 2014
State Policy

14 What are the provisions for constitutional protection 15 2014

of right to freedom of religion and how far have they
succeeded in promoting secularism in India.

15 Comment on Significance of the Preamble 10 2013

16 Analyse the significance of Article 32 of the Indian 15 2013

Constitution

Parliamentary System and Amendment Procedures;

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Differentiate parliamentary supremacy from 20 2017

parliamentary sovereignty. Would you consider the
Indian Parliament as a sovereign parliament?
Examine

2 ‘Article 368 does not enable to alter the basic 10 2016

structure or framework of the constitution’. Comment
(This question can also be considered under Judicial
Review and Basic Structure doctrine but it is more
focused on amendment procedures)

3 Examine the significance of the verdicts of the 20 2013

Supreme Court in the Golakhnathand Keshavanand
Bharati cases for an understanding of the scope of
Article 368 in regards to Fundamental rights

Judicial Review and Basic Structure doctrine

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Comment on judicial overreach in India 10 2020

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 2 Whether judicial activism has undermined or 20 2018
strengthened parliamentary democracy in India?
Discuss

3 ‘Article 368 does not enable to alter the basic 10 2016

structure or framework of the constitution’. Comment

4 Discuss the efficacy of judicial review in India 20 2015

4.
(a) Principal Organs of the Union Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the
Executive, Legislature, and Supreme Court.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 The role of the President of India becomes more 15 2021

significant during a minority government and a
coalition government. Explain

2 Examine the evolution of jurisdiction of the Supreme 15 2021

Court of India as a constitutional court.

3 Has the thrust of the government titled towards 15 2020

executive in contemporary Indian Politics? Give your
arguments

4 Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has emerged as the 15 2019

most powerful institution in India. Discuss

5 Analyze the arguments in favour and against the 15 2018

lateral entry into higher civil services in India.

6 How is the President of India elected? Outline the 15 2017

salient characteristics of the electoral college of the
Indian President.

7 Judiciary has acquired the role of both, a legislature 20 2017

and an executive in recent years. Examine with
suitable examples.

8 Comment on 99th amendment of the Indian 10 2015

constitution.

9 Comment on structure and function of NITI Aayog. 10 2015

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 10 Examine the debates on the appointment procedure 15 2014
of judges to the higher judiciary in India

11 Comment on Decline of Indian parliament 10 2013

12 Examine the role of Supreme Court as the final 15 2013

interpreter of the Indian Constitution.

(b) Principal Organs of the State Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the
Executive, Legislature, and High Courts

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Do the Lieutenant governors have more powers than 15 2018

the governors of the states? Explain

2 Critically examine the role of Governor in recent 15 2016

times.

3 Critically analyze the discretionary powers granted to 15 2015

the Governor by the Indian Constitution.

5. Grassroots Democracy: Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government; Significance of 73rd

and 74th Amendments; Grassroot movements.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Do you think that despite having significant 15 2021

limitations the Panchayati Raj institutions have
strengthened the process of democratic
decentralization? Give your views

2 To what extent has 73rd and 74th amendments of the 15 2020

Indian constitution enhanced women’s
empowerment?

3 Political decentralization has not been matched by 10 2019

administrative decentralization at the grass root level.
Explain

4 New Pachayat Raj is an effective instrument for 10 2018

women empowerment.

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 5 Examine the provisions of Panchayat Extension 20 2018
Services Act (PESA), 1996.

6 Has the 73rd Constitutional Amendment empowered 15 2017

women in panchayats in India? Discuss

7 The goal of good governor will be achieved only by 20 2016

strengthening the grass root level democracy.

8 Examine the role of Panchayati Raj institutions and 20 2015

Urban Local Bodies in deepening of democracy in
India

9 Explain how the participation of women impacted the 15 2014

functioning of rural local bodies in India.

10 Examine the changing structure of Panchayati Raj 15 2013

institutions with special reference to the 73rd
Constitutional Amendment Act.

6. Statutory Institutions/Commissions: Election Commission,

Comptroller and Auditor General, Finance Commission, Union
Public Service Commission, National Commission for
Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes,
National Commission for Women; National Human Rights
Commission, National Commission for Minorities, National
Backward Classes Commission

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 “The success of electoral democracy can partly be 20 2021

attributed to the status and role of the Election
commission of India.” Explain

2 Examine the role and functioning of the Election 20 2020

Commission of India and the Comptroller and Auditor
General in the last two decades.

3 The Comptroller and Auditor General of India 15 2019

enhances the accountability of the Government and
serves as the watchdog of the finances of the
Government. Explain

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 4 Discuss, in brief, the role of the National Commission 15 2019
for Women. Do you think it is a toothless
organization?

5 State subvention/funding may be an effective 10 2017

instrument in strengthening electoral democracy in
India. Comment

6 Examine the role of National Commission for 15 2017

minorities in preserving, promoting and protecting
the rights of minorities in India.

7 Discuss the working of the National Commission for 20 2014

Scheduled Castes to curb violence against Dalits.

8 Examine the objective and role of the National Human 15 2016

Rights Commission

9 Comment on the role of the Comptroller and Auditor- 10 2014

General of India in promoting good governance.

10 Discuss the nature of reforms of the electoral process 20 2014

in India and explain the further scope for reforms

7. Federalism: Constitutional provisions; changing nature of

centre-state relations; integrationist tendencies and regional
aspirations; inter-state disputes.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Do you think that there has been a gradual shift in the 15 2021
basis on which the demands for the creation of new
states have been raised in different regions of India?
Explain

2 Comment on Mechanisms for settling inter-state 10 2020

disputes.

3 Does the functioning of federalism in India tend to 20 2020

make it appear as a unitary state in practice?

4 Despite constitutional mandate the inter-state council 10 2019

has not come of age. Discus

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 5 Implementation of GST and NEET is a major challenge 10 2018
to Indian federalism

6 Discuss asymmetrical federalism in India. 15 2018

7 Indian federation has moved from cooperative 10 2017

federation to competitive federation.

8 The philosophy and administration of the distribution 10 2016

of powers between centre and states is required to be
re-examined.

9 Comment on cooperative federalism in India 10 2015

10 Identify the contested areas in Centre-State relations 15 2015

in India

11 "Cooperative federalism produces a strong central, or 20 2013

general government, yet it does not necessarily result
in weak provincial governments that are largely
administrative agencies for central policies. Indian
federation has demonstrated this." (Granville Austin)
Examine the uniqueness of Indian federalism in the
light of the above statement.

8. Planning and Economic Development: Nehruvian and

Gandhian perspectives; Role of planning and public sector;
Green Revolution, land reforms and agrarian relations;
liberalization and economic reforms.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 What explains India’s modest improvements in social 15 2021

development outcomes even as the rate of growth has
accelerated since the initiation of economic reforms?

2 Liberalisation of Indian Economy has not been 15 2020

accompanied with adequate reforms. Comment

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 3 What has been the fallout of the Green revolution in 15 2019
India? Explain

4 Examine the various causes of agrarian crisis in India 20 2018

5 What do you understand by Green Revolution? Do 15 2017

you think that a second Green Revolution is needed to
adequately address the agrarian challenges in
contemporary India?

6 Critically examine the politics of economic growth in 20 2016

India

7 Land reforms have failed in the eradication of rural 20 2016

poverty. Comment

8 Compare the Nehruvian and Gandhian models of 15 2015

development.

9 Comment on Gandhian perspective of development 10 2013

and its contemporary relevance

9. Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Examine how caste as a social category is also 15 2021

becoming a political category in democratic politics of
India.

2 Examine the role of religion in Indian Electoral 15 2020

politics in the contemporary times.

3 Development has overshadowed the influence of 20 2019

caste in electoral behavior in recent elections. Discuss

4 Critically examine the ethnic conflicts in North-East 15 2018

India

5 In the Post-liberalization era, Indian politics is moving 10 2017

from ascriptive politics to developmental politics.
Comment

6 Religion is still an important factor in Indian politics. 15 2017

Discuss

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 7 Cultural and Regional differences are the enduring 10 2016
bases on which politics is played out in India.
Comment

8 Comment on the emergence of Backward classes in 15 2016

the Indian politics

9 Identity politics has trumped development politics in 15 2015

India. Comment

10 Comment on Relation between ethnicity and 10 2014

democracy in India

11 Explain the phenomenon of ethnic politics in Indian in 20 2013

recent times

10. Party System: National and regional political parties,

ideological and social bases of parties; Patterns of coalition
politics; Pressure groups, trends in electoral behaviour;
changing socio-economic profile of Legislators.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 “The Indian Party system is shaped by a complex 20 2021

interaction of the country’s federal structure,
electoral system and social cleavages”. Explain

2 To what extent has the inadequate intra-party 20 2020

democracy affected the functioning of Indian
Democracy?

3 The Changing socio-economic profile of our 15 2019

legislators does not augur well for the health of Indian
Democracy. Comment

4 Political personalities are more significant than 10 2018

political parties in India. Comment

5 Explain the increasing role of regional political parties 15 2018

in the national politics.

6 India has moved from ‘one-party dominant system’ to 20 2017

‘one-party led coalition’. Discuss

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 7 Discuss the pattern of Political Parties from one 15 2016
dominant party system to coalition politics in national
politics

8 Account for the rise of regional political parties and 15 2015

assess their role in contemporary India.

9 Comment on Marginalization of the left ideology in 10 2015

India

10 Explain how pressure groups have been influencing 20 2014

public policy-making with suitable illustrations.

11 Account for the changes in the socio-economic profile 15 2014

of legislators during last one decade in India.

12 Explain to what extent the concept of “one-party 15 2013

dominance” (W.H. Morris Jones) model is relevant in
Indian Politics today.

11. Social Movement: Civil liberties and human rights

movements; women’s movements; environmentalist
movements

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Examine the nature of civil liberty movement in India 15 2020

2 Write a short note on the significance of Chipko 10 2019

movement

3 Critically examine the environmentalist movement in 15 2018

Tuticorin, Tamilnadu.

4 Critically examine the provisions made in the 15 2016

constitution for the protection of Environment

5 Comment on the dilemmas of the human rights 10 2014

movements in India

6 Examine the scope and limitations of women’s 15 2014

movements in India

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 7 Compare and contrast Chipko Movement and 10 2013
Narmada Bachao Andolan

8 Point out and comment on the historic importance of 15 2013

the document ‘Towards Equality (1974)’, for women’s
movement in India.

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 Paper 2 Section A

1. Comparative Politics: Nature and major approaches;

Political economy and political sociology perspectives;
Limitations of the comparative method.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Discuss the political economy approach to the 10 2021

comparative analysis of politics

2 Discuss the subject matter of comparative politics. 10 2020

Outline the limitations of comparative political
analysis.

3 Examine the significance of the comparative method 20 2019

in political analysis. Discuss its limitations.

4 Describe the changing nature of Comparative Politics. 10 2018

Briefly explain the Political Economy approach to the
study of Comparative Politics.

5 Explain the Political-Sociological approach in the field 10 2017

of comparative politics and discuss its limitations.

6 Critically examine the Marxist aspect of the political 10 2016

economy approach to the study of comparative
politics.

7 Which are the major approaches of comparative 10 2015

politics? Explain in brief, the political economy
approach to the study of comparative inquiry?

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2. State in Comparative Perspective: Characteristics and
changing nature of the State in capitalist and socialist
economies, and advanced industrial and developing societies.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 “The post-colonial state was thought of an entity that 20 2021

stood outside and above society as an autonomous
agency”. Explain

2 The modernization thesis assets that affluence breeds 20 2021

stable democracy. How do you explain the success of
India being the world’s largest democracy as an
exceptional case?

3 Analyze the contribution of liberal democratic 10 2020

principles in the democratization of Indian polity.

4 Is democracy promotion in developing countries a 15 2019

feasible idea?

5 Describe the changing nature of the State in the 10 2018

developing societies in the context of inclusive growth
in the 21st Century.

6 How has the development of Global capitalism 15 2017

changed the nature of socialist economies and
developing societies?

7 Do you subscribe to the view that the modern 10 2015

constructs of the State and politics are pre-eminently
Eurocentric and not indigenous and appropriate for
the analysis of non-western societies?
8 ‘A minimal State ensures maximum of Individual 15 2013
liberty.’ Examine the concept of minimal state.

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3. Politics of Representation and Participation: Political
parties, pressure groups, and social movements in advanced
industrial and developing societies.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 “Political parties and pressure groups are sin qua non 10 2021
of democracy”. Comment

2 Explain the impact of electoral systems and cleavages 20 2021

in shaping party systems with reference to developing
countries

3 Has the increased participation of the underprivileged 10 2020

in the political processes of the developing societies
strengthened democracy or created political chaos
and conflict? Comment

4 Explain the reasons for low voter turnout in 15 2019

democratic countries with suitable examples.

5 Write an essay on ‘New Social movements’ in 15 2019

developing countries.

6 How big a role identity plays in determining political 10 2018

participation in the developing countries? Discuss
your answer with suitable illustrations.

7 Examine the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and 10 2017

Transgender) movement in developed societies and
how it is affecting the political participation in
developing societies?

8 Comment on the decline of political parties and 10 2016

examine whether new social movements shall be an
alternative strategy for establishing a link between
government and society.

9 Do interest groups help to promote democracy or to 15 2016

undermine it? Give your opinion.

10 What is the difference between Interest group and 10 2015

Pressure Groups? Are the pressure Groups in India in
a position to fully protect or promote the interests of
their members?

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 11 The Party system in India is neither western nor 10 2014
indigenous. Explain.

12 The Party system in India is neither western nor 10 2014

indigenous. Explain.

13 In what respect is the new social movement new in 10 2014

nature? Discuss

14 Compare and contrast social movements in advanced 20 2013

industrial and developing societies.

15 Is the rise of social movements a sign of opening up of 20 2013

popular space in political process or decline of
representative politics? Examine.

4. Globalisation: Responses from developed and developing

societies.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 What is globalization? Why is there an intense debate 15 2021

about globalization and its consequences?

2 Critically examine the impact of the process of 10 2020

globalization from the perspective of the countries of
the Global south.

3 Evaluate the role of the International Court of Justice 15 2019

in the context of globalization

4 Critically examine the Globalization in the past 25 10 2017

years from the perspectives of the western world?

5 Discuss the impact of globalization on the internal 10 2016

functioning of the state

6 How does regionalism shape world politics? Explain 15 2016

with examples

7 Is globalization essentially a process of 10 2015

Universalization’ of capitalist modernity?

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 8 How is it that economic and neo-liberal globalization 15 2015
is being interrogated from inside even in developed
countries? What are the economic consequences of
such globalization?

9 What is a 'global village'? Elaborate its main 15 2014

characteristics and also the factors that contributed
to its growth.

5. Approaches to the Study of International Relations:

Idealist, Realist, Marxist, Functionalist and Systems theory.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 “Marxist approach to the study of international 10 2021

relations has lost its relevance in the post-cold war
era”. Comment

2 Discuss the emergence of neo-realism and its basic 15 2021

tenets

3 What is ‘complex interdependence’? Discuss the role 15 2021

of transnational actors in international system.

4 What are the core assumptions of idealism as an 10 2020

approach to study International Relations? Explain its
continuing relevance in peace building?

6 Explain the relevance of the Marxist approach in the 20 2019

context of globalization.

7 Bring out the major differences between the Classical 10 2018

Realism of Hans Morgenthau and the Neo-Realism of
Kenneth Waltz

8 “Some feel Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are 15 2018

vital new road to economic growth, whereas others
feel they perpetuate underdevelopment.” Discuss

9 Critically examine the functionalist approach to the 15 2018

study of international relations.

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 10 Give an assessment of the Feminist critique of 10 2017
contemporary global issues.

11 Is the Realist Approach the best method to 20 2017

understand International Relations? Examine this in
the context of Classical Realism

12 Examine the World Systems Approach as developed 15 2017

by Immanuel Wallerstein.

13 Critically examine the functional and system 10 2016

approaches to the study of international relations

14 Identify the major difference between the classical 10 2015

realism of Hans J. Morgenthau and the neorealism of
Kenneth Waltz. Which approach is the best suited for
analyzing international relations after Cold war?

15 "The Feminist approach to international politics is 10 2014

biased." Comment.

16 "Morton A. Kaplan's system theory is contrary to the 15 2014

fundamental precepts of systems approach."
Comment.

17 Discuss the main factors that have contributed to the 15 2014

gradual transformation of the world from the 'Billiard
Ball Model' to the 'Cobweb Model'.

18 Examine major principles of State centric world 20 2013

views.

19 How does the Marxist approach explain 15 2013

contemporary International relations?

20 Write a note on intellectual precursors of realism. 15 2013

21 ‘Building peace by pieces’ is the foundation of 15 2013

functionalism. Elaborate

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6. Key Concepts in International Relations: National interest,
security and power; Balance of power and deterrence;
Transnational actors and collective security; World capitalist
economy and globalisation.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Explain the concept of balance of power. What are the 20 2020

various techniques of maintaining balance of power?

2 Discuss the Nuclear Deterrence Theory in the context 10 2019

of the recent standoff between India and Pakistan.

3 What, according to Joseph Nye, are the major sources 10 2018

of a country’s soft power? Discuss its relevance in the
contemporary world politics?

4 Discuss the changing nature of modern state with 15 2017

reference to transnational actors?

5 "A combination of internal pressures (ethnic and 10 2016

regional forces) and external threats (EU, UN, TNC,
global market, etc) has produced what is commonly
referred to as a 'crisis of the nation-state'." Elaborate.

6 Why does global human security need to be 20 2016

emphasized along with economic security? Explain
with examples

7 Explain the instruments and methods devised for the 20 2016

promotion of national interest. (20)

8 "The notion of balance of power is notoriously full of 15 2016

confusion." In the light of this quotation, do you think
that the concept of balance of power is relevant?

9 Critically assess the changing nature of the concept of 15 2014

national security.

10 How do you explain the growing importance of 20 2014

multinational corporations (MNCs) and civil society in
contemporary international politics?

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 11 ‘National interests are dynamic’. Identify the dynamic 15 2013
nature of National interests in the contemporary
world politics with suitable examples.

12 ‘Collective Security and Collective Defence are the 15 2013

institutional and State mechanisms to sustain the
domination of powers that be in International
Politics.’ Elaborate

13 Transnational actors have become driving forces of 20 2013

global politics. Elaborate

7. Changing International Political Order :

(a) Rise of super powers; Strategic and ideological Bipolarity, arms race and cold war;
Nuclear threat;

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Examine in brief the rise and fall of the Cold War. 15 2016

2 Discuss the theory of Nuclear deterrence. Did the 15 2015

Nuclear deterrence prevent a superpower war?

3 Who was Mr. 'X' in international politics? Elaborate on 15 2014

his approach to foreign policy.

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(b) Non-aligned Movement: Aims and achievements.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Discuss the ways to strengthen the Non-Aligned 20 2020

Movement (NAM) to enable it to address the
challenges faced by the developing countries.

2 Write a brief note on the 17th NAM Summit in 10 2019

Venezuela.

3 Discuss the significance of the Non-Aligned movement 20 2018

as a unique contribution of the Non-Western world to
World Politics?

4 Do you endorse the view that the end of Bipolarity 15 2017

and the rise of multiple regional organizations has
made Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) more or less
irrelevant?

5 Highlight the features of Non-Alignment 2.0 document 15 2013

6 “India’s policy of non-alignment has been guided by 15 2014

the genius of the Indian people and their interests.”
Explain.

(c) Collapse of the Soviet Union; Unipolarity and American hegemony; Relevance of non-
alignment in the contemporary world.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Critically examine the decline of the United States of 15 2021

America as a hegemon and its implications for the
changing international political order.

2 Critically analyze the implications of Sino-American 15 2020

rivalry for the South and South-East Asian region.

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 3 Identify the benefits of a multi-polar world. 15 2019

4 Discuss the Consequences of Trump’s “America First” 15 2018

and Xi’s “Chinese Dream” on World politics?

5 “The Development of advanced missile technology 20 2017

and nuclear threat by North Korea has challenged the
American Society in South-East Asia.” Evaluate the
above statement in the context of recent
developments in the region?

6 Discuss the collapse of the Soviet Union and its impact 15 2015
on international politics.

7 "Ukraine crisis is a product of power politics and 10 2014

geopolitics." Comment.

8 Identify the challenges to American hegemony in post 10 2013

soviet world

8. Evolution of the International Economic System: From

Brettonwoods to WTO; Socialist economies and the CMEA
(Council for Mutual Economic Assistance); Third World
demand for new international economic order; Globalisation
of the world economy.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Critically evaluate the role of the United States of 15 2020

America in the World Trade Organization (WTO)
dispute settlement mechanism and its implications
for the future of the WTO.

2 Explain the significance and importance of the 15 2020

demand raised by the developing countries for a New
international Economic Order (NIEO). Are they likely
to achieve their objectives of NIEO in foreseeable
future?

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 3 How are the rising powers challenging the USA and 20 2019
Western dominance in the IMF and World Bank?

4 "The IMF, World Bank, G-7, GATT, and other 20 2016

structures are designed to serve the interests of TNCs,
banks and investment firms in a 'new imperial age'."
Substantiate with examples of governance of the new
world order. (20 marks)

5 How far are the world governance mechanisms, 15 2015

dominated by IMF and World Bank, legitimate and
relevant? What measures do you suggest to improve
their effectiveness in global governance?

6 Sketch the leadership role of India in WTO 10 2013

negotiations.

7 Identify the major changes in the international 15 2013

political economy in post-cold war period.
8 Sketch the journey of global political economy from 10 2013
Washington Consensus to the present.

9. United Nations: Envisaged role and actual record;

Specialized UN agencies—aims and functioning; need for UN
reforms.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 What measures have been undertaken by the United 10 2021

Nations for its reforms?

2 Enumerate the challenges in the operation of the 15 2020

principles related to collective security in the UN
Charter.

3 Explain the significance and urgency of the UN 20 2020

Security Council reforms. Explain the relevance of the
reforms proposals made by the UN Secretary-General
Antonio-Guterres for the developing countries.

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 4 In what ways does the predominance of the USA in 10 2019
the UN funding affects its decision making?

5 Discuss the relevance of UN Security Council 20 2018

Resolution 1325 on the security of women in conflict
zones.

6 Do you agree with the view that despite the 15 2017

limitations in the functioning of the UN, it has
distinguished and unique achievements to its credit?

7 Do you endorse that the United Nations needs major 15 2016

changes in its structures and functioning? Suggest the
changes for efficient improvements

8 Has the reform of the economic and social 20 2015

arrangements of the United Nations been effective?

9 Do you agree that the U.N. has failed to contain 10 2014

transnational terrorism? Elaborate your answer with
examples.

10 Argue a case for U.N. reform in the context of 20 2014

changing global milieu.

10. Regionalisation of World Politics: EU, ASEAN, APEC,

SAARC, NAFTA.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Explain the success of ASEAN as a regional 15 2021

organization.

2 Explain India’s relations with the European Union in 15 2021

the context of Brexit.

3 Critically analyze the role of ASEAN in the promotion 15 2020

of regional peace and security through economic
cooperation and trade.

4 Evaluate the role of BIMSTEC in multi-sectoral 10 2019

technical and economic cooperation.

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 5 Since its inception SAARC has failed to deliver on its 15 2018
promises. What initiatives should be taken to
reinvigorate the organisation?

6 American President Donald Trump’s proposal to 10 2017

withdraw from the ‘NAFTA’ would bring unforeseen
consequences to the regionalization of world politics.
Comment

7 How has Brexit affected the regionalization process 15 2017

initiated by European Union and what could be its
likely impact in the regionalization process of world
politics?

8 ‘European Union has become, the most politically 15 2015

influential, economically powerful and
demographically diverse regional entity in the world.’
Discuss

9 "Despite so many agreed areas of cooperation, 20 2014

innumerable institutional mechanisms and a
permanent secretariat, South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has not taken off as a
meaningful regional grouping." Discuss

10 Give reasons for the regionalization of world politics. 15 2013

11 Substantiate APEC as a regional economic and trade 15 2013

arrangement.

11. Contemporary Global Concerns: Democracy, human

rights, environment, gender justice, terrorism, nuclear
proliferation.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Discuss the five proposals made by India in the recent 10 2021

COP-26 conference held in Glasgow.

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 2 Examine the role of the United Nations Framework 15 2020
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other
major efforts by the UN to address the global
environmental crisis.

3 Do you think that Sustainable development goals are 10 2019

really attainable by 230?

4 Discuss the importance of personal data protection in 15 2019

the context of human rights.

5 Would you agree that the ongoing debate on 15 2018

international environmental politics continues to be
marred by a new North-South ideological divide over
historical responsibility and the Developmental
model? Illustrate your answer with suitable examples.

6 critically examine the notion of Asian Values in the 20 2018

context of the ongoing debate on Human rights

7 Discuss the implications of the Trump -Kim Singapore

summit on the prospect of Denuclearisation of the
Korean peninsula.

8 The recent move of USA to withdraw from the Paris 20 2017

Climate Agreement is a setback in the consensus
achieved on protecting the world environment. In this
context, assess the future prospective on climate
control.

9 Discuss the evolution of non-proliferation of nuclear 15 2016

weapons in the post-Cold War period. (15 marks)

10 ‘The struggle for democracy has been marked by 20 2015

bitter strife and tribulations’. Examine the statement,
illustrating the cases of Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar.

11 What are the real objectives of Millennium 15 2015

Development Goals (MDG)? Do you think that
millennium development goals have been able to
achieve the desired goals of poverty alleviation and
sustainable development?

12 Do you endorse that the conventional discourse on 20 2015

human rights has failed to include women’s rights?
Explain in the context of feminist theories.

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 13 Critically evaluate the approaches of the global south 15 2014
towards addressing environmental concerns.

14 Compare and contrast Sino-Indian approaches to 15 2013

global environmental concerns.

15 What roles do norms, taboos, and epistemic 20 2013

communities play in the context of nuclear
proliferation?

16 Identify the role and place of gender in global 15 2013

economy.

17 What does the pace of nuclear proliferation in post 10 2013

cold war suggest?

18 Global commons belong to global society and requires 10 2013

global attention. Comment

19 State the place of Gender justice in global political 10 2013

agenda

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 Paper 2 Section B
1. Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants of foreign policy; the
institutions of policy-making; Continuity and change.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Explicate the philosophical foundations of India’s 10 2021

foreign policy.

2 How do the constituent states influence the foreign 15 2021

policy making processes in India?

3 Describe the structure and function of the National 10 2020

security council. What role does it play in making
foraging policy of India?

4 Examine the role of ‘parliamentary diplomacy’ in 10 2019

India’s foreign policy.

5 Examine the increasing significance of maritime 20 2019

security in India’s foreign policy.

6 Do you agree with the view that Indian foreign policy 10 2018
is increasingly being shaped by the Neoliberal
outlook? Elaborate.

7 “India is often said to have a rich strategic culture.” 10 2018

Discuss.

8 “India’s current foreign policy marks significant 10 2018

qualitative shifts from that of the previous regimes.”
Discuss.

9 Discuss the role of the Indian Council of Cultural 20 2018

Relations (ICCR) in promoting India’s soft power
abroad.

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 10 Examine the Indian National Movement and 10 2017
geographical location of India as determinants of
India's foreign policy.

11 What determinant factors play an important role in 10 2016

making India’s foreign policy? Illustrate with
examples.

12 The Social structure of a country influences its foreign 10 2015

policy-making. How does the social structure of India
impacts the course and direction of its foreign policy?

13 How does the Parliament determine and influence the 10 2015

making of India’s foreign policy?

14 ‘Economic interest has emerged as the main 15 2015

component of India’s foreign policy. Discuss the
statement in the light of India’s initiatives to improve
relations with China, Japan, and the Central Asian
republics.

15 “Federal issues are critical in the making of India’s 20 2014

foreign policy.” Examine this statement with
reference to the role of West Bengal Vis-à-vis
Bangladesh

16 The Ministry of External Affairs is losing its 20 2014

importance in the making of India’s foreign policy
with the parallel rise of the P.M.O. Explain. 20 marks

17 “Some of the major changes that occurred in India’s 15 2014

foreign policy after the Sino – India war in 1962 were
within the larger framework of continuity.” Discuss.

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 18 In the history of foreign policy, seldom have relations 15 2014
between any two nations blossomed as fast as they
have in the case of India and Israel. Discuss.

19 ‘The economic content of India’s foreign trade is 20 2013

increasingly growing.’ Substantiate the statement
with economic diplomatic arrangements of India in
the last decade.

20 Identify elements of change in Indian foreign policy 10 2013

2. India’s Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement

Different phases; Current role.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 “Non-Alignment was little more than a rational 20 2021

strategy on the part of a materially weak India to
maximize its interests with a bipolar distribution of
global power.” Comment

2 Compare and contrast Non-alignment 1.0 with Non- 10 2019

alignment 2.0

3 Comment on India’s contribution to Non-Alignment 10 2016

Movement and its contemporary relevance.

4 Non-alignment has been the basic principle of India’s 10 2015

foreign policy since independence. Discuss its
relevance in the contemporary context.

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 5 “India’s policy of non-alignment has been guided by 15 2014
the genius of the Indian people and their interests.”
Explain.

3. India and South Asia :

(a) Regional Co-operation: SAARC-past performance and future prospects.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Why South Asia is considered as the world’s 20 2021

politically and economically least integrated region?
Explain

2 "The Treaty of Perpetual Peace and Friendship 10 2017

between India and Bhutan needs to be revised with
more pragmatic, realistic obligations and
responsibilities.” Comment.

3 “Sometimes we visualize that SAARC’s efforts come to 10 2016

halt because of various impediments to regional
cooperation.” Elaborate with reasonable examples of
impediments.

4 Discuss the shift of India’s foreign policy towards 15 2016

Pakistan in the light of Pathankot incident.

5 Identify the constraints/challenges to the regional 10 2015

cooperation South Asia.

(b) South Asia as a Free Trade Area.

Sr No Question Marks Year

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 1 Outline the reason for low volume of trade in the 10 2020
SAARCregion

2 What are the impediments in the development of 10 2017

South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)?

(c) India’s “Look East” policy.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Discuss the strategic implications of India’s ‘Look East 10 2021

Policy’ transforming into ‘Act East Policy’

2 Critically examine India’s position on South China Sea 15 2019

Dispute. (15 marks)

3 Analyse the significance of India’s Look East Policy in 10 2018

the light of concerns of the indigenous people of
North-East India.

4 What are the hopes and aspirations of ‘Look East 15 2016

Policy’ of India? Explain

(d) Impediments to regional co-operation: River water disputes; illegal cross border
migration; Ethnic conflicts and insurgencies; Border disputes.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Write a brief analysis of the ethnic conflicts and cross 15 2021

border migrations along India-Myanmar and India-
Bangladesh borders.

2 Analyze the impact of hydro politics on India- 10 2020

Bangladesh relations.

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 3 Discuss future prospects of India-Nepal relations in 10 2020
the context of recent publication of new Nepalese map
wrongly claiming Indian territory.

4 How does cross border terrorism impede peace and 10 2020

security in South Asia?

5 What are the current issues in Brahmaputra River 15 2019

water sharing between India and China?

6 Evaluate India’s stand on the recent Rohingya refugee 10 2018

issue.

7 15 2017
"Despite the differences between India and Pakistan
on various issues, Indus Water Treaty has stood the
test of times." In the light of this statement, discuss
the recent developments over this issue.

8 Ethnic conflicts and insurgencies in North-East India 10 2015

can be better managed by improving relations with
the neighbourhood countries. Substantiate the
statement with suitable examples.

9 River water disputes are emerging as a major source 15 2015

of irritation between India and its neighbours.
Identify the sources of conflicts and suggests the
remedial measures.

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4. India and the Global South: Relations with Africa and Latin
America; Leadership role in the demand for NIEO and WTO
negotiations.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Explain India’s position on the waiver of intellectual 10 2021

property rights on COVID-19 vaccines in WTO.

2 Identify the drivers of India’s new interests in Africa. 15 2021

3 How do the guiding principles of India-Africa 20 2020

relations seek to enhance harmony and mutual
cooperation between India and Africa?

4 How is India pursuing her foreign policy objectives 10 2019

through IBSA Dialogue Forum (India, Brazil and South
Africa).

5 India's coalition diplomacy within the WTO has 20 2018

earned it wide appreciation. What accounts for the
success of India’s coalition diplomacy?

6 “India’s capacity building programs under the Indian 15 2018

Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) has
earned much goodwill for it in Africa.” Discuss.

7 India’s Research and Information System for 15 2018

Developing Countries (RIS) is a major initiative in the
area of South-South Cooperation. Discuss.

8 Suggest measures so that India's partnership with 20 2017

Africa becomes a true symbol of South-South
Cooperation, delivering clear-cut economic and
political dividends to both sides of the equation.

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 9 15 2017
Analyse the stalled progress of Doha Round of WTO
negotiations over the differences between the
developed and the developing countries.

10 Examine the concept of North-South divide and 15 2016

suggest how structural inequalities between the high
wages, high investment industrial north and low
wages, low investment predominantly rural south can
be reduced.

11 Discuss the factors for the decline of India’s presence 15 2015

in Latin America.

5. India and the Global Centres of Power: USA, EU, Japan,

China and Russia.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Write about growing significance of QUAD 10 2021

2 Examine the Geo-strategic points of contention in the 15 2021

bilateral relationship between India and China.

3 ‘Relationship between India and Russia are rooted in 20 2021

history, mutual trust and mutually beneficial
cooperation.’ Discuss

4 What are the notable features of the recently 15 2020

concluded pact or Acquisition and cross servicing
agreement between India and Japan? How it likely to
address security concerns of India?

5 Discuss the significance of India-US strategic 15 2020

partnership and its significance for India’s security
and national defence.

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 6 Explain the defence and foreign policy options of 20 2020
India to address the challenges emerging out of
current India-China standoff at the line of actual
control.

7 Describe briefly China’s ‘One Belt One Road (OBOR)’ 20 2019

Initiative and analyze India’s major concerns.

8 How is the current standoff between the USA and Iran 15 2019
affecting India’s energy security?

9 Discuss the role of the Indian Diaspora in promoting 15 2018

Indo-US relations.

10 Critically assess the evolving convergence of India and 15 2018

China in the areas of trade and environment.

11 Do you agree that the growing assertiveness of China 15 2018

is leading to multilayered India-Japan relations?
Comment.

12 How is the 'Belt and Road Initiative' of China going to 20 2017

affect India-China relations?

13 The recent differences between India and Russia are 15 2017

the result of misconceptions than facts. Elucidate.

14 Do you subscribe to the idea that in the new evolving 15 2017

Asian dynamics, Japan and India have not only moved
closer in economic cooperation, but also in strategic
partnership?

15 Illustrate the main cause of tension between India and 10 2016

China. Suggest the possibilities of improving
relationship

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 16 Explain Britain’s ouster from EU and bring out its 20 2016
consequences on world economy in general and India
in particular.

17 Before the year 2000, the Indo-US relationship has 20 2015

been marked more with estrangement than cordiality.
Whya?

18 “EU – India relations have a long way to go before 10 2014

they can purposely be termed strategic.” Discuss.

19 Evaluate the recent changes in Indo – Japan relations. 20 2014

20 marks

20 Analyze the drivers of Indo – Russian relations in the 20 2014

post-Cold-War era. 20 marks

21 Examine the recent developments in India-Japan 10 2013

relationship.

6. India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace-keeping;

Demand for Permanent Seat in the Security Council.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Discuss the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ as set by 15 2021

the United Nations.

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 2 Explain the importance of India’s claim to permanent 15 2020
seat at UNSC.

3 Analyze the recent trends in India’s role in the UN 15 2019

peacekeeping operations.

4 Discuss the various impediments in India’s way to a 15 2018

permanent seat in the Security Council.

5 “India has been the largest and consistent country 10 2017

contributing to the UN peacekeepers worldwide."
Examine India's role in this perspective.

6 15 2017
'Uniting for Consensus' also known as 'Coffee Club'
has opposed the claims of India and other countries
over permanent membership of the UN Security
Council. Point out their major objections.

7 Critically analyze China role in international politics 15 2016

against India’s demand for permanent seat in UN
Security Council.

8 The United Nations completes 70 years of its 20 2015

establishment in 2015. What reforms is India asking
for to strengthen the global institutions of governance
and why?

9 10 2014
Is India’s quest for a permanent seat in the Security
Council a possibility or just a pipedream? Elaborate
with reasons.

10 Evaluate India’s participation in United Nations 15 2014

peace-keeping operations over the years. 15 marks

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 11 Bring out the objectives of India seeking a permanent 10 2013
seat in the security council.

7. India and the Nuclear Question: Changing perceptions and

policy.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 Examine the evolution of India’s role in the global 15 2021

nuclear order.

2 Discuss the efficacy of India’s no first use policy in the 15 2020

context of the evolving strategic challenges from its
neighbours.

3 Given the recent developments in the region, do you 15 2019

think that there is need to change India’s ‘No First
Use’ nuclear policy?

4 The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has failed 15 2017

to achieve the ultimate objective of Global Nuclear
Disarmament. Discuss the deficiency in the provision
of NPT.

5 Critically analyze India’s nuclear policy. 10 2016

6 Explain socio-economic impacts of arms race and 20 2016

identify the obstacles in the way of disarmament

7 In 1998, India declared itself as a nuclear weapon 15 2015

state. India refuses to sign NPT and CTBT. What
would be the implications for India’s nuclear policy in
case it signs both treaties?

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 8 Discuss the grounds for India’s opposition to NPT. 10 2014

9 Is India’s nuclear doctrine viable one? 10 2013

8. Recent developments in Indian Foreign Policy: India’s

position on the recent crises in Afghanistan, Iraq and West
Asia, growing relations with US and Isreal; Vision of a new
world order.

Sr No Question Marks Year

1 How does the recent takeover of Afghanistan by 10 2021

Taliban impact India’s strategic interests?

2 The war in Afghanistan is crucial from point of view of 20 2020

India’s security. If Americans withdrew and jihadis
emerge with sense of triumphalism, India will face
increasing onslaught of terrorism. Comment.

3 Identify key sectors of cooperation between India and 15 2020

Israel since 2014. Examine their significance in
strengthening bilateral ties between the two
countries.

4 Critically examine the role of India in shaping the 15 2020

emerging world order.

5 How is India responding to the idea of Indo-Pacific? 10 2019

6 10 2019
“The growing closeness between India and Israel will
strengthen the cause of Palestine.” Comment.

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 7 Write a brief note on India’s interests in West Asia. 15 2019

8 Evaluate India’s vision of a new world order 20 2019

9 Do you think India’s capacity-building role in 20 2018

Afghanistan has shrunk the strategic space for
Pakistan there? Discuss.

10 Has the recent Indo-Israeli relationships given a new 10 2017

dynamic to India's stand on Palestinian statehood?

11 The natural behaviour of India and the United States 20 2017

is likely to serve each other's interests. Hence, a
deliberate strategy of dovetailing their efforts will
obviously benefit both. Elaborate.

12 Comment on India’s growing relationship with USA in 15 2016

the background of constrained relationship between
India and China.

13 Examine the main problems and challenges involved 20 2016

in looking after environmental concerns in world
politics

14 Discuss the positive and negative impacts of Soviet 15 2016

Union’s disintegration on developing nations.

15 Vision of a new world order has emerged as the major 20 2015

objective of India’s foreign policy. Discuss the policy
initiatives taken by India in this regard and the
challenges faced by it.

16 Discuss the realistic foreign policy initiatives taken by 15 2015

India to balance its relations between Israel and the
Arab world.

17 Discuss the humanitarian role played by India in the 15 2015

crisis-stricken Gulf countries like Yemen and Iraq.

18 “Afghanistan is a litmus test for India’s ascendance as 10 2014

a regional and global power.” Discuss.

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 19 Do you agree with the view that the USA is of late 10 2014
willing to treat India as a partner rather than merely a
camp-follower? Give reasons for your answer.

20 Examine the implications of turmoil in Iraq and West 15 2014

Asia for India’s security and foreign policy concerns.

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