UPSC CSE 2025 PSIR Optional
📜 PAPER - I
SECTION 'A'
1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:1.(a) Explain the philosophical approach to the study of political theory.
1.(b) Write a note on the relationship between equality and liberty from the multicultural perspective.
1.(c) Explain Macpherson’s view on power.
1.(d) Mention the differences between Italian and German brands of fascism.
1.(e) Briefly explain the elite theory of democracy.
2. Answer the following questions:
2.(a) What is the Marxist and liberal approach towards the state? On what grounds are the theoretical differences between them premised? Explain.
2.(b) Karl Popper presents a defense of the open society against its enemies. Elaborate.
2.(c) Explain how Rawls used the liberal and egalitarian perspective to develop his concept of distributive justice.
3. Answer the following questions:
3.(a) Provide a comparative analysis of the behavioral and institutional approaches to the study of political theory.
3.(b) "State ........ does the greatest harm to mankind by destroying individuality, which lies at the root of all progress." — Mahatma Gandhi. Elucidate.
3.(c) Explain how the slogan *"The personal is political"* addresses the issue of women's oppression and discrimination.
4. Answer the following questions:
4.(a) The foundational base of western democracy has been shaped by Locke’s ideas of constitutionalism, freedom, and property. Elucidate.
4.(b) Hannah Arendt analyzed a few categories of vita activa. Explain.
4.(c) Do you think that legitimacy acquired by consent or manufactured by indoctrination is an essential element in the maintenance of political rule? Justify your answer with relevant examples.
5.(a) Explain briefly the role of Peasant Movements after 1857 and before independence.
5.(b) Write a note on the Dalit perspective of the Indian National Movement.
5.(c) Land reforms programs led to some constitutional amendments. Comment.
5.(d) Delineate the key factors that have shaped the evolving political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir post-2019.
5.(e) How far has the National Human Rights Commission been successful in achieving its objectives? Comment.
6. Answer the following question:
6.(a) Parliamentary committees are indispensable to the legislative process. It provides for the opportunity for cross-pollination between the two chambers of Parliament. Discuss.
6.(b) Examine the constitutional provisions and nature of the advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India. Evaluate your answer with relevant examples.
6.(c) The recent developments in Indian politics have not eroded the true spirit of federalism in India. Critically examine this statement with the help of appropriate examples.
4.(a) The foundational base of western democracy has been shaped by Locke’s ideas of constitutionalism, freedom, and property. Elucidate.
4.(b) Hannah Arendt analyzed a few categories of vita activa. Explain.
4.(c) Do you think that legitimacy acquired by consent or manufactured by indoctrination is an essential element in the maintenance of political rule? Justify your answer with relevant examples.
SECTION 'B'
5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:5.(a) Explain briefly the role of Peasant Movements after 1857 and before independence.
5.(b) Write a note on the Dalit perspective of the Indian National Movement.
5.(c) Land reforms programs led to some constitutional amendments. Comment.
5.(d) Delineate the key factors that have shaped the evolving political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir post-2019.
5.(e) How far has the National Human Rights Commission been successful in achieving its objectives? Comment.
6. Answer the following question:
6.(a) Parliamentary committees are indispensable to the legislative process. It provides for the opportunity for cross-pollination between the two chambers of Parliament. Discuss.
6.(b) Examine the constitutional provisions and nature of the advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India. Evaluate your answer with relevant examples.
6.(c) The recent developments in Indian politics have not eroded the true spirit of federalism in India. Critically examine this statement with the help of appropriate examples.
7. Answer the following questions:
7.(a) Enunciate the impediments to women’s participation in local governance in the process of political decentralization.
7.(b) Caste remains a vital axis for political mobilization in India. How would the caste census address the aspirations of people? Discuss.
7.(c) There is a debate on the procedure for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners to the Election Commission of India. Analyze its various aspects.
7.(a) Enunciate the impediments to women’s participation in local governance in the process of political decentralization.
7.(b) Caste remains a vital axis for political mobilization in India. How would the caste census address the aspirations of people? Discuss.
7.(c) There is a debate on the procedure for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners to the Election Commission of India. Analyze its various aspects.
8. Answer the following questions:
8.(a) The decision to conduct Population Census-2027 has reopened the debate on delimitation in India. Discuss its various aspects.
8.(b) With reference to Nehruvian perspective of planning and economic development, examine how the early phase of economic planning in India has laid the foundation of modern India’s economic growth.
8.(c) Illustrate with examples how political parties in India have played a crucial role in drawing the historically disadvantaged groups into the mainstream political system.
(a) Discuss the psychological approach to the study of comparative politics.
(b) "Neo-liberalism highlighted neo-realism’s dark view of international politics." Comment.
(c) Explain the non-traditional security threats in the context of food and environmental crises.
(d) Discuss the political socialization of open and closed societies.
(e) Comment on the Red Lipstick Movement in the context of feminist rights.
2. Answer the following questions:
2.(a) The world is currently experiencing a twin process of "democratic backsliding" and "democratic backlash." How would you explain this paradox?
2.(b) The withdrawal of the United States of America from the World Health Organization is set to have far-reaching impacts on global health. Reimagining the existing WHO is vital for the global health agenda. Discuss.
(c) Transnational actors have qualitatively transformed the world by the way of their fresh insights and actions. Illustrate your answer with suitable examples.
3. Answer the following questions:
6. Answer the following questions:
6.(a) Critically analyze the different phases of India's foreign policy since independence. How justified, do you think, is S. Jaishankar's classification of the current phase as the phase of 'energetic diplomacy'?
(b) India maintains strong ties with countries that will assure a free and open Indo-Pacific and guarantee greater connectivity with the rest of the world. Analyze.
(c) The tariff threats have pushed India and the European Union closer. Evaluate the India-EU partnership.
7. Answer the following questions:
7.(a) India continues to invoke its time-tested policy of strategic autonomy vis-à-vis both the United States of America and Russia by rejecting the US' offer of mediation on the Kashmir issue and by refusing to criticize Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine. Comment.
(b) Trump's unilateral imposition of reciprocal tariffs on scores of countries poses an impending threat to the future of the rule-based multilateral global trading system under the WTO. What options do the WTO members have to salvage the organization?
(c) Non-Alignment 2.0 underscores India's unique aspiration to emerge as a site for an alternative universality. Comment.
8.(a) The decision to conduct Population Census-2027 has reopened the debate on delimitation in India. Discuss its various aspects.
8.(b) With reference to Nehruvian perspective of planning and economic development, examine how the early phase of economic planning in India has laid the foundation of modern India’s economic growth.
8.(c) Illustrate with examples how political parties in India have played a crucial role in drawing the historically disadvantaged groups into the mainstream political system.
📜 PAPER - II
SECTION "A"
1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:(a) Discuss the psychological approach to the study of comparative politics.
(b) "Neo-liberalism highlighted neo-realism’s dark view of international politics." Comment.
(c) Explain the non-traditional security threats in the context of food and environmental crises.
(d) Discuss the political socialization of open and closed societies.
(e) Comment on the Red Lipstick Movement in the context of feminist rights.
2. Answer the following questions:
2.(a) The world is currently experiencing a twin process of "democratic backsliding" and "democratic backlash." How would you explain this paradox?
2.(b) The withdrawal of the United States of America from the World Health Organization is set to have far-reaching impacts on global health. Reimagining the existing WHO is vital for the global health agenda. Discuss.
(c) Transnational actors have qualitatively transformed the world by the way of their fresh insights and actions. Illustrate your answer with suitable examples.
3. Answer the following questions:
3.(a) Recently, centrist and centre-left political parties have been facing setbacks, while centre-right parties have been in ascendancy the world over. Comment.
(b) Collective security and responsibility to protect (R2P) are similar but different in scope, goals, and methods. Explain.
(c) A Global South-sensitive model of globalization would prevent the danger emanating from overcentralized globalization. Discuss.
4. Answer the following questions:
(b) Collective security and responsibility to protect (R2P) are similar but different in scope, goals, and methods. Explain.
(c) A Global South-sensitive model of globalization would prevent the danger emanating from overcentralized globalization. Discuss.
4. Answer the following questions:
4.(a) Latin America has made moderate success in countering the US-led global economic order by forming various organizations emphasizing regional sovereignty, economic integration, and alternative development. Discuss.
4.(b) How successful has the 'ASEAN Plus Three' been in addressing regional problems? Support your answer with specific examples.
(c) "Trump's return to the White House is a jolt to push the European Union to invest in its own defense and economic and technological revival." Comment.
5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:
(a) China's growing footprint and a tangible shift in power dynamics in Bangladesh has weakened India's leverage in Dhaka. Comment.
(b) Would you agree with the contention that India's inclination to lean on a 'more aggressive hyper-realist posture' has gained a new momentum in the aftermath of the Pulwama terrorist strike? Comment.
4.(b) How successful has the 'ASEAN Plus Three' been in addressing regional problems? Support your answer with specific examples.
(c) "Trump's return to the White House is a jolt to push the European Union to invest in its own defense and economic and technological revival." Comment.
SECTION "B"
5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:
(a) China's growing footprint and a tangible shift in power dynamics in Bangladesh has weakened India's leverage in Dhaka. Comment.
(b) Would you agree with the contention that India's inclination to lean on a 'more aggressive hyper-realist posture' has gained a new momentum in the aftermath of the Pulwama terrorist strike? Comment.
(c) For India, a multipolar world order would also mean a multipolar Asia. Comment.
(d) Does the Non-Aligned Movement have any future in the wake of India's growing indifference towards it?
(e) Historical ties between India and Japan grew into a 'special strategic and global partnership'. Comment.
(d) Does the Non-Aligned Movement have any future in the wake of India's growing indifference towards it?
(e) Historical ties between India and Japan grew into a 'special strategic and global partnership'. Comment.
6. Answer the following questions:
6.(a) Critically analyze the different phases of India's foreign policy since independence. How justified, do you think, is S. Jaishankar's classification of the current phase as the phase of 'energetic diplomacy'?
(b) India maintains strong ties with countries that will assure a free and open Indo-Pacific and guarantee greater connectivity with the rest of the world. Analyze.
(c) The tariff threats have pushed India and the European Union closer. Evaluate the India-EU partnership.
7. Answer the following questions:
7.(a) India continues to invoke its time-tested policy of strategic autonomy vis-à-vis both the United States of America and Russia by rejecting the US' offer of mediation on the Kashmir issue and by refusing to criticize Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine. Comment.
(b) Trump's unilateral imposition of reciprocal tariffs on scores of countries poses an impending threat to the future of the rule-based multilateral global trading system under the WTO. What options do the WTO members have to salvage the organization?
(c) Non-Alignment 2.0 underscores India's unique aspiration to emerge as a site for an alternative universality. Comment.
8. Answer the following questions:
8.(a) India's reluctance to perceive any 'existential threat' inevitably made the multilateral path to nuclear security a 'default option' until it decided to cross the nuclear Rubicon in 1998. Identify and analyze some of the major reasons behind this shift in India's position on the nuclear question.
(b) Discuss some of the key drivers of India's new interests in Africa, which might help in developing a long-term comparative advantage over China.
(c) Discuss the potential role India can play in initiating a possible phase of trilateral economic engagement among India, China, and Nepal.
8.(a) India's reluctance to perceive any 'existential threat' inevitably made the multilateral path to nuclear security a 'default option' until it decided to cross the nuclear Rubicon in 1998. Identify and analyze some of the major reasons behind this shift in India's position on the nuclear question.
(b) Discuss some of the key drivers of India's new interests in Africa, which might help in developing a long-term comparative advantage over China.
(c) Discuss the potential role India can play in initiating a possible phase of trilateral economic engagement among India, China, and Nepal.