PAPER -1
Q1. Comment on the following in about 150 words: (50 marks)
- Feminist critique of the State
- Affirmative action
- Equality of outcome as a political idea
- Tools of legitimation of the State
- S. Mill’s ideas on women suffrage
Q2.
- How has Rawls enriched the idea of justice in liberalism? (20)
- Examine the importance of behavioural approach in political theory. What led to its decline? (15)
- Can there be universal conception of human rights? Give your arguments. (15)
Q3.
- Explain the Aristotelian view of politics. To what extent do you think it has contributed to the development of modern-day constitutional democracies? (20)
- “When a nation becomes devoid of arts and learning, it invites poverty.” (Sir Syed Ahmad Khan). In the light of this statement, assess the role of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan as a reformer in modern India. (15)
- “Political ideology is primarily concerned with the allocation and utilization of power.” Comment. (15)
Q4.
- Do you think that the Buddhist traditions have lent greater ethical foundation to the ancient Indian political thought? Give your arguments. (20)
- Marx’s concept of ‘alienation’ is an essential part of the reality in capitalism. Explain. (15)
- “Free and fair deliberation is key to the foundation of democracy.” Explain. (15)
Q5. Answer the following in about 150 words: (50 marks)
- “The Constitution of India is a product of a historical process, rich with constitutional antecedents.” Comment.
- “The Constitution makers faced the great task of forging a common national identity in the face of unparalleled social and cultural diversity in India.” Comment.
- Mention the founding principles that define India’s Constitution.
- Analyze the Marxist perspective of the nature of Indian National Movement.
- Underline the significance of the first constitutional amendment.
Q6.
- “Constitutionally reconciling the Fundamental Rights with the Directive Principles of State Policy has led to frequent amendments of the Constitution and judicial interventions.” Comment. (20)
- The role of the President of India becomes more significant during a minority government and a coalition government. Explain. (15)
- Do you think that despite having significant limitations the Panchayati Raj Institutions have strengthened the process of democratic decentralization? Give your views. (15)
Q7.
- “The Indian party system is shaped by a complex interaction of the country’s federal structure, electoral system and social cleavages.” Explain. (20)
- Do you think that there has been a gradual shift in the basis on which the demands for the creation of new States have been raised in different regions of India? Explain. (15)
- What explains India’s modest improvements in social development outcomes even as the rate of growth has accelerated since the initiation of economic reforms? (15)
Q8.
- “The success of electoral democracy can partly be attributed to the status and role of the Election Commission of India.” Explain. (20)
- Examine the evolution of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India as a constitutional court. (15)
- Explain how caste as a social category is also becoming a political category in the democratic politics of India. (15)
PAPER -2
Q1. Answer the following in about 150 words: (50 marks)
- Discuss the political economy approach to the comparative analysis of politics.
- “Political parties and pressure groups are sine qua non of democracy.” Comment.
- “Marxist approach to the study of international relations has lost its relevance in the post-cold war era.” Comment.
- What measures have been undertaken by the United Nations for its reforms?
- Discuss the five proposals made by India in the recent COP-26 conference held in Glasgow.
Q2.
- “The post-colonial state was thought of an entity that stood outside and above society as an autonomous agency.” Explain. (20)
- Discuss the emergence of neo-realism and its basic tenets. (15)
- What is ‘complex interdependence’? Discuss the role of transnational actors in the international system. (15)
Q3.
- Explain the impact of electoral systems and cleavages in shaping party systems with reference to developing countries. (20)
- What is globalisation? Why is there an intense debate about globalisation and its consequences? (15)
- Critically examine the decline of the United States of America as a hegemon and its implications for the changing international political order. (15)
Q4.
- The modernization thesis asserts that affluence breeds stable democracy. How do you explain the success of India being the world’s largest democracy as an exceptional case? (20)
- Explain the success of ASEAN as a regional organisation. (15)
- Explain India’s relations with the European Union in the context of Brexit. (15)
Q5. Answer the following in about 150 words: (50 marks)
- Discuss the strategic implications of India’s ‘Look East Policy’ transforming into ‘Act East Policy’.
- Explain the philosophical foundations of India’s foreign policy.
- Explain India’s position on the waiver of intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines in WTO.
- Write about the growing significance of QUAD.
- How does the recent takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban impact India’s strategic interests?
Q6.
- “Non-alignment was little more than a rational strategy on the part of a materially weak India to maximise its interests with a bipolar distribution of global power.” Comment. (20)
- Examine the Geo-strategic points of contention in the bilateral relationship between India and China. (15)
- Write a brief analysis of the ethnic conflicts and cross-border migrations along India-Myanmar and India-Bangladesh borders. (15)
Q7.
- Why South Asia is considered as the world’s politically and economically least integrated region? Explain. (20)
- How do the constituent states influence the foreign policy making process in India? (15)
- Examine the evolution of India’s role in the global nuclear order. (15)
Q8.
- ‘Relations between India and Russia are rooted in history, mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation.’ Discuss. (20)
- Discuss the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ as set by the United Nations. (15)
- Identify the drivers of India’s new interest in Africa. (15)