UPSC PSIR Optional 2017 — Question Paper
The complete paper as UPSC set it, Paper I and Paper II. Tap a question to open its own page — the flow snapshot showing how the answer moves, and the handwritten answer.
Comment on the following in about 150 words: (50 marks)
aAccording to Sri Aurobindo. Swaraj is a necessary condition for India to accomplish its destined goal.10 marksAnswer →bNeo-Liberal perspective of state10 marksAnswer →
dEco-Feminism10 marksAnswer →eHobbesian notion of Political Obligation10 marksAnswer →
aRawls’ theory of justice is both contractual and distributive. Examine.20 marksAnswer →bEverywhere, inequality is a cause of revolution – Aristotle. Comment.15 marksAnswer →cDefine Socialism. Discuss the salient features of Fabian Socialism.15 marksAnswer →
aWhat do you understand by Multiculturalism? Discuss Bhikhu Parekh’s view on Multiculturalism.20 marksAnswer →bDeliberative democracy does not have its salience without participation and participatory democracy does not have its credence without deliberations. Comment.15 marksAnswer →cDifferentiate between Freedom and Liberty. Discuss Marx’s notion of freedom.15 marksAnswer →
aPolitical democracy could not last unless social democracy lay at its base – B.R. Ambedkar. Comment.20 marksAnswer →bWrite a brief note on The End of History debate.15 marksAnswer →cWhat do you understand by the notion of Statecraft? Discuss the theory of statecraft as given by Kautilya.15 marksAnswer →
Comment on the following in 150 words: (50 marks)
aThe success of Mahatma Gandhi lay in transforming both political and non-political movements into a unified nationalist movement.10 marksAnswer →bRight to privacy is an intrinsic part of the right to life.10 marksAnswer →cIndian federation has moved from cooperative federation to competitive federation.10 marksAnswer →dState subvention/funding may be an effective instrument in strengthening electoral democracy in India.10 marksAnswer →eIn the post-liberalization era, Indian politics is moving from ascriptive politics to developmental politics.10 marksAnswer →
aDifferentiate parliamentary supremacy from parliamentary sovereignty. Would you consider the Indian Parliament as a Sovereign Parliament? Examine.20 marksAnswer →bHas the 73rd Constitutional Amendment empowered women in panchayats in India? Discuss15 marksAnswer →cReligion is still an important factor in Indian politics. Discuss.15 marksAnswer →
bHow is the President of India elected? Outline the salient characteristics of the electoral college of the Indian President.15 marksAnswer →cExamine the role of the National Commission for Minorities in preserving, promoting and protecting the rights of minorities in India.15 marksAnswer →
aJudiciary has acquired the role of both, a legislature and an executive in recent years. Examine with suitable examples.20 marksAnswer →bWhat do you understand by Green Revolution? Do you think that a Second Green Revolution is needed to adequately address the agrarian challenges in contemporary India? Examine.10 marksAnswer →cDifferentiate Moderate Nationalism from Extremist/Militant Nationalism in terms of their objectives and means.10 marksAnswer →
Answer the following in 150 words: (50 marks)
aExplain the Political-Sociological Approach in the field of comparative politics and discuss its limitations.10 marksAnswer →bCritically examine the Globalisation in the past 25 years from the perspectives of the Western world.10 marksAnswer →cExamine the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) movement in developed societies and how it is affecting the political participation in developing societies.10 marksAnswer →
eGive an assessment of the Feminist critique of contemporary global issues.10 marksAnswer →
bHow has the development of Global Capitalism changed the nature of socialist economies and developing societies?15 marksAnswer →cDiscuss the changing nature of modern state with reference to transnational actors.15 marksAnswer →
bDo you endorse the view that the end of Bipolarity and the rise of multiple regional organisations has made Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) more or less irrelevant?15 marksAnswer →cDo you agree with the view that despite the limitations in the functioning of the UN, it has distinguished and unique achievements to its credit?15 marksAnswer →
aThe recent move of USA to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement is a setback in the consensus achieved on protecting the world environment. In this context, assess the future prospectives on climate control.?20 marksAnswer →bHow has ‘BREXIT’ affected the regionalisation process initiated by European Union and what could be its likely impacts in the regionalisation process of world politics?15 marksAnswer →
Answer the following in 150 words: (50 marks)
bWhat are the impediments in the development of South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)?10 marksAnswer →c“The Treaty of Perpetual Peace and Friendship between India and Bhutan needs to be revised with more pragmatic, realistic obligations and responsibilities.” Comment.10 marksAnswer →d“India has been the largest and consistent country contributing to the UN peacekeepers worldwide.” Examine India’s role in this perspective.10 marksAnswer →eHas the recent Indo-Israeli relationships given a new dynamics to India’s stand on Palestinian statehood?10 marksAnswer →
aSuggest measures so that India’s partnership with Africa becomes a true symbol of South-South Cooperation, delivering clear-cut economic and political dividends to both sides of the equation.20 marksAnswer →b“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.15 marksAnswer →
bThe recent differences between India and Russia are the result of misconceptions than facts. Elucidate.15 marksAnswer →c‘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.15 marksAnswer →