{"id":243,"date":"2026-02-18T16:33:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T11:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/?p=243"},"modified":"2026-08-11T08:36:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T03:06:00","slug":"upsc-psir-optional-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/upsc-psir-optional-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"UPSC PSIR Optional 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UPSC Civil Services · Mains · PSIR Optional<\/span><\/p>\n

UPSC PSIR Optional 2018 — Question Paper<\/h1>\n

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.<\/p>\n

56<\/b> questions<\/span>Paper I & Paper II<\/span><\/div>\n
2025<\/a>2024<\/a>2023<\/a>2022<\/a>2021<\/a>2020<\/a>2019<\/a>2018<\/span>2017<\/a>2016<\/a>2015<\/a>PYQ Finder →<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Paper<\/span>I<\/b><\/div>\n
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1<\/span><\/p>\n

Comment on the following in about 150 words: (50 marks)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a<\/span>John Stuart Mill is a \u2018reluctant democrat\u2019. \u2013 C. L. Wayper<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>b<\/span>Decline of Political Theory<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>c<\/span>Distributive Justice<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>d<\/span>Substantive Justice<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>e<\/span>\u201cNothing against the State, nothing over it, nothing beyond it.\u201d \u2013 Mussolini<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a<\/span>Critically examine the neo-liberal theory of State.<\/span>20 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>b<\/span>Analyse John Rawls justification of discrimination to achieve the goals of Justic\u0435.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>c<\/span>Equality means fair treatment rather than equal treatment. Comment.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a<\/span>What do you understand by three generations of Human Rights?<\/span>20 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>b<\/span>Critically examine Macpherson\u2019s views on Democracy.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>c<\/span>Explain the relationship between power, authority and legitimacy.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a<\/span>John Locke is the father of liberalism. Explain.<\/span>20 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>b<\/span>Discuss Ambedkar\u2019s ideas on \u2018annihilation of caste\u2019.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>c<\/span>Critically examine Machiavelli\u2019s views on religion and politics.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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5<\/span><\/p>\n

Comment the following in 150 words: (50 marks)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a<\/span>Revolt of 1857 is a \u2018Sepoy Mutiny\u2019 or \u2018First War of Independence\u2019.<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>b<\/span>Indian Constitution is a \u2018Lawyers\u2019 Paradise\u2019- Ivor Jennings<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>c<\/span>New Panchayat Raj is an effective instrument for women empowerment.<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>d<\/span>Implementation of GST and NEET is a major challenge to Indian Federalism.<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>e<\/span>Political personalities are more significant than political parties in India.<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
a<\/span>Whether judicial activism has undermined or strengthened Parliamentary Democracy in India? Discuss.<\/span>20 marks<\/span><\/div>\n

b<\/span>Do the Lieutenant Governors have more powers than the Governors of the States? Explain.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>c<\/span>Critically examine the ethnic conflicts in North-East India.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a<\/span>Examine the provisions of Panchayat Extension Services Act (PESA), 1996.<\/span>20 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

b<\/span>Analyse the arguments in favour and against the lateral entry into higher civil services in India.<\/span>15 marks<\/span><\/div>\n

c<\/span>Discuss asymmetrical federalism in India.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a<\/span>Examine the various causes of agrarian crisis in India.<\/span>20 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

b<\/span>Explain the increasing role of regional political parties in the national politics.<\/span>15 marks<\/span><\/div>\n

c<\/span>Critically analyse the environmentalist movement in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Paper<\/span>II<\/b><\/div>\n
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1<\/span><\/p>\n

Comment on the following in 150 words: (50 marks)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a<\/span>Describe the changing nature of Comparative Politics. Briefly explain the Political Economy approach to the study of Comparative Politics.<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>b<\/span>Describe the changing nature of the State in the developing societies in the context of inclusive growth in the 21st century.<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>c<\/span>How big a role does identity play in determining political participation in the developing countries? Discuss your answer with suitable illustrations.<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>d<\/span>Bring out the major differences between the Classical Realism of Hans Morgenthau and the Neorealism of Kenneth Waltz.<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>e<\/span>What, according to Joseph Nye, are the major sources of a country\u2019s soft power? Discuss its relevance in the contemporary world politics.<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
a<\/span>Discuss the significance of Non-Aligned Movement as a unique contribution of the Non-Western world to World Politics.<\/span>20 marks<\/span><\/div>\n

b<\/span>Discuss the consequences of Trump\u2019s \u201cAmerica First\u201d and Xi\u2019s \u201cChinese Dream\u201d on World Politics.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>c<\/span>\u201cSome feel Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are a vital new road to economic growth, whereas others feel they perpetuate underdevelopment.\u201d Discuss.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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3<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a<\/span>Discuss the relevance of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on the security of women in conflict zones.<\/span>20 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>b<\/span>Would you agree that the on-going debates on international environmental politics continue to be marred by a new North-South ideological divide over historical responsibility and developmental model? Illustrate your answer with suitable examples.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>c<\/span>\u201cSince its inception the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has failed to deliver on its promises.\u201d What initiatives should be taken to reinvigorate the organization?<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a<\/span>Critically examine the notion of \u201cAsian Values\u201d in the context of the on-going debates on human rights.<\/span>20 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>b<\/span>Discuss the implications of the Trump-Kim Singapore Summit on the prospects of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

c<\/span>Critically examine the Functionalist approach to the study of International Relations.<\/span>15 marks<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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5<\/span><\/p>\n

Answer the following in about 150 words: (50 marks)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a<\/span>Do you agree with the view that the Indian Foreign Policy is increasingly being shaped by the Neoliberal outlook? Elaborate<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>b<\/span>\u201cIndia is often said to have a rich strategic culture.\u201d Discuss.<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

c<\/span>Evaluate India\u2019s stand on the recent Rohingya refugee issue.<\/span>10 marks<\/span><\/div>\n

d<\/span>\u201cIndia\u2019s currant foreign policy marks significant qualitative shifts from that of previous regimes\u201d. Discuss<\/span>10 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

e<\/span>Analyse the significance of India\u2019s Look East Policy in the light of concerns of the indigenous peoples of North-east India.<\/span>10 marks<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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6<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
a<\/span>India\u2019s coalitional diplomacy within the WTO has earned it wide appreciation. What accounts for the success of India\u2019s coalitional diplomacy?<\/span>20 marks<\/span><\/div>\n
b<\/span>\u201cIndia\u2019s capacity building programmes under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) has earned much goodwill for it in Africa.\u201d Discuss<\/span>15 marks<\/span><\/div>\n
c<\/span>\u201cIndia\u2019s Research and Information System for Developing Countries\u201d (RIS) is a major initiative in the area of South-South Cooperation. Discuss.<\/span>15 marks<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
a<\/span>Discuss the role of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in promoting India\u2019s soft power abroad.<\/span>20 marks<\/span><\/div>\n

b<\/span>Discuss the role of Indian diaspora in promoting Indo-US relations.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a>c<\/span>Discuss the various impediments in India\u2019s way to a permanent seat in the Security Council.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

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8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

a<\/span>Do you think that India\u2019s capacity building role in Afghanistan has shrunk the strategic space for Pakistan there? Discuss.<\/span>20 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

b<\/span>Critically assess the evolving convergence of India and China in the areas of trade and environment.<\/span>15 marks<\/span><\/div>\n

c<\/span>Do you agree that the growing assertiveness of China is leading to multilayered Indo-Japan relations? Comment.<\/span>15 marks<\/span>Answer →<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Every linked question opens its own page in the PSIR PYQ Vault<\/a> — a flow snapshot showing how the answer moves, and the handwritten answer itself. To search across all ten years by year, marks or syllabus topic, use the PYQ Finder<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UPSC Civil Services · Mains · PSIR Optional UPSC PSIR Optional 2018 — 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. 56 questionsPaper I & Paper II 20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015PYQ […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"fx_brief_v2":"","fx_brief_issue":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pyqs"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=243"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3428,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243\/revisions\/3428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}