IAS Mains Political Science 2023 Expected Questions for 2023 Exam
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- Modern plurarist democrartic states pose great threat to fabric of nation state.
- Assessment of post-colonial understanding of state.
- Describe nature of modern state & problem from authority & legitimacy
- Hamza Alavi over developed state
- “… political theory is not an escape mechanism but an arduous calling.” (John Plamanetz)
- “All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility.” (J. S. Mill)
- “Nationalism is not a mere political programme but a way of life like religion.” (Aurobindo Ghose)
- “Personal is political”
- “Original position”
- “Covenants without swords are but words, and of no strength to secure a man at all.”
- Sri Aurobindo՚s “idea of freedom”
- Sri Ahmed Khan as modernizer
- Discuss the communitarian critique of liberalism.
- Examine Ambedkar՚s critique of Marxism.
- Explain, as per Gramsci, the distinction between hegemony and domination.
- Analyze the relationship between natural rights and human rights. 20
- Examine the significance of Dharma in Ancient Indian political thought. 15
- Discuss in what sense Max understands of state can be considered as materialistic. 15
- Explain Berlin՚s notion of value pluralism.
- Analyse, as per Kautilya, the Saptanga theory of the state.
- Comment on the Assertion of Laslett that Filmer and not Hobbes was the main antagonist of Locke.
- Marxist understanding of India՚s freedom movement
- Significance of the Preamble
- Decline of Indian Parliament
- Gandhian perspective of development and its contemporary relevance.
- Compare and contrast Chipko Movement with Narmada Bachao Andolan.
- Explain the phenomenon of ethnic politics in India in recent times.
- Analyse the significance of Article 32 of the Indian Constitution.
- Examine the role of Supreme Court as the final interpreter of the Indian Constitution.
- “Cooperative federalism produces a strong central, or 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. 20m
- Explain to what extent the concept of “one-party dominance” (W. H. Morris-Jones) model is relevant in Indian policy today. 20m
- Analyze the position of the Prime Minister of India in a coalition regime. 20m
- Examine the significance of the verdicts of the Supreme Court in the Golaknath and Keshavananda Bharati cases for an understanding of the scope of Article 368 in regard to Fundamental Rights.
- Point out and comment on the historic importance of the document “Towards Equality (1974) , for women՚s movement in India.”
- Examine the changing structure of Panchayati Raj instituions with special reference to the 73rd Constituiton Amendment Act.
- Compare and contrast social movements in advanced industrial and developing societies.
- Give reasons for Regionalism of world politics.
- Compare and Contrast Sin-India approaches to global Environmental concerns.
- What roles do norms, taboos and epistemic play in the context of nuclear proliferation?
- Substitantiate APEC as a regional economic and trade arrangement.
- Identify the major changes in the International Political economy in post-Cold War period.
- Identify the elements of change in India՚s foreign policy.
- Sketch the leadership role of India in WTO negotiations.
- Examine the recent developments in India-Japan relationship.
- Bring out the objectives of India seeking permanent seat in Security Council
- Is India՚s nuclear doctrine a viable one?
- Is the rise of social movement a sign of opening up of popular space in political process or decline of representative politics? Examine.
- Highlight the major features of Non-alignment 2.0 document
- Identify the role and place of Gender in the global economy.
- Identify the challenges to American hegemony in post-Soviet world.
- What does the pace of nuclear proliferation in post-Cold War suggest?
- State the place of Gender Justice in global agenda.
- “Global commons belong to global society and require global attention” .Comment.
- Sketch the journey of global political economy from Washington consensus to the present.
- Examine major principles of State centric world views.
- How does Marxist approach explain contemporary International Relations?
- ‘National Interests are Dynamic’ . Identify the dynamic nature of National Interests in the contemporary world polities with suitable examples.
- ‘The economic content of India՚s foreign trade is increasingly growing’ . Substantiate the statement with economic diplomatic engagements of India in the last decade.
- Write a note on Intellectual precursors of Realism.
- ‘Building’ peace by pieces ‘is the basis of functionalism’ . Elaborate.
- Transnational actors have become driving forces of global politics . Elaborate.
- ‘A minimal State ensures maximum of Individual Liberty’ . Examine the concept of Minimal State.
- ‘Collective Security and Collective Defense are the institutional and State mechanism to sustain the domination of powers that be in International politics’ . Elaborate.
- Examine the conditions that are required for the maintenance of legitimacy in modern societies.
- Evaluate the contributions of Buddhist tradition to Indian political thought.
- Explicate the conception of justice in the critiques of communitarian theorists.
- Examine the conception of the State in the ideologies of Fascism and Marxism.
- How is liberty a precondition for equality? Explicate the relationship between equality and liberty.
- Explain how Machiavelli՚s application of empirical method to human affairs marks an important stage in the evolution of political science.
- Central to Aristotle՚s political thought is his classification of the different types of political constitutions in the Politics. Evaluate.
- Explicate the features of deliberative democracy.
- The dilemmas of the human rights movements in India
- Relation between ethnicity and democracy in India
- Increasingly higher focus on Directive Principles of State Policy
- Marginalization of the left ideology in India
- The role of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in promoting good governance
- Discuss the working of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to curb violence against Dalits
- Examine the scope and limitations of women՚s movements in India.
- Explain how peasant movements promoted nationalist ideas during the struggle for Indian independence.
- Discuss the nature of reforms of the electoral process in India and explain the further scope for reforms.
- Examine the debates on the appointment procedure of judges to the higher judiciary in India
- Explain how the participation of women impacted the functioning of rural local bodies in India.
- Explain how pressure groups have been influencing public policy-making with suitable illustrations.
- What are the provisions for constitutional protection of right to freedom of religion and how far have they succeeded in promoting secularism in India?
- Account for the changes in the socio-economic profile of legislators during last one decade in India.
- Party system in India is neither western nor indigenous. Explain
- In what respect is the new social movement new in nature? Discuss.
- Do you agree that the U. N. has failed to contain transnational terrorism? Elaborate your answer with examples.
- “The Feminist approach to international politics is biased.” Comment.
- “Ukraine crisis is a product of power politics and geo-politics.” Comment.
- “Both the community of property and the community of families. -tend to make them truly guardians.” (PLATO)
- “Since then some men are slaves is advantageous to any one, then it is just to mike him a slave.” (ARISTOTLE)
- “… and in the actions of men and especially of princes, from which there is co appeal the end justifies the means.” (MACHIAVBLLI)
- “Whoever refuses to obey the General Will … will be forced to be free.” (ROUSSEAU)
- “We must therefore worship the State as the manifestation of the Divine on earth.” (HEGBL)
- “The only freedom that deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good, in our own way.” (J. S. MILL)
- “Will, not force, is the basis of the State.” (T. H. GRBSN)
- “The history of all hitherto existing societies is the history of class-struggles.” (MARX)
- “Behaviouralism has revolutionised Political Science.” Comment
- The world would be a much better place if the concept of national sovereignty is given up. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.
- Attempt a critique of the right to resist the State and bring out the place of revolution in a democratic State.
- Liberty and Equality are the two contradictory concepts equally dear to the human mind.Comment.
- “There is no theory of Democracy; it is at best a workable compromise between competing and conflicting interests.” Elucidate.
- What is Fabian Socialism? How does it differ from Scientific Socialism?
- Make a critical and comparative assessment of the structural-functional approach and the Marxian approach.
- “Political socialization is the process of induction into Political Culture.” Elucidate and bring out the role played by the modern State in the process.
- Account for the two trends – secular and religious – in the evolution of Indian nationalism.
- Explain the influence of British constitutionalism on the Indian Constitution.
- “The Indian federation is a heavily-centered one; but the States are not mere provinces.” Comment
- “The Indian bureaucracy still exhibits British orientations in its though, action and behaviour.” Justify the statement
- “India has parties but no party-system.” Discuss. (250 Words)
- “Secularization of Indian politics is a myth; caste is the determinant of Indian politics.” Comment. (250 Words)
- “Over the decades, the primary objective of India՚s foreign policy has been the creation of a stable inner balance on the subcontinent in which India, as the Principal Power, would play an integrative role.” Examine the statement. (250 Words)
- “After the Chinese aggression (1962) some of the most significant changes in Indian foreign policy took place. However, they were changes within the overall framework of continuity.” Elucidate. (250 Words)
- Discuss the chief characteristics of the systems approach with special reference to Kaplan and explain its impact on the development of International Relations. (250 Words)
- “National interest is the key concept in foreign policy.In essence, it amounts to the sum total of all national value” (Frankel) Explain (250 Words)
- The balance of power and policies aiming at its preservation are not only inevitable but are an essential stabilizing factor in a society of sovereign nations. (Morgenthau) .Comment. (250 Words)
- “International law undoubtedly functions as a regulatory and limiting mechanism in international politics but only in an intermittent and partially effective fashion- it large measure this incomplete effect is due to certain key characteristics of international law as a legal system.” Examine this statement. (250 Words)
- “The non-aligned movement has made fundamental contributions to the theory and practice of international relations, and considerably modified the character of both.” Discuss. (250 Words)
- Write an essay on the compulsions of a new international Economic Order. (400 Words)
- Bring out your perspectives on the indications of the emergence of a global civil society. (300 Words)
- Examine the post-Modernist critique of Realism in international politics. (200 Words)
- Examine the arguments in the normative v⟋s Empirical debate in the study of Political Theory. (300 Words)
- “We believe that as a matter of principle each member of society has an inviolability founded on justice.” (Rawls) Comment. (300 Words)
- Analyze the contemporary trends in the nature of the State in developing societies. (300 Words)
- Analyze the liberal perspective on Indian National Movement. (300 Words)
- Discuss the landmarks in the Constitutional development in India till 1858 (300 Words)
- Comment on ‘Right against Exploitation’ under the Indian Constitution. (300 Words)
- Critically analyze the Gandhian model of development. How it differs from the Neharuvian model of development? (300 Words)
- “In spite of the gains of the Green Revolution, Indian agriculture lags behind” Do you agree with this statement. Give reasons in support of your answer. (300 Words)
- Comment on cooperative federalism in India, its problems and prospects. (300 Words)
- Bring out the common and unique features of the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution of India. Do you think that these amendments would contribute the achievement of gender and social justice at the grass root level? (300 Words)
- Critically analyze the impact of Globalization on Indian economy. (300 Words)
- “The Parliament has declined in the contemporary times.” Do you agree with the statement? Give reasons in support of your answer. (300 Words)
- Comment on Public Interest Litigation. (200 Words)
- Critically analyze the role of the Prime Minister in the era of coalition politics. (300 Words)
- Analyze the jurisdiction of Supreme Court of India. (300 Words)
- Critically analyse the role of Governor. Is the governor an agent of Center? (300 Words)
- Comment on the Gram Sabha under the constitution 73rd Amendment Act. (300 Words)
- Examine the effect of caste and community in Indian politics. Do you foresee their continued relevance in country՚s politics? (300 Words)
- “Indian secularism is a myth” .Comment. (300 Words)
- Discuss whether coalition politics has led to a different pattern of federalism in India. (300 Words)
- Discuss the structure and functions of the Urban Local Government Institutions. (300 Words)
- Assess in detail the prospects of the emergence of a nuclear -weapons free world. (300 Words)
- “Technology is an element of national power.” Comment (300 Words)
- “A well-established system of collective security is a guarantee of world peace” Explain. (300 Words)
- Discuss the realist and neo realists approach to the study of International Relations (300 Words)
- Critically analyze the crisis in political parties in India. (300 Words)
- Analyze the impact of growing regional political parties on India՚s politics. (300 Words)
- Critically analyze the working of human rights movement in India. (300 Words)
- Critically analyze the nature of Women՚s Movements in India. (300 Words)
- Comment on Marxist Approach to international relations. (200 Words)
- Comment on Decision- making approach. (200 Words)
- Analyze the emergence of environmental movements in India. (300 Words)
- Analyze the nature of New social movements in India. (300 Words)
- Would it be to India՚s benefit if it were to pursue a more serious relationship with South- East Asia? Critically evaluate. (300 Words)
- Do you think that UN needs reforms? If yes, what are the reforms needed in the UN. (300 Words)
- There is urgent need to democratize the Global Economy. Do you agree with this view? If yes discuss various ways to democratize Global Economy (300 Words)
- Do you agree with the stand that the Non-Alignment Movement needs to be reinvented. (300 Words)
- Assess the problems being faced by India on account of illegal migration into the country. (300 Words)
- Critically analyze the challenges to successful peacekeeping by UN. (300 Words)
- Critically examine the various controversial issues in the functioning of the WTO from the point of view of developing countries particularly India. (300 Words)
- Discuss the nature of emerging world order. (300 Words)
- Liberalization and Globalization are feared by the developing countries as Trojan Horses of developed countries. Elucidate. (300 Words)
- “Few agencies of International co-operation have been more successful in tending the welfare of humanity than ILO.” Discuss the organization and activities of the ILO in the light of above statement. (300 Words)
- Comment on ASEAN as a third world model of regional cooperation. (300 Words)
- Discuss India ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. (300 Words)
- Analyze India Pakistan river water disputes. (300 Words)
- Discuss India՚s border dispute with South Asian neighbour. (300 Words)
- Analyze the Confidence Building Measures adopted India China to solve Border Dispute. (300 Words)
- “Indo-US relations in contemporary times are based on mutual trust and cooperation.” In the light of this statement analyze the prospects of Indo-US relations in the contemporary times. (300 Words)
- “The nuclear pact with Russia goes far beyond the bounds of the 123 pact with the US.” Comment. (300 Words)
- Do you agree that a new global south has emerged in the contemporary times? Give reasons in support of your answer. What can be India՚s position in the Global South? (300 Words)
- Critically analyse India՚s relationship with Africa in the contemporary times. (300 Words)
- Examine the trends in India՚s relations with the European Union. (300 Words)
- Analyze the emerging areas of cooperation between India and Japan. (300 Words)
- Analyze India՚s role as a protector of interests of the developing countries in the WTO negotiations. (300 Words)
- Examine the emerging areas of cooperation between India and Japan. (200 Words)
- Comment on impact of Nuclear Weapons on international relations. (300 Words)
- Analyze India- Afghanistan relations in the contemporary times. (300 Words)
- Critically analyze India- Israel Defence Cooperation. (300 Words)
- “India՚s nuclear policy has been guided by national interest and supported by national consensus. “.Comment (300 Words)
- Locke is regarded as the pioneer of individualism which later developed into liberalism.
- Equality of resources (Source: Ronald Dworkin՚s conception of equality)
- Alienation is the lynchpin of Marxism (200 words)
- Early Marx and later Marx. (200 words)
- Comment on productive forces and production relations. (200 words)
- Comment on overdeveloped state. (200 words)
- Explain the concept of “Congress System” as explained by Rajni Kothari. Can we say this is no more a relevant model to explain Indian Politics? (200 words)
- What do you mean by “relative autonomy of the state” . Give a brief idea about the Poulantzas Miliband debate regarding this. (200 words)
- The notion of the encumbered self is the defining aspect of the communitarian critique of liberalism. Explain. (200 words)
- Distinguish between Berlin՚s notion of negative and positive liberty. (200 words)
- What are new social movements? Explain how they are different from other social movements. (200 words)
- European Union is a normative political actor.Comment. (200 words)
- BIPA is the best alternative to multilateral trade negotiations.Comment. (200 words)
- The reason for Saarc՚s ineffectiveness is the absence of economic integration of south asia. (200 words)
- Marx turns Hegel upside down.Comment on the basis of what Marx appropriates from Hegel and what differences Marx has with Hegel. (200 words)
- Do you think Aristotle can be regarded as a social democrat? If so, why? (200 words)
- Paternal despotism is very important for John Stuart Mill to defend colonialism.Comment. (200 words)
- Write short notes on the following in about 150 words each
- One Dimensional Man
- Equality of resources
- Fact-Value dichotomy in political science
- Write short notes on the following in 150 words
a) Location of Hegemony b Knowledge is Power
- Answer in 300 words
a) Do you agree that pluralist democracies have posed a great threat to the fabric of nation-state? Substantiate
b) Explain how Mill tries to subsume justice under the concept of utility.
- What is the challenges Political theory faces in the present times. Suggest remedies to overcome it. (300 Words)
- “The true source of right is duty” – Gandhi.Comment (300 Words)
- Do you agree that the Behavioural approach appeared in order to counter the Marxist approach? (300 Words)
- Examine the relation between Justice, Equality and Liberty. (300 Words)
- What are the challenges Political theories faces in the present times. Suggest remedies to overcome it. (300 Words)
- “The true source of right is duty” – Gandhi.Comment (300 Words)
- Answer in approximately 150 words each
- “Women have always been man՚s dependent, if not his slave, the two sexes have never shared the world in equality” – Simone de Beauvoir.
- “Power flows throughout the system like blood in the capillaries of our body” – Foucault
- Relative autonomy of state
- Paternal despotism of Mill
- Ideologies as regimes of truth.
- Compare and contrast the pluralist & neo-pluralist conception of state. (200 Words)
- “Because society is federal, the authority must be federal” – Laski.Comment. (200 Words)