PSIR Previous Year Questions
Essential Instructions:
Applies to both the Papers
- Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
- Question Nos. 1 and 5 are compulsory.
- Out of the remaining questions, THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE question from each Section.
Here is a collection of PSIR Optional (UPSC Civil Services Exam. Mains) Previous Year Questions from 2015–2026. Read them alongside the PSIR Optional Syllabus to spot recurring themes.
Paper I Section-A 1. Write on the following in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50 marks) Resurgence of political theory (10 marks) Post-colonial theory of State (10 marks) The freedom of the pike is death to the minnows. (10 marks) Legitimacy is always a ‘social construct’. (10 marks) Herbert Marcuse turned Freudianism on its head in his critical theory. (10 marks) 2.(a) “Rights of the man are …
Paper I Section-A 1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50 marks) Explain the Philosophical approach to the study of Political theory. (10 marks) Write a note on the relation between equality and liberty from the multi-cultural perspective. (10 marks) Explain the Macpherson’s view on power. (10 marks) Mention the difference between Italian and German brands of facism. (10 marks) Explain briefly the …
Paper I Section-A 1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50 marks) Behavioural approach to Political Science. (10 marks) Pluralist theory of State. (10 marks) Locke’s views on Revolution. (10 marks) Decline of Liberalism. (10 marks) Linkage between Power and Hegemony. (10 marks) 2.(a) Elucidate the meanings inherent in the term ‘political’ with appropriate illustrations. (20 Marks) 2.(b) Marxism is a political theory …
Paper I Section-A 1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50 marks) Normative approach in Political Science. (10 marks) Multicultural perspective on rights. (10 marks) State of Nature as State of War (Hobbes). (10 marks) Foucault’s concept of power. (10 marks) Decline of political theory. (10 marks) 2.(a) Success of contemporary democracies lies in the State limiting its own power. Explain. (20 Marks) …
Paper I Section-A 1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50 marks) Systems Approach. (10 marks) Cultural Relativism. (10 marks) “Revolution in Permanence”. (10 marks) Bases of Power. (10 marks) Locke’s Social Contract. (10 marks) 2.(a) Factors like community, culture and nation weaken the hegemony of neo-liberalism today. Discuss. (20 Marks) 2.(b) “Equality of estates caused equality of power, and equality of power …
Paper I Section-A 1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50 marks) Feminist critique of the State. (10 marks) Affirmative action. (10 marks) Equality of outcome as a political idea. (10 marks) Tools of legitimation of the State. (10 marks) J. S. Mill’s ideas on women suffrage. (10 marks) 2.(a) How has Rawls enriched the idea of justice in liberalism?. (20 Marks) 2.(b) …
Paper I Section-A 1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50 marks) Post colonial theory of the state. (10 marks) Equality of opportunity. (10 marks) Liberalism as a revolutionary idea. (10 marks) Ambedkar’s idea on constitutionalism. (10 marks) Machiavelli’s secularism. (10 marks) 2.(a) Make a comparative assessment of Greek perspective of Justice with the Rawlsian concept of Justice. (20 Marks) 2.(b) Representative democracy …
Paper I Section-A 1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50 marks) Resurgence of political theory. (10 marks) Pluralist theory of the State. (10 marks) End of Ideology debate. (10 marks) Deliberative democracy. (10 marks) M. K. Gandhi’s concept Of Swaraj. (10 marks) 2.(a) Make a Explain Aristotle’s critique Of Plato’s Idealism. (20 Marks) 2.(b) Examine communitarian perspectives on justice. (15 Marks) 2.(c) …
Paper I Section-A 1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50 marks) John Stuart Mill is a ‘reluctant democrat’. — C. L. Wayper (10 marks) Decline of Political Theory (10 marks) Distributive Justice. (10 marks) Substantive Democracy (10 marks) Nothing against the State, nothing over it, nothing beyond it.” — Mussolini (10 marks) 2.(a) Critically examine the neo-liberal theory of State. (20 Marks) …
Paper I Section-A 1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50 marks) According to Sri Aurobindo, Swaraj is a necessary condition for India to accomplish its destined goal (10 marks) Neo-liberal perspective of State (10 marks) Post-modernism (10 marks) Eco-feminism (10 marks) Hobbesian notion of Political Obligation (10 marks) 2.(a) Rawls’ theory of justice is both contractual and distributive. Examine. (20 Marks) 2.(b) …
Paper I Section-A 1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50 marks) “How would I and my fellow human beings behave if we were to find ourselves in a state of nature, and what does this behaviour tell us about our innate pre- dispositions ?” (Thomas Hobbes) (10 marks) The Post-Behavioural Approach. (10 marks) Affirmative Action. (10 marks) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s idea …
Paper I Section-A 1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each: (10 x 5 = 50 marks) Idea of Natural Rights. (10 marks) Aristotle’s Conception of Equality. (10 marks) Difference Principle’ in Rawls’ Theory of Justice. (10 marks) Difference between Participatory and Deliberative Democracy. (10 marks) Gandhi’s Views on State. (10 marks) 2.(a) Examine the challenges to sovereignty of the State in the contemporary world. (20 Marks) 2.(b) …