Vajiram Ram Political Science ( Shubra Ranjan ) Mains Test Series 2015.Xaam.in

Vajiram Ram & Ravi Political Science

by Shubra Ranjan [Mains Test Series 2015]

Political Science Test 1 – Paper 1 section A

Section – A

—————-

Directions: Attempt any five questions. Questions 1 & 5 are

compulsory, and any three of the remaining questions

selecting at least one question from each section.

Question 1 (All questions carry 10 Marks)

1. Political theory is the most appropriate term to employ in

designating that intellectual tradition which affirms the

possibility of transcending that sphere of immediate practical

concern and ‘viewing’, man’s societal existence from a critical

perspective. (Germino). Comment.

2. It is this clear cut individualism which makes Hobbes

philosophy the most revolutionary theory of the ages.

3. Feminist argument against public-private dichotomy

4. Berlin’s view on value pluralism

5. Veil of ignorance

Question 2

1. “Reasonable Pluralism is the natural outcome of free

exercise of human reason under condition of liberty” (Rawls).

In the light of above reason explains the concept of reasonable

pluralism, given by Rawls. What challenges it poses to theory

of justice and how Rawls proposes to meet the challenges. (20

marks)

2. What are the virtues of democracy and its paradoxes? What

are the perceived threats to democracy?(15 marks)

3. Examine the reasons why behaviouralism called for an end

to normative political theory. What are the fallacies of

behaviouralism which gave rise to post behaviouralsim. (15

marks)

Question 3

1. Examine the communitarian perception of the relationship

between ‘good’ and ‘right’. Is communitarianism an alternative

to liberalism or just a response? Discuss.(20 marks)

2. Contemporary equality policies tend to focus on cultural and

political inequality in distributional goods. Equality now appears

to be a concern for difference rather than search for

similarities. Illustrate. (15 marks)

3. Why are feminist critical of mainstream political theory. What

are major concepts in feminist political theory and how they

different from conventional political theory. (15 marks)

Question 4

1. “Power must be analysed as something which circulates or

as something which only functions in the form of chain. Power

is employed and exercised through a net like organisation.

Individuals are vehicles of power not just point of its

application”.(Foucault) Critically evaluate. (20 marks)

2. Why does Seymour Lipset contend that legitimacy involves

the capacity of the political system to engender and maintain

the belief that the existing political; institutions are the most

appropriate ones for the society. Examine the dynamics of the

relation between legitimacy and consent. (15 marks)

3.The distinction between power and violence is one of the

many surprising distinction in the Hannah Arendt politico-

phenomology. According to Hannah Arendt the indiscriminate

use of the term indicate the deafness to linguistic meaning and

blindness to the realities. Elucidate. (15 marks)

Section – B

—————–


1. A prince, therefore, who is wise and prudent cannot or ought

not to keep his word when keeping of it is to his prejudice and

of course for which he promised removed

2. The methodological criterion on which our own study must

be based is that the supremacy of social groups manifests

itself in 2 ways (i) as and (ii) as intellectual domination and

moral leadership (Gramsci). Discuss

3. He who bids the law rule may be deemed to bid God and

reason alone rule, but he who bids man rule adds an element

of the beast; for desire is a wild beast and passion pervert the

mind of ruler, even when they are best of men. Aristotle.

Comment

4. Discuss the neo-Marxist theory of post-colonial state.

5. What are objections against multiculturalism?

Question 6

1. Why neoliberalism is considered as repudiates of Keynesian

state. What is the link between governance, neoliberalism and

globalisation? (20 marks)

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2. Why post-modernist argue that meaning of the text is never

founded or stable and hence we can find multiple meaning and

truth. Do you think post-modernism is anti reductionist and

pluralist.(15 marks)

3. I want to argue that the principle of the justice are

themselves pluralistic inn forms ; that different social goods

ought to be distributed for different reasons ijn accordance with

different procedures by different agents and all these

differences derives from different understanding of the social

goods themselves, the inevitable product of historical and

cultural particularism, Michael Walzer, Explain.(15 marks)

Question 7

1. Gramsci concept of ideology was distinction and far more

developed than that of his predecessor and contemporaries

essentially because it overcome both Epiphenomenalism and

class reductionism. Explain.(20 marks)

2. Why notion of sovereignty is central to modern political

theory. Do you think it is misleading to perceive relation

between globalisation and sovereignty as zero sum game? (15

marks)

3. What are the important differences between civil and

political rights on one hand and economic social and cultural

rights on the other hand. Is it possible for the idea of human

rights to encompass both the value of cultural diversity and the

imposition of universal standards? (15 marks)

Question 8

1. Why the concept of ideology have so many negative

associations. Is Marxism an ideology or science? Does

Marxism have future? Discuss.; (20 marks)

2. “Despotism is a legitimate mode of government in dealing

with barbarianism, provided the end be the improvement and

the means justified by actually effecting that end. Liberty, as a

principle, has no application to any state of things anterior to

the time when mankind have become capable of being

improved by free and equal discussion” (Mill).In the light of

above statement explain how Mill is a reluctant democrat.(15

marks)

3. Why Ronald Dworkin rejects welfare egalitarianism and why

he suggest that justice regarding equal auction and

endowment sensitive auction. Explain the debate between

equality of resources and equality of capabilities. (15 marks)



Vajiram Ram & Ravi

Political Science by Shubra Ranjan

[Mains Test Series 2015]

TEST 2 : Paper 1 Section B - Indian Government and Politics

Section – A

------------

Directions: Attempt any five questions. Questions 1 & 5 are

compulsory, and any three of the remaining questions

selecting at least one question from each section.

Q1 All questions consist of 10 Marks.

a) Cultural Nationalism.

b) Concept of Dharma & Danda.

c) Swaraj.

d) Radical Humanism.

e) Annihilation of Castes

Q2

a) Identify the forms & manifestations of ethnicity in India. Can

democracies accommodate ethnic nationalism? Explain with

reference to India. 20 Marks

b) Explicate the essence of religious politics. Mention the

specificities of Indian Secularism. 15 Marks

c) Evaluate the ongoing debate on democracy and

development? Enumerate the social & Political consequence of

liberalisation in India. 15 Marks.

Q3

a) Analyse the theoretical perspective on nature of regionalism

in India. Identify the basis of formation of regional identities in

India. 20 Marks

b) What did the objective resolution of Constituent Assembly of

India look forward to establish? Why India is known as “Soft

State”? 15 Marks

c) Economics of liberalisation & politics of empowerment are

going in opposites direction in India. Comment 15 Marks

Q4

a) What were the major streams of thinking in Indian political

leadership at the time of Independence? To what extent

conflicted & overlapped for the future state of India? 20 Marks

b) What is competitive cooperative federalism? In what ways

Niti Aayog promotes competitive cooperative federalism? 15

Marks

c) How effective has reservation been in promoting social

justice in India? According to Pratap B Mehta “it would be a

tragedy if modern India becomes a project not for

Transcending caste but perpetuating it”. Comment 15 Marks

Section – B

------------

Q5 All questions consist of 10 Marks

a) Article 262.

b) Challenges to Freedom of Speech & Expression in India.

c) Do you think rise of AAP is a turning point in Indian

democracy?

d) Role of National Commission of Women in strengthening the

rights of women.

e) The changing role of pressure group politics in India.

Q6

a) Discuss the rise of Gandhi as National Leader. How

Gandhi’s strategy of struggle & negotiations influenced Indian

freedom Struggle? 20 Marks

b) Do you think Federalism defined in Indian Constitution

needs to be redefined today? What can be the reasons & what

should be the approach for redefinition? 15 Marks

c) The new Judicial Appointment Act is clearly the superior

alternative to collegiums system. Do you agree that

appointment of judges require wider consultative process?

Comment.15 Marks

Q7

a) In what ways 73rd CAA tackles the problem faced by

Panchayati Raj System in India. Analyse the weak & strong

elements of the amendments.20 Marks

b) How is voting behaviour conditioned by Social factors?

Explain the determinants of Voting Behaviour in India at the

national level on the basis of recent general election.15 Marks

c) Why was Congress Party able to maintain a system of One-

Party rule, legitimised by election for a long time? What does

Rajni Kothari means by ‘party of consensuses and ‘party of

pressure’? 15 Marks

Q8

a) The higher judiciary & the subordinate courts- and executive



& legislature all share the responsibility of poor governance in

India. Do you agree? Give your opinion. 20 Marks

b) “Polluted sky, dead River, disappearing forest, displaced

peasants & tribal is what we see after 40 years of Chipko

Movement. India today is an Environmental Basket Case”: R C

Guha. Do you agree? Discuss the rise and fall of

Environmental movement in India? 15 Marks

c) Women Movement in India goes back to more than 100

years. Evaluate the extent to which it has been successful in

liberating the women from patriarchy.

------------- The End --------------





TEST 3 : Paper 2 Section A - Comparative Politics and Theory

of IR

Section – A

------------


1. Compare the pressure group politics in developing and

developed countries.

2. Difference between political parties and pressure group.

3. Mention the electoral system which can provide greater

representation to minorities.

4. Distinguish between old social movement and new social

movement.

5. Compare the nature of state as found in advanced countries

with those found in developing countries.

Question 2

1. Comparative politics has become a subject of momentous

significance that a great deal of experimentation is going on

with research tools. The present intellectual ferment is because

of the wide spread dissatisfaction with traditional descriptive

approaches. Bernard E Brown. Comment. (20 marks)

2. Why global politics is more accurately described as distorted

global politics and what is global governance complex (15

marks)

3. Examine the main assumption of political economy

approach in the study of comparative politics? Discuss the

concept of dependency as explanatory tool for the

phenomenon of underdevelopment? (15 marks)

Question 3

1. In what way political sociology is a useful approach of

comparative politics?Will globalisation makes comparatives

politics obsolete.(20 marks)

2. Critically examine the main assumption of structural

functional approach with respect to ideals of Gabriel Almond.

(15 marks)

3. Marshall McLuhan coined ‘global village’. He found that

people are beginning to share certain values, ideas and

beliefs. On the other hand some describe it as ‘global pillage’

on the basis of experience of developing countries. Explain

whether globalisation is more of a colonisation then

liberalisation.(15 marks)

Question 4

1. Do you think there is one realism or many? What are

timeless truths in Realist theory? Is realism a construction or

description of reality?(20 marks)

2. What are the main miles stone in the evolution of theory of

representation? (15 marks)

3. To what extent global power have become more defused

and intangible? Discuss debate between Hyperglobalist and

those sceptical of globalisation? (15 marks)

Section – B

------------

Question 5 Write Short Notes .(All questions carry 10 Marks)

1. Deterrence.

2. Security Community.

3. Security Dilemma.

4. Cobweb Model.

5. Offensive Vs Defensive Realism.

Question 6

1. Is liberalism to much wedded to state centric view of

international relations? Is liberal order in crisis today, as G

John Ikkenberry and G Sorensen, argued? Are emerging

global powers a threat to the liberal order?(20 marks)

2. Should nuclear weapon be treated as normal weapons? Are

nuclear weapons incompatible with any sense of morality?

Discuss the taboos associated with Nuclear Weapon.(15

marks)

3. How do feminist define security? Do you think IR feminism

can tell us anything new about working of global politics?(15

marks)

Question 7

1. Does WTO promote genuine globalisation or asymmetrical

globalisation favouring developed countries? (20 marks)

2. How has the concept of security in personal, societal and

international life, changed as a result of globalised terrorism

and how will it change in the future? (15 marks)

3. What are the gaps in Global Human Right Regimes? Is

there a substantial dark side of Human Rights Politics? (15

marks)



Question 8

1. Explain relation between ‘anarchy’ and ‘sovereignty’ in the

realist construction of international relation. What is the post

modernist criticism of it?(20 marks)

2. Why did environmental issues appeared on international

agenda and what are important turning points? (15 marks)

3. What are the relative weights of normative and material

power in international relations in general and international

relations of Human Rights in particular? (15 marks)

------------The End-------------





Test 4: Paper 2, Section B : India and The World

SECTION-A

----------

Q1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each : 10

marksx5=50

1. India and LAC countries can together become a formidable

economic force.

2. Significance of LBA with Bangladesh.

3. Japan India relations is crucial for stability in Asia-Pacific.

Comment.

4. India –Israel relations has been sensitive and controversial

in New Delhi diplomatic history. Comment.

5. India has begun to implement its act east policy.

Substantiate the argument with examples.

Q2. Answer following (20+15+15 marks)

1. The changing situation in West Asia and increasing

capabilities of India makes it advisable to adopt much more

active forward policy in WANA region-Shiv Shankar Menon.

Comment. 20 marks

2. Pt. Nehru recognized that our armed forces has duty beyond

the border as good global citizen. Today world looks at India as

net security provider, Delhi needs to recast its peace keeping

strategy-C Raja Mohan. Elaborate. 15 marks

3. India’s Nepal Policy needs caution not grandstanding-S D

Muni. Comment. 15 marks


1. India UN always had complex political relations. Today India

has bigger priority than burnishing its status at UN. Comment.

20 marks

2. The margin for error in Indian diplomacy is rapidly

shrinking.This demands big change in a way we think and act

in neighbourhood-C Raja Mohan. Elaborate. 15 marks

3. India’s multilateralism has degenerated into moralistic

commentary on world affairs – Shashi Tharoor. India cannot

treat multilateral diplomacy as boutique corner for the foreign

office dispensing moral platitudes. It must be a tool for

advancing India’s national interest as well as expressions of its

universal ideals. Elaborate. 15 marks


1. India’s instinctive response to the unfolding tensions

between US and China is to reach for comforting blanket of

Non Alignment. But the fact is China is our neighbour with

which we have many outstanding issues, makes traditional non

alignment nearly impossible. Give your views on the above

statement. 20 marks

2. India envisions a new maritime security architecture by

drawing India’s island neighbours into a closer security net

making Indian Ocean India’s ocean. Critically evaluate steps

taken by government to achieve its goal. 15 marks

3. India Africa represents one third of human kind. They know

each other since ages, as victim of colonial injustice and

exploitation. They are linked through common goals and

mutual empathy. However their relationship is marked by

awareness deficit and gaps that needed to be addressed.

Suggest a way forward. 15 marks

SECTION-B

-----------------

Q5. Comment on the following in about 150 words each : 10

marksx5=50

1. Short Note: India EU future perspective.

2. Enumerate India’s recent commitment towards Climate

Change.

3. Discuss India’s role in BRICS.

4. Enumerate salient Sustainable Development Goals.

5. Recent trends in India Myanmar Relations.


1. PM Modi visit to CAR is about a region that has inspired a

lot of political romanticism in New Delhi but little concrete

actions. Suggest a long term strategy for overcoming

constraint faced by India in the region. 20 marks

2. India Afghanistan Relations seems Strained at present.

Discuss the changes in bilateral relations since change in

government in Afghanistan. 15 marks

3. EU economic crisis has fueled the emergence of deep divide

between northern creditor countries and southern debtor

countries. Now migrant crisis is dividing EU in countries who

welcome and the countries who want to do little. This shows

EU is less united and more divided. What is the possible future

of EU? 15 marks




1. In the wake of growing disorders like turmoil in West Asia,

EU’s migrant crisis, China unilaterally enforcing its territorial

claims. Does UN have future? Should UN not be written off as

grounds for pessimism is undeniable? 20 marks

2. Since India lacks the resources it will be worthwhile to

participate in the component of OBOR. Do you agree? What

OROB means for India. Write your views. 15 marks

3. The deterrence effect of Nuclear Weapons has yet to be

matured in South Asia. South Asia’s nuclear contest is

complicated by presence of Non State actors – Happymon

Jacob. Discuss the multiple nuclear dilemma faced by India. 15

marks


1. Investment in US India relationship is worthwhile in long

terms security and relative position of both India and US. Do

you agree? Substantiate your viewpoint. 20 marks

2. We may be entering into a period where tighter embrace of

US brings Russia closer to Pakistan and Russia bolstering its

ties with Pakistan push India closer to US. India needs to be

more diligent in dealing with Russia. Comment. 15 marks

3. Foreign Policy is about securing permanent interest which

may be judged in long term, given the priority to foreign policy

given by present government it would we advisable to make

interim assessment – Srinath Raghavan. Discuss the

continuity, success, change and blind spots of present

government. 15 marks



Vajiram Ram & Ravi

Political Science by Shubra Ranjan

[Mains Test Series 2015]

Test 5: Paper 1 (Comprehensive)

SECTION-A

----------------

Q1. Comment on the following in about 150 words each :

10 marks x 5=50

1. The fact that political theory is a thriving discipline makes it

more difficult to provide an inclusive definition of the discipline

– Collin Ferreley.

2. The state of Nature dramatizes what Hobbes takes to be the

fundamental dilemma of human existence - Minogue.

3. One is not born woman but become woman – Simone De

Beauvoir.

4. Non Violence is the greatest force at the disposal of

mankind – Mahatma Gandhi.

5. Every neighbouring state is an enemy and enemy’s enemy

is friend - Kautilya.


1. In what sense radical feminism is revolutionary? Are

differences between feminism is greater than similarities. 20

marks

2. The object of all societies, should be, therefore, and must

become, as man grows conscious of his real being –

Aurobindo Ghosh. Elaborate. 15 marks

3. Liberal triumphalism needs to be tampered by recognition of

new challenges and threats to liberalism. What are these

challenges? Enumerates with suitable examples. 15 marks


1. Was fascism merely the product of historical circumstances

of inter war period? Discuss. 20 marks

2. Human rights continues to be contested politically, legally,

philosophically and theoretically. Discuss some of the different

questions / debates of HR theory. 15 marks

3. Discuss Marxist theory of the state. 15 marks


1. What is the justification of multicultural perspective of

Rights? Is multiculturalism, the need of our time? 20 marks

2. Let the prince then look to the maintenance of the state that

means will always be deemed honourable - Machiavelli 15

marks

3. Compare Dharmashastra with Dandashastra. 15 marks

SECTION-B

------------------

Q5. Comment on the following in about 150 words each: 10

marksx5=50

1. Decline of parliament.

2. Rethinking judicial appointment: collegium vs. commision

3. Presidential Activism.

4. Marxist perspective on Indian national movement.

5. Inter State council.


1. Indian courts are playing growing role in country’s political

life. Defenders of judiciary focus on few success stories –

Pratap Bhanu Mehta. Critically evaluate the impact of rise of

judicial of judicial sovereignty on Indian politics. 20 marks

2. India’s sixteenth general election were remarkable for

number of reason – Ashutosh Varshney. What were the

remarkable aspects of the elections? 15 marks

3. Discuss the entanglement of Inter State Water Dispute , with

more general Center-State conflicts and political issues.15

marks


1. Critically evaluate the role of NHRC towards strengthening

of HR in the country with suitable examples. 20 marks

2. Explain the linkages between Centre-State relations and the

nature of party system in India. 15 marks

3. Discuss the state of Municipal governance in India post 74th

CAA. 15 marks


1. What is identity politics? Why identity politics play important

role in politics of India? 20 marks

2. Give economic and political argument in favour of Land

Reforms. 15 marks

3. Discuss the controversies associated with the governor with

suitable examples. 15 marks

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Vajiram Ram Political Science ( Shubra Ranjan ) Mains Test Series 2015.Xaam.in