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UPSC CSE Mains 2020 — PSIR Questions with Answers
All 56 PSIR previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Mains 2020, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.
Practice PSIR as a timed test →- Q1.Political Concepts & Ideologies
Post-colonial theory of the State.
- Q2.Political Concepts & Ideologies
Equality of opportunity.
- Q3.Political Concepts & Ideologies
Liberalism as a revolutionary idea.
- Q4.Indian Political Thought
Ambedkar's ideas on constitutionalism.
- Q5.Western Political Thought & Theory
Machiavelli's secularism.
- Q6.Western Political Thought & Theory
Make a comparative assessment of the Greek perspective of justice with the Rawlsian concept of justice.
- Q7.Western Political Thought & Theory
"Representative democracy means the people as a body must be able to control the general direction of government policy." (J. S. Mill). Comment.
- Q8.Western Political Thought & Theory
Assess the significance of the right to property in political theory.
- Q9.Indian Political Thought
Explicate the ideological components of Gandhism.
- Q10.Political Concepts & Ideologies
Examine the nature and meaning of power.
- Q11.Indian Political Thought
Explain the sources of ancient Indian political thought.
- Q12.Western Political Thought & Theory
Trace the evolution of Western political thought from the ancient to the contemporary period.
- Q13.Western Political Thought & Theory
Discuss the significance of a normative approach to political theory.
- Q14.Western Political Thought & Theory
Discuss Karl Marx's concept of class.
- Q15.Indian Constitution & National Movement
Discuss the role of socialists in the Indian National Movement.
- Q16.Political Concepts & Ideologies
Examine the Indian Constitution makers' concerns on social inequality.
- Q17.Indian Constitution & National Movement
Discuss the right to constitutional remedies in India.
- Q18.Indian Government, Institutions & Politics
Examine the issue of judicial overreach in India.
- Q19.General PSIR
Discuss the mechanism for settling inter-state disputes in India.
- Q20.Indian Government, Institutions & Politics
Examine the role and functioning of the Election Commission of India and the Comptroller and Auditor General in the last two decades.
- Q21.Indian Constitution & National Movement
Trace the role of militant and revolutionary movements in the Indian national movement.
- Q22.Political Concepts & Ideologies
To what extent have the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Indian Constitution enhanced women's empowerment?
- Q23.Indian Government, Institutions & Politics
Does the functioning of federalism in India tend to make it appear as a unitary state in practice?
- Q24.General PSIR
Has the thrust of government tilted towards the executive in contemporary Indian politics? Give your arguments.
- Q25.General PSIR
"Liberalisation of the Indian economy has not been accompanied with adequate reforms." Comment.
- Q26.Indian Government, Institutions & Politics
To what extent has inadequate intra-party democracy affected the functioning of Indian democracy?
- Q27.Indian Government, Institutions & Politics
Examine the role of religion in Indian electoral politics in contemporary times.
- Q28.Political Concepts & Ideologies
Examine the nature of the civil liberty movement in India.
- Q29.Comparative Politics
Discuss the subject matter of comparative politics. Outline the limitations of comparative political analysis.
- Q30.Comparative Politics
Analyze the contribution of liberal democratic principles in the democratization of Indian polity.
- Q31.Comparative Politics
Has the increased participation of the underprivileged in the political process of developing societies strengthened democracy or created political chaos and conflict? Comment.
- Q32.International Relations Theory & Approaches
Critically examine the impact of the process of globalization from the perspective of the countries of the Global South.
- Q33.International Relations Theory & Approaches
What are the core assumptions of idealism as an approach to study International Relations? Explain its continuing relevance in peace building.
- Q34.International Relations Theory & Approaches
Explain the concept of balance of power. What are the various techniques of maintaining balance of power?
- Q35.International Organizations & Global Issues
Enumerate the challenges in the operation of the principles related to collective security in the UN Charter.
- Q36.General PSIR
Critically analyze the implications of Sino-American strategic rivalry for the South and South-East Asian region.
- Q37.International Organizations & Global Issues
Discuss the ways to strengthen the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to enable it to address the challenges faced by the developing countries.
- Q38.International Organizations & Global Issues
Critically evaluate the role of the United States of America in the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism and its implications for the future of the WTO.
- Q39.International Organizations & Global Issues
Explain the significance and importance of the demand raised by the developing countries for a New International Economic Order (NIEO). Are they likely to achieve their objectives of NIEO in the foreseeable future?
- Q40.International Organizations & Global Issues
Discuss the significance and urgency of the UN Security Council reforms. Explain the relevance of the reform proposals made by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for the developing countries.
- Q41.International Organizations & Global Issues
Critically analyze the role of ASEAN in the promotion of regional peace and security through economic cooperation and trade.
- Q42.International Organizations & Global Issues
Examine the role of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other major efforts by the UN to address the global environmental crisis.
- Q43.India's Foreign Policy & India and the World
Describe the structure and function of the National Security Council of India. What role does it play in the formulation of Indian foreign policy?
- Q44.International Organizations & Global Issues
Outline the reasons for the low volume of trade in the SAARC region.
- Q45.India's Foreign Policy & India and the World
Analyze the impact of hydropolitics on Indo-Bangladesh relations.
- Q46.India's Foreign Policy & India and the World
Discuss the future prospects of Indo-Nepal relations in the context of the recent publication of a new Nepalese map wrongly claiming Indian territory.
- Q47.India's Foreign Policy & India and the World
How does cross-border terrorism impede the achievement of peace and security in South Asia?
- Q48.India's Foreign Policy & India and the World
How do the guiding principles of India-Africa relations seek to enhance harmony and mutual cooperation between India and Africa?
- Q49.India's Foreign Policy & India and the World
What are the notable features of the recently concluded Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) between India and Japan? How is it likely to address the security concerns of India?
- Q50.India's Foreign Policy & India and the World
Discuss the significance of the Indo-US strategic partnership and its implications for India's security and national defence.
- Q51.India's Foreign Policy & India and the World
Explain the defence and foreign policy options of India to address the challenges emerging out of the current India-China standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
- Q52.International Organizations & Global Issues
Explain the importance of India's claim for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
- Q53.India's Foreign Policy & India and the World
Discuss the efficacy of India's 'no first use' policy (nuclear weapons) in the context of the evolving strategic challenges from its neighbours.
- Q54.India's Foreign Policy & India and the World
"The war in Afghanistan is crucial from the point of view of India's national security." Comment.
- Q55.India's Foreign Policy & India and the World
Identify the key sectors of cooperation between India and Israel since 2014. Examine their significance in strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries.
- Q56.India's Foreign Policy & India and the World
Critically examine the role of India in shaping the emerging world order.
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