UPSC 2014 PSIR Question Paper 2

          Instructions -

  • Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, any THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE question from each section.
  • Attempts of questions shall be counted in sequential order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.

                            PAPER 1 - Section A 

1. Answer the following in about 150 words each:  (10*5 = 50M)  

(a) Party system in India is neither western nor indigenous. Explain.

(b) In what respect is the new social movement new in nature? Discuss.

(c) Do you agree that the U.N. has failed to contain transnational terrorism? Elaborate your answer with examples.

(d) "The Feminist approach to international politics is biased." Comment.

(e) "Ukraine crisis is a product of power politics and geo-politics." Comment. 

2. (20, 15, 15 = 50M)

(a) "Despite so many agreed areas of cooperation, innumerable institutional mechanisms and a permanent secretariat, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has not taken off as a meaningful regional grouping." Discuss.

(b) Critically evaluate the approaches of global south towards addressing environmental concerns.

(c) Critically assess the changing nature of the concept of national security.

3. (20, 15, 15 = 50M)

(a) Argue a case for U.N. reform in the context of changing global milieu.

(b) Who was Mr. 'X' in international politics? Elaborate his approach to foreign policy.

(c) "Morton A. Kaplan's system theory is contrary to the fundamental precepts of systems approach." Comment.

4. (20, 15, 15 = 50M)

(a) How do you explain the growing importance of multi-national corporations (MNCs) and civil society in contemporary international politics?

(b) What is 'global village'? Elaborate its main characteristics and also the factors that contributed to its growth.

(c) Discuss the main factors that have contributed to the gradual transformation of the world from 'Billiard Ball Model' to 'Cobweb Model'.

                                PAPER 1 - Section B

5. Answer the following in about 150 words each : (10*5 = 50M)

(a) Is India's quest for a permanent seat in the Security Council a possibility or just a pipedream? Elaborate with reasons.

(b) "Afghanistan is a litmus test for India's ascendence as a regional and global power." Discuss.

(c) "EU - India relations have a long way to go before they can purposely be termed strategic." Discuss.

(d) Do you agree with the view that the USA is of late willing to treat India as a partner rather than merely a camp-follower? Give reasons for your answer.

(e) Discuss the grounds for India's opposition to NPT.

6. (20, 15, 15 = 50M)

(a) Evaluate the recent changes in Indo-Japan relations.

(b) "Federal units are critical in the making of India's foreign policy." Examine this statement with reference to the role of West Bengal vis-a-vis Bangladesh.

(c) "India's policy of non-alignment has been guided by the genius of the Indian people and their interests." Explain.

7. (20, 15, 15 = 50M)

(a) Analyse the drivers of Indo-Russian relations in the post-Cold War era.

(b) Examine the implications of turmoil in Iraq and West Asia for India's security and foreign policy concerns.

(c) Evaluate India's participation in United Nations peace-keeping operations over the years.

8. (20, 15, 15 = 50M)

(a) The Ministry of External Affairs is losing its importance in the making of India's foreign policy with the parallel rise of the P.M.O. Explain.

(b) "Some of the major changes that occurred in India's foreign policy after the Sino-India war in 1962 were within the larger framework of continuity." Discuss.

(c) In the history of foreign policy, seldom have relations between any two nations blossomed as fast as they have in the case of India and Israeel. Discuss.

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