UPSC 2019 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) Discuss the utility of Nuclear Deterrence Theory in the context of the recent standoff between India and Pakistan.

(b) Write a brief note on the 17th NAM Summit in Venezuela.

(c) In what ways does the predominance of the USA in the UN funding affect its decision-making?

(d) Evaluate the role of BIMSTEC in multi-sectoral technical and economic cooperation.

(e) Do you think that sustainable development goals are really attainable by 2030?

2. (20, 15, 15 = 50M)

(a) Examine the significance of the comparative method in political analysis. Discuss its limitations.

(b) Explain the reasons for low voter turnout in democratic countries with suitable examples.

(c) Evaluate the role of the International Court of Justice in inter-State disputes.

3. (20, 15, 15 = 50M)

(a) Explain the relevance of the Marxist approach in the context of globalization.

(b) Identify the benefits of a multi-polar world.

(c) Discuss the importance of personal data protection in the context of human rights.

4. (20, 15, 15 = 50M)

(a) How are the rising powers challenging the USA and Western dominance in the IMF and the World Bank?

(b) Write an essay on 'New Social Movements' in developing countries.

(c) Is democracy promotion in developing countries a feasible idea?

                                PAPER 1 - Section B

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

(a) Examine the role of 'parliamentary diplomacy' in India's foreign policy.

(b) Compare and contrast Non-alignment 1.0 with Non-alignment 2.0.

(c) How is India pursuing her foreign policy objectives through the IBSA Dialogue Forum (India, Brazil and South Africa)?

(d) How is India responding to the idea of Indo-Pacific?

(e) "The growing closeness between India and Israel will strengthen the cause of Palestine." Comment.

6. (20, 15, 15 = 50M)

(a) Describe briefly China's 'One Belt One Road (OBOR)' initiative and analyze India's major concerns.

(b) What are the current issues in Brahmaputra River water sharing between India and China?  

(c) Analyze the recent trends in India's role in the UN peacekeeping operations.

7. (20, 15, 15 = 50M)

(a) Examine the increasing significance of maritime security in India's foreign policy.

(b) Write a brief note on India's interests in West Asia.

(c) How is the current standoff between the USA and Iran affecting India's energy security?

8. (20, 15, 15 = 50M)

(a) Evaluate India's vision of a new world order.

(b) Critically examine India's position on South China Sea Dispute.

(c) Given the recent developments in the region, do you think that there is a need to change India's 'No First Use (NFU)' nuclear policy?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Buddhist contribution to Indian Political Thought

Evaluate the contributions of Buddhist tradition to Indian political thought. UPSC 2014 Paper 1A Qn 2c   The Buddhist tradition has made profound contributions to Indian political thought by introducing a unique blend of ethical, philosophical, and practical principles that have influenced governance, statecraft, and social justice. Rooted in the teachings of Gautama Buddha, the tradition emphasizes the integration of moral values with political practice, offering an alternative vision of power and governance distinct from the more hierarchical and ritualized structures of ancient Hindu polity. 1. Moral Foundations of Governance One of the central contributions of Buddhist tradition to Indian political thought is its emphasis on Dhamma (moral law) as the guiding principle of governance. Unlike the Dharma of Brahmanical tradition, which often had a caste-based interpretation, Dhamma in Buddhism is universal and egalitarian, focusing on ethical behavior, compassion, and the wel...
Read more

Human Rights - Universalism and Cultural Relativism

The debate on human rights is caught between the limitations of both universalism and cultural relativism. Comment. UPSC 2024 Paper 1A Qn 3a The debate on human rights is fundamentally shaped by the tension between universalism and cultural relativism, two competing perspectives on the nature, scope, and application of human rights. While universalists argue that human rights are inherent, inalienable, and applicable to all individuals regardless of cultural or social contexts, cultural relativists contend that rights must be understood within the specific traditions, values, and histories of different societies. This debate raises critical questions about the legitimacy, enforcement, and adaptability of human rights in a diverse global order.   The Universalist Perspective - Universalism, largely rooted in the Enlightenment tradition and codified in international human rights frameworks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (1948), asserts that human rights...
Read more

Participative Approach to Development

The idea of Democracy becomes a reality when people are involved in collective problem-solving. The type of system in which development projects are conceived, planned, executed, operated, and maintained by outsiders, people receive benefits with little or no participation in the actual process of development. The field investigations showed the 'top-down' approach as inefficient as outsourcing development projects needed to address social issues. The limitations were - Unequal distribution of development benefits among different sections of the population Increased dependency of people on external resources Indifference of people towards the facilities created Heavy spending by the government on the replacement, operation, and maintenance of facilities created Depletion of natural resources due to over-utilization Under-utilization of inputs, when unsuitable for use The studies demonstrated that the problems ...
Read more