Indian Government and Politics (P1SB) PYQ Analysis

Indian Nationalism

Q.1)      National movement in India was anti-imperialist and increasingly radical in its socio-economic and political programmes. Discuss. (2019) (15)

Q.2)      Revolt of 1857 is a “Sepoy Mutiny ” or “War of independence ”. Comment. (2018) (10)

Q.3)      Comment on Satyagraha as a Strategy in the Indian National Movement. (2015) (10)

Q.4)      Comment on efficacy of Satyagraha as moral resistance colonial rule. (2012) (10)

Q.5)      Comment on significance of the Civil Disobedience Movement (2011) (10)

Q.6)      Comment on "Swaraj is the culmination of Swadeshi and Sarvodaya." (10) (2008)

Q.7)      Differentiate Moderate Nationalism from Extremist/Militant Nationalism in terms of their objectives and means. (2017) (10)

Q.8)      Comment on Indian nationalism as depicted in S.N. Banerjee's 'A Nation in the making (2010) (10)

Q.9)      Comment on Satyagraha and Indian Nationalism. (2023) (10)

Q.10)    Trace the role of militant and revolutionary movements in Indian national movement. (2020) (15)

Q.11)    Analyse the workers movement in India in the pre-Independence period. (2022) (10 Marks)

Q.12)    Explain how peasants’ movements promoted nationalist ideas during the struggle for Indian independence. (2014) (15 Marks)

Q.13)    The success of Mahatma Gandhi lay in transforming both political and non-political movements into a unified nationalist movement. (2017) (10 Marks)

Q.14)    Role of socialists in Indian National movement. (2020) (10 Marks)

Q.15)    Political reforms must precede and not follow social reforms (Tilak). Discuss. (2004) (10)

Perspectives on Indian National Movement

Q.1)      Critically examine the Radical Humanist perspective on Indian National Movement. (15) (2016)

Q.2)      Comment on Marxist understanding of India's freedom movement. (10) (2013)

Q.3)      Analyze the Marxist perspective of the nature of Indian national movement. (2021) (10 Marks)

Q.4)      Comment on Dalit perspective on Indian National Movement. (2011) (10)

Q.5)      Dalit perspective on Indian national movement. Discuss. (10) (2019)

Q.6)      Dr. Ambedkar's clarion call, "Educate, Agitate and Organize", strategizes the Dalit movement towards achieving civil liberty. Discuss. (2023) (15 Marks)

Q.7)      Discuss the contribution of the Dalit struggle to establish egalitarianism in Indian society during freedom movement. (2024) (15)

Making of the Indian Constitution

Q.1)      Mention the founding principles that define India’s constitution. (2021) (10)

Q.2)      Comment on Ambedkar’s idea of constitutionalism. (2020) (10)

Q.3)      The constitution of India is a product of historical process, rich with constitutional antecedents.” Comment. (2021) (10)

Q.4)      Indian constitution makers concern on Social Inequality. Comment. (2020) (10)

Q.5)      The making of the Indian Constitution is described as an attempt towards ‘social revolution’. Comment. (2022) (15 Marks)

Q.6)      Unity and integrity of India was perhaps the single uppermost factor in the minds of the Constitution makers. Comment. (2019) (10)

Q.7)      The constitution makers faced the great task of forging a common national identity in the face of unparalleled social and cultural diversity in India. Comment. (2021) (10 Marks)

Q.8)      Comment on "The Constituent Assembly was a one party body in an essentially one party country. The Assembly was the Congress and the Congress was India." (Granville Austin) (2010) (10)

Q.9)      Indian Constitution is a ‘Lawyers’ Paradise’. – Ivor Jennings. Comment. (2018) (10 Marks)

Q.10)    Comment on, “Imprint of the British Constitution on the Indian Constitution”. (2023) (10)

Q.11)    Discuss the dominant external and internal influences in the framing of the Indian Constitution. (10) (2008)

Salient features of Indian Constitution

Q.1)      Constitutionally reconciling the fundamental rights with the directive principles of state policy has led to frequent amendments of the constitution and judicial intervention “Comment. (2021) 20

Q.2)      Comment on the relevance of the Directive Principles of State Policy in an era of liberalization and globalization. (2019) 15

Q.3)      Examine the relevance of Directive Principles in the era of liberalisation and globalization. (2012) (15)

Q.4)      Examine the significance of the Directive Principles of State Policy in achieving the goal of socio-economic justice. (2011) 30

Q.5)      Comment on Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution. (2012) 10

Q.6)      Examine the significance of the verdicts of the Supreme Court in the Golaknath and Keshavanand Bharati cases for an understanding of the scope of Article 368 in regard to Fundamental Rights. (15) (2013)

Q.7)      "The basic structure doctrine is implicit in the Indian Constitution; the Supreme Court has only given it an explicit form. Comment. (2019) (10)

Q.8)      Analyse the significance of Article 32 of the Indian Constitution. (15) (2013)

Q.9)      Article 368 does not enable Parliament to alter the basic structure or framework of the Constitution. (2016) (10 Marks)

Q.10)    Comment on Right to constitutional remedies in India. (2020) (10 Marks)

Q.11)    Discuss the efficacy of judicial review in India (2015) (20 Marks)

Q.12)    Comment on Significance of the Preamble. (2013)

Q.13)    Comment on Secularism in the Indian Constitution. (2015) (10)

Q.14)    In the light of new economic policies adopted since 1991, examine the relevance of the term ‘socialist' in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution (2015) (20 Marks)

Q.15)    The Preamble of Indian constitution reflects itself as a “social contract”. Elucidate. (2022) (10 Marks)

Q.16)    Discuss the Right to Information and underline challenges being posed before it. (2016) (10)

Q.17)    Comment on Right to privacy is an intrinsic part of the right to life.  (2017) 10

Q.18)    Comment on Increasingly higher focus on Directive Principles of State Policy. (2014) 10

Q.19)    The main goal of the Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution is to generate civic responsibility among the citizens. Explain. (2023) (15 Marks)

Q.20)    The purpose 42nd Constitutional Amendment was to make the economic and social democracy explicitly visible. Comment. (2016) (10)

Q.21)    The Constitution of India is the 'cornerstone of a nation'. (Granville Austin). Analyze. (2023) (15)

Q.22)    Underline the significance of the first constitutional amendment.(2021) (10)

Q.23)    Discuss the extent to which the Indian Constitution reflects successful reconciliation of alternative perspectives. (2012)

Q.24)    Constitutional morality in the Indian Constitution. Comment. (2024) (10)

Q.25)    Objective Resolution of the Constituent Assembly. Comment (2024) (10)

Q.26)    How far do you agree that the Directive Principles of State Policy are more fundamental than the Fundamental Rights in meeting socio-economic justice as mentioned in the Preamble of the Constitution? (2024) (20)

Principal Organs of the Union and state Government

Q.1)      The role of the President of India becomes more significant during a minority government and a coalition government. Explain. (2021) (15)

Q.2)      Has the thrust of government tilted towards executive in contemporary Indian Politics? Give your arguments. (2020) (15)

Q.3)      The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has emerged as the most powerful institution in India. Discuss. (2019) (15)

Q.4)      Examine the evolution of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India as a Constitutional Court. (2021) (15)

Q.5)      Discuss judicial overreach in India. (2020) (10)

Q.6)      The doctrine of the basic structure of constitution has enhanced the power of judicial review of the supreme court. Examine. (2022) (15 Marks)

Q.7)      Whether judicial activism has undermined or strengthened parliamentary democracy in India? Discuss. (2018) (20)

Q.8)      Legislative Council is a house without any effective powers. Comment. (2022) (10)

Q.9)      The Speaker represents the freedom and dignity of the House. Examine. (2022) (15)

Q.10)    Analyse the position of prime minister of India in a coalition regime. (2013) (15)

Q.11)    Examine the role of the supreme court as the final interpreter of the Indian constitution. (2013) (15)

Q.12)    Examine the debate on the appointment procedure of judges to the higher judiciary in India. (2014) (15)

Q.13)    Critically analyse the discretionary powers granted to the governor by the Indian constitution. (2015) (15 Marks)

Q.14)    Comment on the decline of Indian parliament. (2013) (10)

Q.15)    Do the lieutenant governors have more power than the governor of the states? Explain. (2018) (15)

Q.16)    Do you agree that over the years the Supreme Court has become a forum for policy evolution? Justify your answer. (15 Marks) (2023)

Q.17)    Comment on 99th Amendment of the Indian Constitution. (2015) (10 Marks)

Q.18)    Critically examine the role of Governor in recent times. (2016) (15 Marks)

Q.19)    Differentiate parliamentary supremacy from parliamentary sovereignty. Would you consider the Indian Parliament as a Sovereign Parliament? Examine. (2017) (20 Marks)

Q.20)    How is the President of India elected? Outline the salient characteristics of the electoral college of the Indian President. (2017) (15 Marks)

Q.21)    Judiciary has acquired the role of both, a legislature and an executive in recent years. Examine with suitable examples. (2017) (20 Marks)

Q.22)    The role of president of India becomes more significant during the minority government and the coalition government. Explain. (2021) (15 Marks)

Q.23)    In normal conditions, the Governor is a constitutional executive but in case of constitutional crisis, he can become a powerful and effective executive. Discuss (2011)

Q.24)    Comment on Judicial activism and social change. (2012)

Q.25)    Examine the debate on the appointment procedure of judges to the higher judiciary in India. (2014) (15)

Federalism

Q.1)      The philosophy and administration of the distribution of powers between centre and state is required to be re-accessed. (15) (2016)

Q.2)      Comment on cooperative federalism in India. (10) (2015)

Q.3)      Identify the contested areas in centre state relations in India. (2015) (15)

Q.4)      Does the functioning of the federalism in India tend to make it appear as a unitary state in practice? (2020) (20)

Q.5)      Indian federation has moved from cooperative federation to competitive federation. Discuss. (2017) (15)

Q.6)      Discuss asymmetrical federalism in India. (2018) (20)

Q.7)      Does the actual working of Indian federalism conform to the centralizing tendencies in Indian polity? Give reasons for your answer.  (2023) (20 Marks)

Q.8)      “Cooperative federalism produces a strong central, or general government, yet it does not necessarily result in weak provincial governments that are largely administrative agencies for central policies. Indian federation has demonstrated this.” (Granville Austin) Examine the uniqueness of Indian federalism in the light of the above statement. (2013) (20 Marks)

Q.9)      Implementation of GST and NEET is a major challenge to Indian federalism. Comment. (2018) (10 Marks)

Q.10)    Despite constitutional mandate the Inter-State Council has not come of age. Discuss. (2019) (10 Marks)

Q.11)    Critically examine and comment on “It is not constitutional law but political factors that ultimately determine Centre-States relations in India.” (2011) 20

Q.12)    Comment on Demands for the creation of new States in India. (2012)

Q.13)    Examine the efficacy of available mechanisms for resolving inter-State dispute in India. (2012)

Q.14)    Discuss the composition and functions of the Inter-State Council. To what extent has this body been successful in achieving its objectives? (2022) (15)

Q.15)    Do you think that there has been a gradual shift in the basis on which the demands for the creation of new States have been raised in different regions of India? Explain. (2021) (15)

Q.16)    Discuss mechanism for settling inter-state disputes. (2020) (10)

Grassroot Democracy

Q.1)      Do you think that despite having limitations on Panchayati Raj institutions have strengthened the process of democratic decentralization? Give your view. (2021) (15)

Q.2)      To what extent 73rd and 74th amendment of the Indian constitution enhanced women’s empowerment. (2020) (10)

Q.3)      Political decentralization has not been matched by administrative decentralization at the grass roots level. Explain. (2019) (15)

Q.4)      Explain how participation of women impacted the functioning of rural bodies in India. (2014) (15)

Q.5)      The goal of good governance will be achieved only by strengthening the grass root level democracy. Comment. (2016) (20)

Q.6)      Examine the role of Panchayat raj institutions and urban local bodies in deepening of democracy in India. (2015) (20)

Q.7)      Examine the provisions of Panchayat Extension Services Act (PESA) 1996. (2018) (20)

Q.8)      Comment on Functions of District Planning Committee. (2023) (10)

Q.9)      Discuss the major provisions of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act. Do you think that the Act remains as 'unfulfilled dream'? Argue your case. (2023) (20 Marks)

Q.10)    Examine the changing structures of Panchayati Raj Institutions with special reference to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act. (2013) (15 Marks)

Q.11)    Has the 73rd Constitutional Amendment empowered women in panchayats in India? Discuss. (2017) (15 Marks)

Q.12)    New Panchayat Raj is an effective instrument for women empowerment. Comment. (2018) (10)

Q.13)    Do you think that despite having significant limitations the PRI’s (Panchayati Raj institutions) have strengthened the process of democratic decentralization. Give your views. (2021) (15 Marks)

Q.14)    Examine the unique features of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. Do you think this amendment would contribute in achieving the goal of empowerment of marginalized sections of the society? (2022) (20 Marks)

Q.15)    The blueprint of Gram Swaraj is the key to understand the Gandhian perspective on planning. Discuss. (2024) (20)

Statutory Institutions/Commissions

Q.1)      The success of electoral democracy can partly be attributed to the status and role of the election commission of India. Explain. (2021) (15)

Q.2)      Examine the role and functioning of the election commission of India and the Comptroller and Auditor general in the last 2 decades. (2020) (15)

Q.3)      Make an assessment of the role of the Election Commission of India in the conduct of free and fair elections. (2011)

Q.4)      Comptroller and Auditor-General of India enhances the accountability of the Government and serve as the watchdog of the finances of the Government. Explain. (2019) (15) (Role of CAG in promoting transparency)

Q.5)      The role of the Comptroller and Auditor General in promoting good governance. (2014) (10 Marks) (Role of CAG in promoting transparency)

Q.6)      Examine the role of the National Commission for Minorities in preserving, promoting and protecting the rights of minorities in India. (2017 ) (15) (Role of NHRC in Protecting Minority Rights)

Q.7)      Examine the objective and role of the National Human Rights Commission. (2016) (10)

Q.8)      Discuss the working of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to curb violence against Dalits. (2014) (10)

Q.9)      How far is the National Commission for Backward Classes an empowered body? Assess its role in the context of rising demand for backwardness among dominant communities. (2022) (10)

Q.10)    Analyse the arguments in favour and against the lateral entry into higher civil services in India. (2018) (15)

Q.11)    Discuss, in brief, the role of the National Commission for Women. Do you think it is a toothless organization? (2019) (15)

Q.12)    Comment on National Commission for Minorities. (2023) (10)

Q.13)    Comment on Structure and Function of NITI Aayog. (2015) (10 Marks)

Q.14)    Comment on the Role of National Commission for Scheduled Castes. (2011) (11)

Q.15)    Comment on Role of National Commission for Women in India. (2012)

Planning and Economic Development

Q.1)      Discuss the policy initiatives of the Fourteenth Finance Commission aimed towards promising and strengthening agricultural development in India. (2022) (15)

Q.2)      What explains India’s modest improvements in social development outcomes even as the rate of growth has accelerated since the initiation of economic reforms? (2021) (15)

Q.3)      ‘Liberalisation of Indian Economy has not been accompanied with adequate reforms’. Comment (2020) (15) (Theme – LPG reforms and its impacts)

Q.4)      What do you understand by green revolution? Do you think that a second green revolution is needed to adequately address the agrarian challenge in contemporary India? Examine. (2017) (15)

Q.5)      What has been the political fallout of the Green Revolution in India ? Explain. (2019) (15 Marks)

Q.6)      Critically examine the politics of economic growth in India. (2016) (20)

Q.7)      Compare the Nehruvian and Gandhian models of development. (2015) (15)

Q.8)      How does NITI Aayog as a 'policy think tank with shared vision' visualize the reorganization of planning in India? Justify your answer.   (2023)  (15 Marks)

Q.9)      Comment on Gandhian Perspective of development and its contemporary relevance. (2013) (10 Marks)

Q.10)    Land reforms have failed in the eradication of rural poverty. Comment. (2016) (20 Marks)

Q.11)    Examine the various causes of the agrarian crisis in India. (2018) (20 Marks)

Caste, Religion, and Ethnicity in Indian Politics.

Q.1)      Ethnicity is the underlying cause which poses a great challenge in the resolution of the problems in the North-East region of India. Comment. (2022) (20)

Q.2)      Critically examine the ethnic conflicts in North-East India. (2018) (15 Marks)

Q.3)      Comment on relations between ethnicity and democracy in India. (2014) (10)

Q.4)      Examine the role of religion in Indian Electoral Politics in the contemporary times. (2020) (15)

Q.5)      Religion is still an important factor in Indian politics. Discuss. (2017) (15)

Q.6)      Comment on the emergence of backward classes in Indian politics. (2016) (15)

Q.7)      The rise of caste politics is to be attributed to both regional aspirations and electoral manifestations. Comment.                  (20 Marks) (2023)

Q.8)      Explain how caste as a social category is also becoming a political category in the democratic politics of India. (2021) (15)

Q.9)      Critically examine and comment on “Indian politics has influenced caste and caste has influenced Indian politics.” (2011) 20

Q.10)    Critically examine and comment on “Secularism in Indian politics is a myth.” (2011) 20

Q.11)    What are the provisions for constitutional protection of the right to freedom of religion and how far they have succeeded in promoting secularism in India? (2014) (15 Marks)

Party system

Q.1)      How far is it correct that the regional parties have strengthened Indian democracy and federal system? Substantiate your answer with suitable examples. (2022) (15)

Q.2)      Explain the increasing role of regional political parties in national politics. (15 Marks) (2018)

Q.3)      Account for the rise of regional political parties and assess their role in contemporary India. (2015) (15 Marks)

Q.4)      Cultural and Regional differences are the enduring bases on which politics is played out in India. (2016) (10 Marks)

Q.5)      Identity politics has trumped development politics in India. Comment. (2015) (15)

Q.6)      In the post liberalisation era, Indian politics is moving from ascriptive politics to developmental politics. Comment. (10) (2017)

Q.7)      Examine the impact of coalition-politics on Indian political system. (2012) 30

Q.8)      India has moved from one party dominance system to one party-led coalition. Discuss. (2017) (20)

Q.9)      Discuss the pattern of Political Parties from one dominant party system to coalition politics in national Politics. (2016) (15 Marks)

Q.10)    Explain to what extent the concept of the “one-party dominance” model is still relevant in Indian politics today. (2013) (15 Marks)

Q.11)    The Indian party system is shaped by a complex interaction of the country’s federal structure, electoral system and social cleavages.” Explain (2021) (20)

Q.12)    To what extent has the inadequate intra-party democracy affected the functioning of Indian Democracy? (2020) (15)

Q.13)    Political personalities are more significant than political parties in India. Discuss.(2018) (10)

Q.14)    The changing socio-economic profile of our legislators does not augur well for the health of Indian democracy. Comment. (2019) (15)

Q.15)    Account for the changes in socio-economic profile of legislators during the last one decade in India (2014) (15)

Q.16)    Electoral behaviour of voters is governed more by the social and economic factors than the political factors. Explain. (2022) (20)

Q.17)    Examine the changing pattern of electoral behaviour in India. (2011) 30

Q.18)    Development has overshadowed the influence of caste in electoral behaviour in recent elections. Discuss (20) (2019)

Q.19)    Discuss the nature of reforms of the electoral process in India and explain the further scope for reforms. (2014) (20 Marks)

Q.20)    State subvention / funding may be an effective instrument in strengthening electoral democracy in India. Discuss. (2017) (15)

Q.21)    The decade 1989-1999 has created an epochal shift in the Indian party system at the national level. Identify the major national trends in the party system during this era. (15 Marks) (2023) 

Q.22)    Explain the phenomena of ethnic politics in India in recent times. (2013) (20 Marks)

Q.23)    Comment on Marginalisation of left politics in India. (2014) (10 Marks)

Q.24)    Explain how pressure groups have been influencing public policy-making with suitable illustrations. (2014) (20 Marks)

Q.25)    Comment on Trade union as pressure group in Indian politics. (2011) (10)

Social Movements

Q.1)      High concentration of economic activities and consumption patterns in post-liberalisation period has led to the failure of environmental movements in India. Elucidate. (2022) (10)

Q.2)      Write short note on the significance of Chipko Movement. (2019) (10)

Q.3)      Critically examine the provisions made in the Constitution for the protection of Environment. (2016) (15 Marks)

Q.4)      Compare and contrast the Chipko Movement with Narmada Bachao Andolan. (2013) (10 Marks)

Q.5)      Comment on Environmentalism of the poor. (2023) (10)

Q.6)      Discuss the impact of environmentalist movement on government policies in recent years. (2012)

Q.7)      Critically analyze the environmentalist movement in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. (2018) (15 Marks)

Q.8)      Examine the nature of the civil liberty movement in India. (2020) (15)

Q.9)      Comment on the dilemmas of the human rights movement in India. (2014) (10)

Q.10)    Point out and comment on the historical importance of the document ‘Towards Equality 1974’, for women’s movement in India. (2013) (15)

Q.11)    Examine the scope and limitations of women’s movement in India. (2014) (15)