Political Science & International Relations

Crash Course & Test Series - 2021

Test 8
Time Allowed: 3 Hours Max Marks: 250

Name
Test Date
Email Address
UPSC Roll No

Instructions:
1. There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and candidate
has to attempt five questions in all.
2. Question Nos. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, any
three are to be attempted choosing at least ONE question from each
section.
3. Content of the answer is more important than its length.
4. Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the admission
Certificate, which must be stated clearly on the cover of the booklet
in the space provided.
5. Content of the answer is more important than its length.
6. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-Cum-
Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
7. All parts of the question should be written at one place itself.
8. Write the test in exam atmosphere.
9. Filling all the details in BLOCK LETTERS is mandatory.
S. No. a b c d e Total
1
2 X X
3 X X
4 X X
5
6 X X
7 X X
8 X X
Grand Total
For any issue related to PSIR Test Series, write only at
psirtestseries@shubhraranjan.com
 Very
Poor Average Good Excellent
Good
Understanding of
Questions
Structure & Flow
(a) Introduction
(b) Conclusion
(c) Overall
Subject
Knowledge
Presentation
(a) Underline
(b) Paragraph
(c) Overall
Overall Remarks:

Dear Student,

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________

All the best for next test...!!!

Que.1 (a) Highlight the relevance of Political Sociology approach to the study
of Comparative Politics. (10 Marks)

1
2
Que.1(b) Comment on the concept of Overdeveloped State. (10 Marks)

3
4
Que.1(c) With Taliban in power, global feminist movement is at crossroads.
Comment. (10 Marks)

5
6
Que.1(d) Highlight the significance of the 2021 G20 agenda- Planet, People
and Prosperity. (10 Marks)

7
8
Que.1(e) Relevance of nuclear deterrence as a security strategy in 21st
Century. (10 Marks)

9
10
Que.2(a) Discuss the various notions of security with special reference to the
Feminist approach to security. (20 Marks)

11
12
13
14
Que.2(b) To what extent Mortan Kaplan’s Systems Approach is a qualitative
improvement in the field of theorization of International Politics. (15
Marks)

15
16
17
Que.2(c) Give reasons behind South Asia being one of the poorest regions of
the world. What should be done to address the poverty in the region?
(15 Marks)

18
19
20
Que.3(a) Do you agree that the global war on terror can only be won if the
West promotes human rights more vigorously? Substantiate (20
Marks)

21
22
23
24
Que.3(b) Do you agree that the ‘Asian values’ debate was generated by the
desire of authoritarian regimes in the region to protect themselves
from criticism? Elaborate (15 Marks)

25
26
27
Que.3(c) Explain the difference between analysing international relations as a
single international system and as the global politics of many
different policy domains. (15 Marks)

28
29
30
Que.4(a) How does the ‘Tragedy of the commons’ analogy helps to illustrate
the need for governance of the global commons? (20 Marks)

31
32
33
34
Que.4(b) How would you define Polarity of contemporary International
system? Is Global governance a significant element of today’s order?
(15 Marks)

35
36
37
Que.4(c) In present times, do you think that Global South is more divided than
united with respect to the negotiating positions on climate change?
Elaborate. (15 Marks)

38
39
40
Que.5(a) Though India’s developmental co-operation is valued in Africa, it
lacks clear strategy. Comment. (10 Marks)

41
42
Que.5(b) “India-Russia friendship has stood the test of time.” Elaborate. (10
Marks)

43
44
Que.5(c) Though India has historically paid little attention to Latin America,
the recent developments show India’s quest to become a major
player in the region. Discuss. (10 Marks)

45
46
Que.5(d) “Japan is India’s most trustworthy friend”. Enumerate. (10 Marks)

47
48
Que.5(e) Afghan chaos is an opportunity for India and Iran to strengthen their
relations. Elaborate. (10 Marks)

49
50
Que.6(a) Explore the geo-political dimensions, economic ties and the aspect of
Diaspora in India’s links with the West Asia. (20 Marks)

51
52
53
54
Que.6(b) India and USA can have overlapping consensus but lack overarching
consensus on geo-political issues. Comment (15 Marks)

55
56
57
 Though the relationship between the two Asian giants is painted in
Que.6(c)
Apocalyptic terms yet the two need a new equilibrium in their
relations. Discuss. (15 Marks)

58
59
60
Que.7(a) As the great game in Afghanistan is entering into a new phase,
strategic patience and nuanced actions would serve India’s interest
the best in the region. Comment. (20 Marks)

61
62
63
64
Que.7(b) India should see Quad as an avenue to accelerate its internal
balancing and enhance its military capabilities. Comment. Suggest
the way forward for India. (15 Marks)

65
66
67
Que.7(c) The efforts of regional integration in South Asia are hijacked by the
dilemma of comprehending India’s role as a stepping stone or a
stumbling block for regional efforts. Critically evaluate. (15 Marks)

68
69
70
Que.8(a)
Discuss the components of India’s repeated calls at UN for “reformed
multilateralism.” (20 Marks)

71
72
73
74
Que.8(b) India’s continental grand strategy is facing existential crisis. A
revitalized Indian maritime grand strategy creates more space for
manoeuvring in the region. Discuss. (15 Marks)

75
76
77
Que.8(c) After a long journey as a love-less arranged marriage, India-EU
relations is set to begin a new era to realize the full potential.
Substantiate. (15 Marks)

78
79
80
Space for Rough Work

81
Space for Rough Work

82
 Political Science & International Relations
Crash Course & Test Series - 2021
Test 08
Time Allowed: 3 Hours Max Marks: 250

There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and

candidate has to attempt five questions in all.

Question Nos.1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining,

any three are to be attempted choosing at least ONE question
from each section.

Section A
Q1. Answer the following in about 150 words each:
a) Highlight the relevance of Political Sociology approach to the study of
Comparative Politics
b) Comment on the concept of Overdeveloped State.
c) With Taliban in power, global feminist movement is at crossroads.
Comment.
d) Highlight the significance of the 2021 G20 agenda- Planet, People and
Prosperity.
e) Relevance of nuclear deterrence as a security strategy in 21 st
Century.
Q2.
a) Discuss the various notions of security with special reference to the
Feminist approach to security.
b) To what extent Mortan Kaplan’s Systems Approach is a qualitative
improvement in the field of theorization of International Politics.
c) Give reasons behind South Asia being one of the poorest regions of the
world. What should be done to address the poverty in the region?
Q3.
a) Do you agree that the global war on terror can only be won if the West
promotes human rights more vigorously? Substantiate
b) Do you agree that the ‘Asian values’ debate was generated by the desire
of authoritarian regimes in the region to protect themselves from criticism?
Elaborate
c) Explain the difference between analyzing international relations as a
single international system and as the global politics of many different
policy domains.
Q4.
a) How does the ‘Tragedy of the commons’ analogy helps to illustrate the
need for governance of the global commons?
b) How would you define Polarity of contemporary International system? Is
Global governance a significant element of today’s order?
c) In present times, do you think that Global South is more divided than
united with respect to the negotiating positions on climate change?
Elaborate.

Section-B
Q5. Answer the following in about 150 words each:
a) Though India’s developmental co-operation is valued in Africa, it
lacks clear strategy. Comment.
b) “India-Russia friendship has stood the test of time.” Elaborate.
c) Though India has historically paid little attention to Latin America,
the recent developments show India’s quest to become a major
player in the region. Discuss.
d) “Japan is India’s most trustworthy friend” . Enumerate.
e) Afghan chaos is an opportunity for India and Iran to strengthen their
relations. Elaborate.
Q6.
a) Explore the geo-political dimensions, economic ties and the aspect of
Diaspora in India’s links with the West Asia.
b) India and USA can have overlapping consensus but lack overarching
consensus on geo-political issues. Comment
c) Though the relationship between the two Asian giants is painted in
Apocalyptic terms yet the two need a new equilibrium in their relations.
Discuss.
Q7.
a) As the great game in Afghanistan is entering into a new phase, strategic
patience and nuanced actions would serve India’s interest the best in the
region. Comment.
b) India should see Quad as an avenue to accelerate its internal balancing
and enhance its military capabilities. Comment. Suggest the way forward
for India.
c) The efforts of regional integration in South Asia are hijacked by the
dilemma of comprehending India’s role as a stepping stone or a stumbling
block for regional efforts. Critically evaluate.
Q8.
a) Discuss the components of India’s repeated calls at UN for “reformed
multilateralism.”
b) India’s continental grand strategy is facing existential crisis. A revitalized
Indian maritime grand strategy creates more space for manoeuvring in the
region. Discuss.
c) After a long journey as a love-less arranged marriage, India-EU relations
is set to begin a new era.

For any issue related to PSIR Test Series, write only at

psirtestseries@shubhraranjan.com
Tips for Writing Good Answers: -
1. Read the question carefully and at least 3-4 times.
2. Note down concepts, facts, examples, keywords related to the
question.
3. Draw a rough outline of the flow.
4. Pay adequate attention to the introduction and conclusion.
5. Introduction must offer your brief interpretation of the question
and how you propose to develop it.
6. Conclusion must summarize your response to the question.
7. Make sure answer is
a. Logical and coherent
b. Clear connection between sentences and paragraphs.
c. Written correctly giving adequate compatibility to your
expression, style and presentation
d. Do not exceed the word limit
e. Write neatly
f. Underline points you wish to emphasize.