PSIR 1B: Indian Government and Politics – Unsolved PYQs [2013-2024]

1] Indian Nationalism

1.1] Political Strategies of India’s Freedom Struggle

1. Comment on Satyagraha and Indian Nationalism [2023/10m/150w/5d]
2. Analyse the workers’ movement in India in the pre-Independence period. [2022/10m/150w/5a]
3. Trace the role of militant and revolutionary movements in Indian national movement. [2020/15m/200w/6b]
4. National movement in India was anti-imperialist and increasingly radical in its socio-economic and political programmes. Discuss. [2019/20m/250w/6a]
5. The Revolt of 1857 was a ‘sepoy mutiny’ or ‘first war of independence’. Discuss. [2018/10m/150w/5a]
6. The success of Mahatma Gandhi lay in transforming both political and non political movements into a unified nationalist movement. Discuss. [2017/10m/150w/5a]
7. Differentiate moderate nationalism from extremist / militant nationalism in terms of their objectives and means. [2017/15m/200w/8c]
8. Comment on Satyagraha as a strategy in the Indian national movement. [2015/10m/150w/5b]
9. Explain how the peasant movement promoted nationalist ideas during the struggle for Indian independence. [2014/15m/200w/6c]

1.2] Perspectives on Indian National Movement

1. Discuss the contribution of the Dalit struggle to establish egalitarianism in Indian society during freedom movement. [2024/20m/250w/7a]
2. Analyse the Marxist perspective of the nature of Indian National Movement.  [2021/10m/150w/5d]
3. Discuss the role of socialists in Indian National Movement. [2020/10m/150w/5a]
4. Discuss the Dalit perspective on Indian national movement. [2019/10m/150w/5b]
5. Critically examine the Radical Humanist perspective on Indian National movement. [2016/10m/150w/5a]
6. Comment on Marxist understanding of India’s freedom movement. [2013/10m/150w/5a]

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2] Making of the Indian Constitution

1. Objective Resolution of the Constituent Assembly [2024/10m/150w/5b]
2. Comment on imprint of the British Constitution on the Indian Constitution. [2023/10m/150w/5a]
3. The Constitution of India is the ‘cornerstone of a nation’ (Granville Austin). Analyze. [2023/15m/200w/6c]
4. The making of the Indian Constitution is described as an attempt towards ‘social revolution’. Comment. [2022/15m/200w/8b]
5. The Constitution of India is a product of a historical process, rich with constitutional antecedents.” Comment.  [2021/10m/150w/5a]
6. “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.  [2021/10m/150w/5b]
7. Discuss Indian constitution makers’ concerns on social inequality. [2020/10m/150w/5b]
8. Unity and integrity of India was perhaps the single uppermost factor in the minds of the Constitution makers. Comment. [2019/10m/150w/5a]
9. Indian constitution is a Lawyers Paradise. (Ivor Jennings). Discuss. [2018/10m/150w/5b]

3] Salient Features of Indian Constitution

3.1] Preamble

1. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution reflects itself as a ‘social contract’. Elucidate.  [2022/10m/150w/5b]
2. Mention the founding principles that define India’s Constitution.  [2021/10m/150w/5c]
3. The purpose of the 42nd constitutional amendment was to make the economic and social democracy explicitly visible. Discuss. [2016/10m/150w/5d]
4. Comment on secularism in Indian constitution. [2015/10m/150w/5a]
5. In the light of new economic policies adopted since 1991, examine the relevance of the term socialist in the preamble of the Indian constitution. [2015/20m/250w/7a]
6. Comment on the significance of the Preamble. [2013/10m/150w/5b]

3.2] Fundamental Rights and Duties

1. Legal remedies in Part III of the Constitution of India [2024/10m/150w/5c]
2. The main goal of the fundamental duties in the Indian Constitution is to generate civic responsibility among the citizen. Explain. [2023/15m/200w/7b]
3. Constitutionally reconciling the Fundamental Rights with the Directive Principles of State Policy has led to frequent amendments of the Constitution and judicial interventions.” Comment.  [2021/20m/250w/6a]
4. Discuss the right to constitutional remedies in India. [2020/10m/150w/5c]
5. Right to privacy is an intrinsic part of the right to life. Comment. [2017/10m/150w/5b]
6. Discuss the right to education and the concerns raised by it. [2015/15m/200w/7c]
7. What are the constitutional provisions for the protection of the right to freedom of religion and how far have they succeeded in promoting secularism in India?  [2014/15m/200w/8b]
8. Analyse the significance of article 32 of the Indian constitution. [2013/15m/200w/6b]
9. Examine the significance of the verdict of the supreme court in the Golakhnath and Keshavananda Bharati cases for an understanding of the scope of article 368 in regard to fundamental rights. [2013/20m/250w/8a]

3.3] Directive Principles of State Policy

1. 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? [2024/20m/250w/6a]
2. Comment on the relevance of the Directive Principles of State Policy in an era of liberalization and globalization. [2019/15m/200w/8c]
3. Critically examine the provisions made in the constitution for the protection of the environment. [2016/15m/200w/8c]
4. Comment on increasingly higher focus on Directive Principles of State Policy. [2014/10m/150w/5c]

3.4] Parliament System

1. Differentiate parliamentary supremacy from parliamentary sovereignty. Would you consider the Indian parliament as a sovereign parliament? Examine. [2017/20m/250w/6a]

3.5] Amendment Procedure, Judicial Review and Structure Doctrine

1. Constitutional morality in the Indian Constitution [2024/10m/150w/5a]
2. The Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution has enhanced the power of judicial review of the Supreme Court. Examine. [2022/15m/200w/6b]
3. Underline the significance of the first constitutional amendment.  [2021/10m/150w/5e]
4. “The basic structure doctrine is implicit in the Indian Constitution; the Supreme Court has only given it an explicit form.” Comment. [2019/20m/250w/8a]
5. Article 368 does not enable parliament to alter the basic structure or framework of the constitution. Comment. [2016/10m/150w/5c]
6. Discuss the efficacy of judicial review in India. [2015/20m/250w/6a]
7. Examine the significance of the verdict of the supreme court in the Golakhnath and Keshavananda Bharati cases for an understanding of the scope of article 368 in regard to fundamental rights. [2013/20m/250w/8a]

4] Principal Organs of Government

4.1] Executive

1. The role of the President of India becomes more significant during a minority government and a coalition government. Explain.  [2021/15m/200w/6b]
2. Has the thrust of government tilted towards executive in contemporary Indian Politics? Give your arguments. [2020/15m/200w/7b]
3. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has emerged as the most powerful institution in India. Discuss. [2019/15m/200w/8b]
4. Do the lieutenant governors have more power than the governor of the states? Explain. [2018/15m/200w/6b]
5. How is the President of India elected? Outline the salient characteristics of the electoral collage of the Indian President. [2017/15m/200w/7b]
6. Critically examine the role of governor in recent times. [2016/15m/200w/7b]
7. Critically analyse the discretionary powers granted to the governor by the Indian constitution. [2015/15m/200w/6b]
8. Analyse the position of prime minister of India in a coalition regime. [2013/15m/200w/7c]

4.2] Legislature

1. Relevance of the Legislative Council [2024/10m/150w/5d]
2. The Speaker represents the freedom and dignity of the House. Examine. [2022/15m/200w/7b]
3. Legislative Council is a house without any effective powers. Comment. [2022/10m/150w/5c]
4. Comment on the decline of Indian parliament. [2013/10m/150w/5c]

4.3] Judiciary

1. Do you agree that over the years the Supreme Court has become a forum for policy evolution? Justify your answer. [2023/15m/200w/8c]
2. Examine the evolution of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India as a Constitutional Court. [2021/15m/200w/8b]
3. Discuss judicial overreach in India. [2020/10m/150w/5d]
4. Whether judicial activism has undermined or strengthened parliamentary democracy in India? Discuss. [2018/20m/250w/6a]
5. Judiciary has acquired the role of both, legislature and an executive in recent years. Examine with suitable examples. [2017/20m/250w/8a]
6. Comment on the 99th amendment of the Indian constitution. [2015/10m/150w/5c]
7. Examine the debate on the appointment procedure of judges to the higher judiciary in India. [2014/15m/200w/7b]
8. Examine the role of the supreme court as the final interpreter of the Indian constitution. [2013/15m/200w/6c]

5] Grassroot Democracy

1. Gram Sabha in the Panchayati Raj system is a forum which gives expression to the collective wisdom, aspirations and the will of the people. Comment. [2024/15m/200w/8c]
2. Comment on functions of District Planning Committee. [2023/10m/150w/5c]
3. Discuss the major provisions of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act. Do you think that the Act remains an ‘unfulfilled dream’? Argue your case. [2023/20m/250w/6a]
4. Examine the unique features of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. Do you think this Amendment would contribute in achieving the goal of empowerment of marginalised sections of the society? [2022/20m/250w/7a]
5. Do you think that despite having significant limitations the Panchayati Raj institutions have strengthened the process of democratic decentralization? Give your views.  [2021/15m/200w/6c]
6. To what extent has 73rd and 74th amendments of the Indian Constitution enhanced women’s empowerment ? [2020/15m/200w/6c]
7. Political decentralisation has not been matched by administrative decentralisation at the grass roots level. Explain. [2019/10m/150w/5d]
8. New Panchayat Raj is an effective instrument for women empowerment.  Discuss. [2018/10m/150w/5c]
9. Examine the provisions of Panchayat Extension Services Act (PESA) 1996. [2018/20m/250w/7a]
10. Has the 73rd constitutional amendment empowered women in Panchayat in India? Discuss. [2017/15m/200w/6b]
11. The goal of good governance will be achieved only by strengthening the grass root level democracy. Comment. [2016/20m/250w/8a]
12. Examine the role of Panchayat raj institutions and urban local bodies in deepening of democracy in India. [2015/20m/250w/8a]
13. Explain how participation of women impacted the functioning of rural bodies in India. [2014/15m/200w/7c]
14. Examine the changing structure of panchayati raj institutions with special reference to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act. [2013/15m/200w/8c]

6] Statutory Institutions/Commissions

1. Explain the structure and functions of the National Commission for Women. [2024/15m/200w/6b]
2. Comment on National Commission for Minorities. [2023/10m/150w/5e]
3. 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.  [2022/10m/150w/5d]
4. The success of electoral democracy can partly be attributed to the status and role of the Election Commission of India.” Explain.  [2021/20m/250w/8a]
5. Examine the role and functioning of the Election Commission of India and the Comptroller and Auditor General in the last two decades. [2020/20m/250w/6a]
6. The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India enhances the accountability of the Government and serves as the watchdog of the finances of the Government. Explain. [2019/15m/200w/7b]
7. Discuss, in brief, the role of the National Commission for Women. Do you think it is a toothless organization? [2019/15m/200w/7c]
8. Analyse the arguments in favour and against the lateral entry into higher civil services in India. [2018/15m/200w/7b]
9. Examine the role of the National Commission for Minorities in preserving, promoting and protecting the rights of minorities in India. [2017/15m/200w/7c]
10. Examine the objectives and role of the National Human Rights Commission. [2016/15m/200w/8b]
11. Comment on the role of Comptroller and Auditor General of India in promoting good governance. [2014/10m/150w/5e]
12. Discuss the working of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to curb violence against Dalits. [2014/20m/250w/6a]

7] Federalism

1. Does the actual working of Indian federalism conform to the centralizing tendencies in Indian polity? Give reasons for your answer. [2023/20m/250w/7a]
2. Discuss the composition and functions of the Inter-State Council. To what extent has this body been successful in achieving its objectives? [2022/15m/200w/6c]
3. 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.  [2021/15m/200w/7b]
4. Discuss mechanism for settling inter-state disputes. [2020/10m/150w/5e]
5. Does the functioning of the federalism in India tend to make it appear as a unitary state in practice ? [2020/20m/250w/7a]
6. Despite constitutional mandate the Inter-State Council has not come of age. Discuss. [2019/10m/150w/5c]
7. Implementation of GST and NEET is a major challenge to Indian federalism.  Comment. [2018/10m/150w/5d]
8. Discuss asymmetrical federalism in India. [2018/15m/200w/7c]
9. Indian federation has moved from cooperative federation to competitive federation. Discuss. [2017/10m/150w/5c]
10. The philosophy and administration of the distribution of powers between centre and state is required to be re-accessed. [2016/10m/150w/5e]
11. Comment on cooperative federalism in India. [2015/10m/150w/5e]
12. Identify the contested areas in centre state relations in India. [2015/15m/200w/7b]
13. ‘Cooperative federalism produces 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. [2013/20m/250w/7a]

The Most Important Book for PSIR

• Last 30 Year Questions (1995-2024)
• Topic & sub-topic wise classification
• Classification strictly accordingly to official syllabus
• Use of graphs to illustrate topic-wise weightage
• Also Includes Year Wise Questions

Buy PDF Copy

8] Planning and Economic Development

1. The legacy of the Planning Commission still has a bearing on India’s development policies. Discuss. [2024/15m/200w/6c]
2. The blueprint of Gram Swaraj is the key to understand the Gandhian perspective on planning. Discuss. [2024/15m/200w/7b]
3. How does NITI Aayog as a ‘policy think tank with a shared vision’ visualize the reorganization of planning in India? Justify your answer. [2023/15m/200w/6b]
4. Discuss the policy initiatives of the Fourteenth Finance Commission aimed towards promising and strengthening agricultural development in India. [2022/15m/200w/7c]
5. What explains India’s modest improvements in social development outcomes even as the rate of growth has accelerated since the initiation of economic reforms? [2021/15m/200w/7c]
6. ‘Liberalisation of Indian Economy has not been accompanied with adequate reforms’. Comment. [2020/15m/200w/7c]
7. What has been the political fallout of the Green Revolution in India ? Explain. [2019/15m/200w/6b]
8. Examine the various causes of agrarian crisis in India. [2018/20m/250w/8a]
9. In the post liberalisation era, Indian politics is moving from ascriptive politics to developmental politics. Comment. [2017/10m/150w/5e]
10. 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. [2017/15m/200w/8b]
11. Critically examine the politics of economic growth in India. [2016/20m/250w/6a]
12. Land reforms have failed in the eradication of rural poverty. Comment. [2016/20m/250w/7a]
13. Comment on the structure and function of NITI Aayog. [2015/10m/150w/5d]
14. Compare the Nehruvian and Gandhian models of development. [2015/15m/200w/8b]
15. Comment on Gandhian perspective of development and its contemporary relevance. [2013/10m/150w/5d]

9] Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics

1. “Relative deprivation is a major source of ethnic conflict.” Elaborate the statement with relevant examples. [2024/15m/200w/8b]
2. The rise of caste politics is to be attributed to both regional aspirations and electoral manifestations. Comment. [2023/20m/250w/8a]
3. Ethnicity is the underlying cause which poses a great challenge in the resolution of the problems in the North-East region of India. Comment. [2022/20m/250w/8a]
4. Explain how caste as a social category is also becoming a political category in the democratic politics of India. [2021/15m/200w/8c/]
5. Examine the role of religion in Indian Electoral Politics in the contemporary times. [2020/15m/200w/8b]
6. Development has overshadowed the influence of caste in electoral behaviour in recent elections. Discuss. [2019/20m/250w/7a]
7. Critically examine the ethnic conflicts in North East India. [2018/15m/200w/6c]
8. Religion is still an important factor in Indian politics. Discuss. [2017/15m/200w/6c]
9. Cultural and regional differences are the enduring bases on which politics is played out in India. Discuss. [2016/10m/150w/5b]
10. Comment on the emergence of backward classes in Indian politics. [2016/15m/200w/6b]
11. Comment on relations between ethnicity and democracy in India.  [2014/10m/150w/5b]
12. Explain the phenomena of ethnic politics in India in recent times. [2013/20m/250w/6a]

10] Party System

1. Critically assess the role of pressure groups in the decision-making process of the government. [2024/15m/200w/7c]
2. 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. [2023/15m/200w/8b]
3. How far is it correct that the regional parties have strengthened Indian democracy and federal system? Substantiate your answer with suitable examples. [2022/15m/200w/8c]
4. The Indian party system is shaped by a complex interaction of the country’s federal structure, electoral system and social cleavages.” Explain. [2021/20m/250w/7a]
5. To what extent has the inadequate intra-party democracy affected the functioning of Indian Democracy ? [2020/20m/250w/8a]
6. The changing socio-economic profile of our legislators does not augur well for the health of Indian democracy. Comment. [2019/15m/200w/6c]
7. Political personalities are more significant than political parties in India.  Discuss. [2018/10m/150w/5e]
8. Explain the increasing role of regional political parties in national politics. [2018/15m/200w/8b]
9. India has moved from one party dominance system to one party-led coalition. Discuss. [2017/20m/250w/7a]
10. Discuss the pattern of political parties from one party dominant system to coalition politics in National politics. [2016/15m/200w/6c]
11. Identity politics has trumped development politics in India. Comment. [2015/15m/200w/6c]
12. Account for the rise of regional political parties and their role in contemporary India. [2015/15m/200w/8c]
13. Comment on the marginalisation of the left ideology in India. [2014/10m/150w/5d]
14. Account for the changes in socio-economic profile of legislators during the last one decade in India.  [2014/15m/200w/8c]
15. Explain to what extent the concept of one party dominance (Morris Jones) model is relevant in Indian politics today. [2013/15m/200w/7b]

10.2] Electoral Behaviour

1. Electoral behaviour of voters is governed more by the social and economic factors than the political factors. Explain. [2022/20m/250w/6a]
2. State subvention / funding may be an effective instrument in strengthening electoral democracy in India.  Discuss. [2017/10m/150w/5d]
3. Discuss the nature of reforms of the electoral process in India and explain the further scope for reforms. [2014/20m/250w/7a]

10.3] Pressure Groups

1. Explain how pressure groups have been influencing public policy-making with suitable illustrations. [2014/20m/250w/8a]
2. Explain how pressure groups have been influencing public policy-making with suitable illustrations. [2014/20m/250w/8a]

11] Social Movement

1. Women’s role in anti-arrack movement [2024/10m/150w/5e]
2. Comment on environmentalism of the poor. [2023/10m/150w/5b]
3. Dr. Ambedkar’s clarion call, “Educate, Agitate and Organize”, strategizes the Dalit movement towards achieving civil liberty. Discuss. [2023/15m/200w/7c]
4. High concentration of economic activities and consumption patterns in post-liberalisation period has led to the failure of environmental movements in India. Elucidate.  [2022/10m/150w/5e]
5. Examine the nature of the civil liberty movement in India. [2020/15m/200w/8c]
6. Write short note on the significance of Chipko Movement. [2019/10m/150w/5e]
7. Critically analyse the environmentalist movement in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. [2018/15m/200w/8c]
8. Discuss the Right to Information and underline challenges being posed before it. [2016/15m/200w/7c]
9. Comment on the dilemmas of the human rights movement in India. [2014/10m/150w/5a]
10. Examine the scope and limitations of women’s movement in India. [2014/15m/200w/6b]
11. Compare and contrast Chipko movement with Narmada Bachao Andolan. [2013/10m/150w/5e]
12. Point out and comment on the historical importance of the document ‘Towards Equality 1974’, for women’s movement in India. [2013/15m/200w/8b]