IAS Mains 2009: Political Science Paper 1

Candidates should attempt Question No. 1 and 5 which are
compulsory and any three of the remaining questions selecting
at least one question from each Section..
All questions carry equal marks.

SECTION – A

1. Comments on any THREE of the following statements in
not more than 200 words each: 20×3=60

a) “ Political Theory is , quite simply , man’s attempt to
consciously understand and solve the problems of his
group life and organization ….. It is the disciplined
investigation of political problems …. Not only to
show what a political practice is, but also to show what
it means . In showing what a practice means , or what it
ought to mean , political theory can alter what it is.”
( Sabine )

b) “ Women has always been man’s dependent , If not his
slave ; the two sexes have never shared the world in
equality.” ( Simone de Beauvoir )

c) “ Western thought , one might say , has been either
platonic or anti platonic but hardly ever non-platonic.”
( Popper )

d) “ Socialism is a much used hat , whose original shape
no one can define.” ( C E M Joad)

2. a). Compare and contrast Kautilya and Machiavalli on
statecraft. 20

b). Explain as to why Jeremy Bentham dismisses the theory
of natural right as ‘ nonsense upon stilts’ . 20

c). Comment on the proposition that liberal constitution-
- alism precedes liberal democracy. 20

3. Examine in detail Marx’s prescription for ending alienation
and reaching the stage of de-alienation. 60

4. Critically examine Hamza Alavi’s Formulation of the over -
- developed state. 60

SECTION ‘B’

5. Comments on any THREE of the following in not more
than 200 words each: 20×3=60

a). Inter State Committee .
b). Radical Humanism
c). The Functions , duties and powers of the appropriate
National Commission as laid down in clauses (5),(8)
and (9) of Articles-338 of the constitution.
d). Implication of the use of Electronic Voting Machine
( EVM ) on electoral politics.

6. a). Critically examine the arguments being advanced for
review of the present system of appointment of judges
to the higher judiciary of the country. 30

b). Bring out the changing educational profile of the
members of the Lok Sabha over the years , up to the
present ( 15th ) Lok Sabha .

7. “ The OBC politics has challenged the nature of dominant
caste politics in the states.” Critically examine this
statement and bring out your conclusion. 60

8. “ The environmental movements have challenged the
policy and pattern of economic development in post
independent India.” Analyze with examples. 60