UPSC CSE MAINS 2026

Political Science and International Relations – Paper II

PSIR Optional Question Paper

A

SECTION ‘A’

1. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50

1.(a)
10 Marks

Criticism of the institutional approach in comparative political analysis has come up in successive waves. Comment.

1.(b)
10 Marks

Extractive capitalism

1.(c)
10 Marks

Discuss various methods of Balance of Power.

1.(d)
10 Marks

Clientilism

1.(e)
10 Marks

What role does identity and technology play in the conceptualisation of Defensive realism ?

2.(a)
20 Marks

Discuss the factors responsible for the changing nature of states in contemporary industrial societies and explain its impact.

2.(b)
15 Marks

International Human Rights frameworks are hostage to politics among nations. Comment.

2.(c)
15 Marks

Diplomacy has always rested on two pillars : Institutional memory and individual craft. Elaborate.

3.(a)
20 Marks

NATO, the oldest surviving collective security system, is facing challenge of transactional coercion from its own biggest member. What future does NATO have amidst such developments ?

3.(b)
15 Marks

Theories of international relations which claim objectivity inevitably harbour subjective biases. Elucidate.

3.(c)
15 Marks

Does power transition theory reflect the dynamics of US-China relations ?

4.(a)
20 Marks

QUAD requires more robust architecture than the summit driven mode to tide over the current challenges. Elaborate.

4.(b)
15 Marks

How did the Council of Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) reflect geo-political division of the world during the cold war ?

4.(c)
15 Marks

What is UNCLOS ? Explain its salient features.

B

SECTION ‘B’

5. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : 10×5=50

5.(a)
10 Marks

Describe India’s objections to agricultural negotiations at the World Trade Organisation.

5.(b)
10 Marks

What strategic options can India exercise as a response to the tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan ?

5.(c)
10 Marks

Discuss the three areas of security co-operation between India and Israel.

5.(d)
10 Marks

Discuss the main features of the land-boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh.

5.(e)
10 Marks

Analyse the relevance of India-Brazil economic co-operation in strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.

6.(a)
20 Marks

Accelerating of Chinese influence across South Asia is fundamentally reshaping the region’s geopolitical landscape. This is a big foreign policy challenge for India. Analyse.

6.(b)
15 Marks

Critically evaluate the important factors of India-Maldives relations on the eve of sixty years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

6.(c)
15 Marks

“The mother of all deals” is a transformative milestone in Indo-EU trade relations. Elaborate on the new Security and Defence partnership.

7.(a)
20 Marks

How does illegal cross border migration pose challenges to India’s security ? Discuss the steps taken by the government in this direction and their effectiveness.

7.(b)
15 Marks

The island of Kachchatheevu remains an intractable issue in India-Srilanka relations. Comment.

7.(c)
15 Marks

India has adopted multi-alignment to fulfill its core values and interests in International relations. Discuss.

8.(a)
20 Marks

Critically evaluate India-Russia relations in the 21st century. How have both the countries responded to America meddling in their relations in the recent times.

8.(b)
15 Marks

India has recognised that West Asia is not a single contest, but a tangle of rivalries, bargains and anxieties. Comment.

8.(c)
15 Marks

Examine India and South-Africa co-operation through bilateral and multi-lateral forums.

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