Comparative Politics PYQ | UPSC PSIR GS 2

2026

Section a · 1. · Paper Q1(a) · 2026 · 10 marks · Solution

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

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Section b · 2. · Paper Q1(b) · 2026 · 10 marks · Solution

Extractive capitalism.

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Section d · 3. · Paper Q1(d) · 2026 · 10 marks · Solution

Clientilism.

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Section e · 4. · Paper Q1(e) · 2026 · 10 marks · Solution

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

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Section c · 5. · Paper Q2(c) · 2026 · 15 marks · Solution

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

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Section b · 6. · Paper Q3(b) · 2026 · 15 marks · Solution

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

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Section a · 7. · Paper Q4(a) · 2026 · 20 marks · Solution

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

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Section c · 8. · Paper Q4(c) · 2026 · 15 marks · Solution

What is UNCLOS? Explain its salient features

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Section d · 9. · Paper Q5(d) · 2026 · 10 marks · Solution

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

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Section a · 10. · Paper Q7(a) · 2026 · 20 marks · Solution

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

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2025

Section b · 11. · Paper Q1(b) · 2025 · 10 marks · Solution

Neo-liberalism lightened neo-realism's dark view of international politics. Comment.

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Section c · 12. · Paper Q1(c) · 2025 · 10 marks · Solution

Explain the non-traditional security threats in the context of food and environmental crises.

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Section e · 13. · Paper Q1(e) · 2025 · 10 marks · Solution

Comment on the Red Lipstick Movement in the context of feminist rights.

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Section a · 14. · Paper Q2(a) · 2025 · 20 marks · Solution

The world currently has been in the throes of a twin process of 'democratic backsliding' and 'democratic backlash'. How would you explain this paradox?

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Section b · 15. · Paper Q4(b) · 2025 · 15 marks · Solution

How successful has the 'ASEAN Plus Three' been in addressing regional problems? Support your answer with specific examples

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Section c · 16. · Paper Q4(c) · 2025 · 15 marks · Solution

"Trump's return to the White House is a jolt to push the European Union to invest in its own defence and economic and technological revival." Comment

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Section b · 17. · Paper Q5(b) · 2025 · 10 marks · Solution

Would you agree with the contention that India's inclination to lean on a 'more aggressive hyper-realist posture' has gained a new momentum in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist strike? Comment.

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Section c · 18. · Paper Q6(c) · 2025 · 15 marks · Solution

The tariff threats have pushed India and the European Union closer. Evaluate the India-EU partnership

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Section b · 19. · Paper Q7(b) · 2025 · 15 marks · Solution

Trump's unilateral imposition of reciprocal tariffs on scores of countries poses impending threat to the future of the rule-based multilateral global trading system under the WTO. What options do the WTO members have to salvage the organization?

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Section c · 20. · Paper Q7(c) · 2025 · 15 marks · Solution

NonAlignment 2·0 underscores India's unique aspiration to emerge as a site for an alternative universality. Comment

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2024

Section c · 21. · Paper Q1(c) · 2024 · 10 marks · Solution

The expansionist tendencies of the current Russian regime indicate its intentions for the realization of a Greater Russia on the lines of the Soviet era. Comment.

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Section a · 22. · Paper Q2(a) · 2024 · 20 marks · Solution

"Deglobalisation is displacing globalisation." Comment.

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Section c · 23. · Paper Q2(c) · 2024 · 15 marks · Solution

What were the limitations of NAFTA? How did its replacement by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement counter them? Explain.

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Section b · 24. · Paper Q4(b) · 2024 · 15 marks · Solution

The return of trade barriers and economic sanctions has diminished the spirit of GATT. In this context, discuss the factors contributing to the decline of WTO in recent times.

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Section c · 25. · Paper Q4(c) · 2024 · 15 marks · Solution

Do you agree with the view that the EU has thus far proved to be the most successful experiment in the regional integration processes? Account for its successes and also some of the recent challenges that it is faced with.

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Section d · 26. · Paper Q5(d) · 2024 · 10 marks · Solution

Discuss the rationale behind replacing the "Asia-Pacific" strategy with the new term "Indo-Pacific" strategy.

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Section c · 27. · Paper Q7(c) · 2024 · 15 marks · Solution

"India and USA have become such strong strategic partners that they need not become formal allies." Comment.

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2023

Section a · 28. · Paper Q1(a) · 2023 · 10 marks · Solution

What are the crucial functions of empirical political theory in Comparative Politics?

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Section b · 29. · Paper Q1(b) · 2023 · 10 marks · Solution

What are the difficulties faced by a political theorist in comparing the States?

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Section c · 30. · Paper Q1(c) · 2023 · 10 marks · Solution

How does democratic politics construct citizenship?

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Section c · 31. · Paper Q3(c) · 2023 · 15 marks · Solution

Narrate the various ways in which rapid environmental degradation is posing a serious threat to human security. Illustrate your answer with suitable examples

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Section b · 32. · Paper Q4(b) · 2023 · 15 marks · Solution

What do you mean by offensive and defensive realism?

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Section c · 33. · Paper Q5(c) · 2023 · 10 marks · Solution

Why is the compromise reached at WTO regarding the Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing not a Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver?

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Section c · 34. · Paper Q7(c) · 2023 · 15 marks · Solution

What are the challenges and limitations in India - Iran relations?

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Section c · 35. · Paper Q8(c) · 2023 · 15 marks · Solution

Discuss the major drivers of India's interests in Africa

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2022

Section a · 36. · Paper Q1(a) · 2022 · 10 marks · Solution

Discuss the main limitations of the comparative method to the study of Political Science.

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Section d · 37. · Paper Q1(d) · 2022 · 10 marks · Solution

Bipolar structure of the world is more stable than the multipolar one. Comment.

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Section a · 38. · Paper Q2(a) · 2022 · 20 marks · Solution

How has the electoral democracy augmented the participation of people in the democratic process?

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Section b · 39. · Paper Q4(b) · 2022 · 15 marks · Solution

What is the realist prescription to the States to ensure their survival in an anarchical world?

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Section c · 40. · Paper Q4(c) · 2022 · 15 marks · Solution

Russian-Ukraine crisis has cast a dark shadow on the energy needs of the member states of the European Union (EU). Comment

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Section b · 41. · Paper Q8(b) · 2022 · 15 marks · Solution

Discuss the consequences of illegal cross-border migration in India's north-eastern region

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2021

Section a · 42. · Paper Q1(a) · 2021 · 10 marks · Solution

Discuss the political economy approach to the comparative analysis of politics.

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Section a · 43. · Paper Q2(a) · 2021 · 20 marks · Solution

"The post-colonial state was thought of an entity that stood outside and above society as an autonomous agency." Explain

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Section b · 44. · Paper Q2(b) · 2021 · 15 marks · Solution

Discuss the emergence of neo-realism and its basic tenets

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Section a · 45. · Paper Q3(a) · 2021 · 20 marks · Solution

Explain the impact of electoral systems and cleavages in shaping party systems with reference to developing countries

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Section b · 46. · Paper Q3(b) · 2021 · 15 marks · Solution

What is globalisation? Why is there an intense debate about globalisation and its consequences?

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Section a · 47. · Paper Q4(a) · 2021 · 20 marks · Solution

The modernization thesis asserts that affluence breeds stable democracy. How do you explain the success of India being the world's largest democracy as an exceptional case?

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Section b · 48. · Paper Q4(b) · 2021 · 15 marks · Solution

Explain the success of ASEAN as a regional organisation

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Section d · 49. · Paper Q5(d) · 2021 · 10 marks · Solution

Write about the growing significance of QUAD.

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Section c · 50. · Paper Q6(c) · 2021 · 15 marks · Solution

Write a brief analysis of the ethnic conflicts and cross-border migrations along India-Myanmar and India-Bangladesh borders

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Section c · 51. · Paper Q8(c) · 2021 · 15 marks · Solution

Identify the drivers of India's new interest in Africa

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