UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2 2025 PYQ

Section a · Q1 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks · Solution

Discuss the psychological approach to the study of comparative politics.

Approaches to the Study of International Relations

View answer → Download PDF

Section b · Q1 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks · Solution

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

Comparative Politics

View answer → Download PDF

Section c · Q1 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks · Solution

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

Comparative Politics

View answer → Download PDF

Section d · Q1 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks · Solution

Discuss the political socialization of open and closed societies.

Politics of Representation and Participation

View answer → Download PDF

Section e · Q1 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks · Solution

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

Comparative Politics

View answer → Download PDF

Section a · Q2 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 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?

Comparative Politics

View answer → Download PDF

Section b · Q2 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks · Solution

The withdrawal of the United States of America from the World Health Organization is set to have far-reaching impacts on global health. Reimagining the existing WHO is vital for the global health agenda. Discuss

India and the Global South

View answer → Download PDF

Section c · Q2 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks · Solution

Transnational actors have qualitatively transformed the world by the way of their fresh insights and actions. Illustrate your answer with suitable examples

Key concepts in International Relations

View answer → Download PDF

Section a · Q3 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 20 marks · Solution

Of late, centrist and centre-left political parties have been facing setbacks while centre-right parties have been in ascendency the world over. Comment

Politics of Representation and Participation

View answer → Download PDF

Section b · Q3 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks · Solution

Collective security and responsibility to protect (R2P) are uniform neither in scope, goals and methods. Explain

Key concepts in International Relations

View answer → Download PDF

Section c · Q3 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks · Solution

Global South-sensitive model of globalization would prevent the danger emanating from overcentralized globalization. Discuss

India and the Global South

View answer → Download PDF

Section a · Q4 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 20 marks · Solution

Latin America has made moderate success in countering US-led global economic order by framing various organizations emphasizing regional sovereignty, economic integration and alternative development. Discuss

India and the Global South

View answer → Download PDF

Section b · Q4 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks · Solution

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

Comparative Politics

View answer → Download PDF

Section c · Q4 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 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

Comparative Politics

View answer → Download PDF

Section a · Q5 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks · Solution

China's growing footprint and a tangible shift in power dynamics in Bangladesh has weakened India's leverage in Dhaka. Comment.

Recent developments in Indian Foreign policy

View answer → Download PDF

Section b · Q5 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 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.

Comparative Politics

View answer → Download PDF

Section c · Q5 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks · Solution

For India, a multipolar world order would also mean a multipolar Asia. Comment.

Recent developments in Indian Foreign policy

View answer → Download PDF

Section d · Q5 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks · Solution

Does the Non-Aligned Movement have any future in the wake of India's growing indifference towards it?

Changing International Political Order

View answer → Download PDF

Section e · Q5 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 10 marks · Solution

Historical ties between India and Japan grew into a 'special strategic and global partnership'. Comment.

India and the Global Centres of Power

View answer → Download PDF

Section a · Q6 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 20 marks · Solution

Critically analyze the different phases of India's foreign policy since independence. How justified, do you think, is S. Jaishankar's classification of the current phase as the phase of 'energetic diplomacy'? 15+5=

India’s Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement

View answer → Download PDF

Section b · Q6 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks · Solution

India maintains strong ties with countries that will assure a free and open Indo-Pacific and guarantee greater connectivity with rest of the world. Analyze

Indian Foreign Policy

View answer → Download PDF

Section c · Q6 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks · Solution

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

Comparative Politics

View answer → Download PDF

Section a · Q7 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 20 marks · Solution

India continues to invoke its time-tested policy of strategic autonomy vis-à-vis both the United States of America and Russia by rejecting US' offer of mediation on Kashmir issue and by refusing to criticize Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine. Comment

Indian Foreign Policy

View answer → Download PDF

Section b · Q7 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 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?

Comparative Politics

View answer → Download PDF

Section c · Q7 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks · Solution

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

Comparative Politics

View answer → Download PDF

Section a · Q8 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 20 marks · Solution

India's reluctance to perceive any 'existential threat' inevitably made the multilateral path to nuclear security a 'default option' until it decided to cross nuclear Rubicon in 1998. Identify and analyze some of the major reasons behind this shift in India's position on the nuclear question

Changing International Political Order

View answer → Download PDF

Section b · Q8 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks · Solution

Discuss some of the key drivers of India's new interests in Africa which might help in developing long-term comparative advantage over China

State in comparative perspective

View answer → Download PDF

Section c · Q8 · UPSC 2025 · PSIR GS 2 · 15 marks · Solution

Discuss the potential role India can play in initiating a possible phase of trilateral economic engagement among India, China and Nepal

India’s Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement

View answer → Download PDF