Answer: 3. Article 22
Explanation: Article 22 of the Indian Constitution grants protection to individuals against arrest
and detention in certain cases. It ensures that any person who is arrested is informed of the
grounds for their arrest, has the right to consult a legal practitioner of their choice, and must
be produced before the nearest magistrate within 24 hours. This article serves as a crucial
safeguard against arbitrary action by the state.

Answer: Andaman and Nicobar islands
Explanation: Sri Vijaya Puram is the new name for Port Blair, the capital of the Indian Union
Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The renaming was announced in September
2024 to remove colonial imprints and honor the region’s historical and freedom struggle
significance.
● Chandigarh: Chandigarh
● Lakshadweep: Kavaratti
● Puducherry: Puducherry

Answer: 2. 100 days work per year to all rural households
Explanation: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA),
passed in 2005, is a social security scheme that guarantees at least 100 days of wage
employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do
unskilled manual work.

Answer: 3. A, B, C and D
Explanation: All the statements accurately describe Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s concept of the
General Will. This concept, primarily elaborated in “The Social Contract” but also discussed in
“Discourse on Political Economy,” refers to the collective will of the citizen body. It aims for the
common good, originates from everyone, applies to everyone, and represents the rational
interest of the community as a whole.

Answer: 1. Vladimir Lenin
Explanation: Vladimir Lenin was the founder and leader of the Bolshevik faction of the Russian
Social Democratic Labour Party. The Bolsheviks, which means “majority,” eventually became
the Communist Party of the Soviet Union after seizing power in the October Revolution of 1917

Answer: 4. Thomas Pogge
Explanation: Thomas Pogge is a prominent philosopher known for his work on global justice
and severe poverty. He argues that the vast gap between the global rich and poor is not a
natural phenomenon but is upheld by an unjust global institutional order that the wealthy
nations impose on the world.

Answer: 2. John Mearsheimer
Explanation: John Mearsheimer is the leading proponent of “offensive realism.” This theory
posits that the anarchic nature of the international system forces great powers to
continuously seek more power relative to their rivals, as they can never be certain of other
states’ intentions. This relentless pursuit of power maximization is the best way to ensure
survival.

Answer: 4. The Rational-Choice approach
Explanation: The Rational-Choice approach assumes that political outcomes are the result of
choices made by rational individuals acting to maximize their own interests or preferences. It
analyzes politics by focusing on the strategic calculations and self-interest of the actors
involved.

Answer: 1. Alternative voting method
Explanation: Australia uses the Alternative Vote system, also known as preferential voting or
instant-runoff voting, for elections to its House of Representatives. Voters rank candidates in
order of preference. If no candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, the candidate
with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed according to the voters’
next preference until one candidate has a majority.

Answer: 3. Norway
Explanation: Trygve Lie, who served as the first Secretary-General of the United Nations from
1946 to 1952, was a Norwegian politician and diplomat.

Answer: 1. Benedict Anderson
Explanation: This is the seminal definition of the nation from Benedict Anderson’s highly
influential 1983 book, “Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of
Nationalism.”

Answer: 1. A, B, C, D
Explanation: The chronological order is as follows:
● A. 10th Amendment (1961): Incorporated Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
● B. 19th Amendment (1966): Abolished Election Tribunals.
● C. 26th Amendment (1971): Abolished the Privy Purse.
● D. 61st Amendment (1988): Reduced the voting age from 21 to 18.

Answer: 3. Shakti
Explanation: Kautilya’s Saptanga Theory describes the seven essential organs or elements of
the state. These are: Swami (The King), Amatya (The Minister), Janapada (The Population and
Territory), Durga (The Fort), Kosha (The Treasury), Danda (The Army/Justice), and Mitra (The
Ally). ‘Shakti’ (Power) is a concept related to statecraft but is not one of the seven limbs itself.

Answer: 1. Afghanistan
Explanation: Afghanistan became the eighth and most recent member of the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) during the organization’s 14th summit in 2007

Answer: 4. Dhaka
Explanation: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established
when its charter was formally adopted on December 8, 1985, in Dhaka, the capital of
Bangladesh. While its secretariat is located in Kathmandu, Nepal, its founding took place in
Dhaka.

Answer: 4. Boris Yeltsin
Explanation: Boris Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991
to 1999. He was elected in June 1991, before the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The other
leaders listed were leaders of the Soviet Union, not the Russian Federation.

Answer: 3. Herbert Simon
Explanation: Herbert Simon, an economist and political scientist, introduced the concept of
‘bounded rationality’. It challenges the idea of perfect economic rationality, arguing that
decision-makers are limited by the information they have, their cognitive limitations, and the
finite time available to make a decision. They seek a “satisfactory” solution rather than an
optimal one.

Answer: 2. The Preamble
Explanation: The Preamble to the Constitution of India explicitly declares India to be a
“SECULAR” republic. The word was added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, making it the
clearest statement of the secular character of the Indian state. While other articles support
this principle (e.g., Articles 25-28), the Preamble contains the explicit declaration.

Answer: 3. Oligarchy
Explanation: In his classification of constitutions, Aristotle paired “correct” forms of
government (ruling for the common good) with “perverted” or “deviant” forms (ruling for
self-interest). The correct rule by the few best individuals is Aristocracy. Its perverted form,
where the wealthy few rule in their own interest, is Oligarchy

Answer: 2. John Austin
Explanation: This is a classic tenet of legal positivism, most famously articulated by John
Austin. His command theory of law defines law as a command issued by a sovereign, backed
by the threat of a sanction.

Answer: 1. Process tracing
Explanation: Process tracing is a qualitative research method used to identify and verify the
causal mechanisms that link independent variables to a particular outcome. It involves a
detailed, systematic examination of the sequence of events and decision-making processes
within a specific case, often drawing heavily on historical evidence to build a causal story.

Answer: 1. K S Puttaswamy vs Union of India
Explanation: In the landmark 2017 judgment in the case of Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs.
Union of India, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court unanimously held that the Right to
Privacy is a fundamental right, protected as an intrinsic part of the Right to Life and Personal
Liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Answer: 3. 1979
Explanation: The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW) is an international treaty that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly
on 18 December 1979.

Answer: 4. A, B, C, D
Explanation: According to Karl Marx’s theory of historical materialism, human societies evolve
through distinct stages based on their mode of production. The generally accepted sequence
is: Primitive Communism, followed by the Ancient or Slave Society, then Feudalism, which is
succeeded by Capitalism. Marx predicted Capitalism would ultimately be overthrown and
replaced by Communism.

Answer: 1. James Lovelock
Explanation: The Gaia hypothesis was formulated by the chemist James Lovelock and
co-developed by the microbiologist Lynn Margulis in the 1970s. It proposes that living
organisms interact with their inorganic surroundings on Earth to form a synergistic,
self-regulating complex system that helps to maintain and perpetuate the conditions for life
on the planet.

Answer: 3. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Explanation: This is the famous opening line of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s influential 1762
work, “The Social Contract.” It encapsulates his view that humans in their natural state are
free, but the conventions and institutions of modern society have constrained that freedom.

Answer: 1. Thomas Hobbes
Explanation: In his book “Leviathan” (1651), Thomas Hobbes described the state of nature as a
bleak, anarchic condition where life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” He argued
that without a sovereign authority, humanity would exist in a perpetual state of conflict or a
“war of all against all.”

Answer: 1. A, B and C only
Explanation: Hybrid regimes combine democratic traits (like elections) with autocratic ones
(like suppressing opposition). Therefore, they are characterized by weak political culture (A),
pressure on the opposition (B), and a weak rule of law (C). Statement (D) is incorrect because
a key feature of hybrid regimes is the lack of constitutional restraints on the government once
it’s in power.

Answer: 1. America
Explanation: The United Nations Security Council has five permanent members (P5) who hold
veto power: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (America). The
other countries listed are not permanent members and do not have veto power.

Answer: 4. C, D, A, B
Explanation: The correct chronological order is:
● C. Karachi Agreement: Signed in July 1949 to establish a ceasefire line in Kashmir.
● D. Indus Water Treaty: Signed in September 1960, mediating water sharing.
● A. Operation Gibraltar: Pakistan’s strategy to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir in August
1965, leading to the Indo-Pak War of 1965.
● B. Kargil War: An armed conflict between May and July 1999

Answer: 4. Article 243 K
Explanation: Article 243K of the Constitution provides for the establishment of a State Election
Commission in each state. This independent body is responsible for the superintendence,
direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to
the Panchayats.

Answer: 3. D,B,A,C
A. The SAARC Energy Centre (SEC) was created through the Dhaka Declaration. The
13th SAARC Summit, held in Dhaka in July 2005, adopted the Dhaka Declaration,
which mandated the creation of the SEC. The Centre was formally established in
Islamabad in 2006. Given the provided options and the required sequence, the
establishment year 2006 is considered for this event.
● B. The interim unit of the SAARC Disaster Management Unit (SDMC) was set up in
Gandhinagar. While the official inauguration of the SDMC happened later, the
establishment of its interim unit in Gandhinagar is generally dated to 2005,
serving as a precursor to the full centre’s operationalization.
● D. The first meeting of the SAARC Inter-Governmental Expert Group on Poverty
Alleviation and Sustainable Development Goals was held in Colombo. This specific
meeting took place in 2004.
● C. Ambassador Mr. Md. Golam Sarwar of Bangladesh assumed office as the
Secretary General of SAARC on 1 March 2011.

Answer: 1. Alexis de Tocqueville
Explanation: While many thinkers (including John Adams and John Stuart Mill) discussed the
concept, the phrase “tyranny of the majority” is most famously associated with the French
political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville. In his book “Democracy in America,” he used it to
describe the risk that a democratic majority could impose its will on a minority, disregarding
their rights and interests.

Answer: 4. The law of equality of materialistic dialectics
Explanation: The three fundamental laws of dialectical materialism, as formulated by Friedrich
Engels, are options 1, 2, and 3. There is no such principle as “the law of equality of
materialistic dialectics” in Marxist theory.

Answer: 4. A-III, B-IV, C-I, D-II
Explanation:
● A. Incremental Model: Matches with III. Policy as continuation of previous policy
with minimum change.
● B. Rational Model: Matches with IV. Policy as one that is correctly designed to
maximize the net value achievement.
● C. Game Theory: Matches with I. Policy as rational choice in competitive situations.
● D. Elite Model: Matches with II. Policy represents the preferences of specific
interests of the society. (i.e., the elite’s interests).

Answer: 1. 1994
Explanation: The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was established in 1994 as a key platform for
security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region.

Answer: 1. China
Explanation: In the context of modern economic policy, the term “Open Door Policy” refers to
the economic reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping in 1978, which opened China to foreign trade
and investment after decades of isolation.

Answer: 2. Article 21 A
Explanation: The 86th Amendment Act of 2002 inserted Article 21-A into the Constitution of
India. This article makes the Right to Education a Fundamental Right, stating that the State
shall provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of six and
fourteen.

Answer: 2. Paris
Explanation: The headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) is located at Place de Fontoy in Paris, France.

Answer: 1. Machiavelli
Explanation: Niccolò Machiavelli extensively developed the concept of virtù in his political
treatise, “The Prince.” For Machiavelli, virtù refers to the skill, cunning, and strength of
character that a ruler must possess to acquire and maintain power, often irrespective of
conventional morality.

Answer: 3. Plato
Explanation: This quote is attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. It reflects his
belief that true wisdom must be integrated with justice and morality; otherwise, intelligence is
merely a tool for cleverness or manipulation (cunning).

Answer: 2. self-preservation
Explanation: This question refers to John Stuart Mill’s “Harm Principle,” articulated in “On
Liberty.” Mill argued that “the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over
any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.” This
prevention of harm to others is a form of collective “self-preservation” for society.

Answer: 4. B, C and D only
Explanation:
● Statement A is incorrect. Original Jurisdiction is covered under Article 131, not 132.
● Statements B, C, and D are all correct. The original jurisdiction allows the Supreme Court
to act as a federal court, adjudicating disputes between the Centre and states or
between states themselves.

Answer: 4. To ensure economic development for minorities
Explanation: While promoting human rights and economic development are broad UN goals,
the specific aim “to ensure economic development for minorities” is not listed as one of the
four principal aims in Article 1 of the UN Charter. The stated aims are maintaining peace and
security, developing friendly relations, achieving international cooperation, and being a center
for harmonizing actions.

Answer: 3. A, B, C and D
Explanation: All four statements are accurate reflections of Gandhi’s philosophy. For him,
Satya (Truth) was the ultimate principle (the end), and Ahimsa (Non-violence) was the
supreme duty and the only means to achieve it. He saw Truth and Ahimsa as two sides of the same coin and explored their various dimensions.

Answer: 2. A, B, C and D
Explanation: All four statements are central tenets of Hans Morgenthau’s classical realism, as outlined in his famous work “Politics Among Nations.” He argued that politics is governed by objective laws based on a flawed human nature (A), that political action must be judged by political, not moral, criteria (B, D), and that the international sphere is a struggle for power based on conflicting national interests (C).

Answer: 1. A, B, D, C
Explanation: The correct timeline for these major environmental initiatives is:
● A. Stockholm Conference: 1972
● B. Vienna Convention: 1985
● D. Brundtland Commission Report (“Our Common Future”): 1987
● C. Kyoto Protocol: Adopted in 1997

Answer: 4. Isaiah Berlin
Explanation: The distinction between ‘negative’ liberty (freedom from interference) and
‘positive’ liberty (freedom to achieve one’s potential) was famously articulated by the political philosopher Isaiah Berlin in his 1958 lecture and essay, “Two Concepts of Liberty.”

Answer: 2. A, B and C only
Explanation: Statements A, B, and C are correct descriptions of India’s policy process. The
Cabinet is the supreme policy-making body (A), the legislature debates and legitimizes policy into law (B), and the executive/administration implements it, often through delegated legislation (C). Statement D is incorrect; the judiciary has the power of judicial review and can strike down or modify policies that violate the Constitution.

Answer: 3. 2013
Explanation: Croatia joined the European Union on 1 July 2013, becoming its 28th member
state at the time.

Answer: 2. A-III, B-IV, C-II, D-I
Explanation:
● A. Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb attacks: Matches with III. 1945. The attacks
occurred in August 1945 during World War II.
● B. Formation of WTO: Matches with IV. 1995. The World Trade Organization was
established on January 1, 1995.
● C. Soviet invasion of Hungary: Matches with II. 1956. The Soviet Union invaded
Hungary to crush the Hungarian Revolution.
● D. Collapse of the Soviet Union: Matches with I. 1991. The Soviet Union was officially
dissolved in December 1991.

Answer: 3. A-III, B-IV, C-II, D-I
Explanation:
● A. Group Theory: Matches with III. Earl Latham, who viewed politics as a clash of
groups.
● B. Rational Model: Matches with IV. Herbert Simon, Yehezkel Dror and Thomas R
Dye, who are associated with rational choice and policy analysis.
● C. Incremental Model: Matches with II. Charles E. Lindblom, who developed the idea
of “muddling through” or making incremental policy changes.
● D. System Approach: Matches with I. David Easton, who developed the political system
model with inputs, outputs, and feedback.

Answer: 1. A, B and D only
Explanation: Statements A, B, and D are correct. The CAG acts as an agent of the Parliament
(A) to audit all government expenditure (B) and submits its reports to the President, who lays them before Parliament, thus ensuring executive accountability (D). Statement C is incorrect;
the CAG is an auditor and has no role in providing or sanctioning funds for government
activities.

Answer: 2. A, B and C only
Explanation:
● A: Thomas Hare developed the initial concept, so it is often called the Hare system.
(Correct)
● B: Ireland uses STV for its national elections. (Correct)
● C: STV is specifically designed for electing multiple representatives from multi-member
constituencies. (Correct)
● D: Voters cast a single vote but can rank multiple candidates in order of preference. The
statement “cast multiple votes” is inaccurate. (Incorrect)

Answer: 3. Forty-fourth Amendment Act
Explanation: Clause (2) of Article 38, which directs the state to “strive to minimise the
inequalities in income, and endeavour to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities and
opportunities,” was inserted into the Directive Principles of State Policy by the 44th
Amendment Act of 1978.

Answer: 3. M.K. Gandhi
Explanation: For Mahatma Gandhi, Satya (Truth) was the ultimate principle and the supreme goal of life. He considered it synonymous with God and the very essence of Dharma (righteous duty/cosmic law).

Answer: 1. National Interest
Explanation: The central tenet of political realism is that the primary obligation and motivation of a state is to pursue its own national interest, which is typically defined in terms of power, security, and survival.

Answer: 2. Herbert Simon
Explanation: “Administrative Behaviour: A Study of Decision-Making Processes in
Administrative Organization” (1947) is a groundbreaking book by Herbert Simon. In it, he
introduced his influential theory of bounded rationality.

Answer: 2. D, A, C, B
Explanation: The chronological order of these Cold War events is:
● D. Berlin Blockade (1948–1949)
● A. Construction of the Berlin Wall (1961)
● C. Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia (1968)
● B. The People’s Republic of China was seated at the UN (1971)

Answer: 4. Dana
Explanation: Kautilya outlined six forms of state policy (Shadguna): Peace (Sandhi), War
(Vigraha), Neutrality (Asana), Marching (Yana), Seeking Shelter (Samshraya), and Double
Policy (Dvaidhibhava). Dana (giving gifts/concessions) is one of the four diplomatic means
(Upayas), not one of the six primary foreign policy alternatives.

Answer: 3. 2013
Explanation: The Supreme Court of India, in its landmark 2013 judgment in the People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India case, ruled that voters have a right to a negative vote and directed the Election Commission to introduce the ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option on electronic voting machines.

Answer: 1. M. N. Roy
Explanation: The idea that India’s constitution should be framed by a constituent assembly, elected by the Indian people, was first proposed in 1934 by Manabendra Nath Roy (M.N. Roy), a pioneer of the communist movement in India.

Answer: 3. T.H. Marshall
Explanation: This definition is the cornerstone of British sociologist T. H. Marshall’s theory of citizenship. In his 1950 essay “Citizenship and Social Class,” he defined citizenship as a status bestowed on those who are full members of a community, granting them civil, political, and social rights.

Answer: 1. Official Indian Language
Explanation: The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India. It currently recognizes 22 languages.

Answer: 4. Human Right
Explanation: Amnesty International is a global non-governmental organization that campaigns for the protection and promotion of internationally recognized human rights.

Answer: 1. A, B, C, D
Explanation: The generally accepted chronological order is:
● A. Korean War (1950–1953)
● B. Vietnam War (major US involvement began post-1954 and escalated through the
1960s)
● C. Non-Proliferation Treaty (opened for signature in 1968)
● D. Strategic Arms Limitation Talks-I (SALT-I) began in 1969.

Answer: 2. 2001
Explanation: The Parliament of India passed the Energy Conservation Act in 2001 with the
objective of providing a policy framework and direction for energy conservation efforts in the country.

Answer: 1. WTO
Explanation: The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible.

Answer: 1. Liberal Nationalism
Explanation: Giuseppe Mazzini was a fervent advocate for Italian unification and a key figure in the tradition of liberal nationalism. He believed that humanity was naturally divided into nations and that each nation had the right to self-determination and a state of its own, grounded in the principles of liberty and popular consent.

Answer: 2. A, B and C only
Explanation:
● A & B are correct descriptions of the first and second waves of feminism.
● C is also correct; after the 1970s, feminism diversified into many different schools of
thought (e.g., liberal, radical, Black, post-structuralist), a process often seen as
fragmentation.
● D is incorrect. The seminal feminist text by Mary Wollstonecraft is titled “A Vindication of
the Rights of Woman” (1792), not ‘Women’s Estate’.

Answer: 2. A, B, D, C
Explanation: The correct chronological sequence is:
● A. The 1st Amendment (1951) added the Ninth Schedule.
● B. The 9th Amendment (1960) facilitated the transfer of the Berubari Union territory to
Pakistan.
● D. The 42nd Amendment (1976) amended the Preamble.
● C. The 53rd Amendment (1986) conferred statehood on Mizoram.

Answer: 4. the choice that rational individuals would make in a hypothetical situation
Explanation: This is the core of John Rawls’s theory of justice. He argued that the principles of justice are those that would be unanimously agreed upon by rational, self-interested individuals in a hypothetical “original position” behind a “veil of ignorance,” where they do not know their own place in society.

Answer: 1. A-III, B-I, C-II, D-IV
Explanation:
● A. Conventional participation: Matches with III. Voting in elections, which is the most
common form.
● B. Less conventional participation: Matches with I. Signing petitions. While common,
it is considered less direct than voting.
● C. Illegal participation: Matches with II. Political violence; including terrorism and
assassination. These are explicitly outside the law.
● D. Public opinion as a form of participation: Matches with IV. Public concerns by the
members of an affected community, as this is a way public opinion is formed and
expressed.

Answer: 3. Jean Bethke Elshtain
Explanation: In her influential book “Women and War,” feminist international relations scholar Jean Bethke Elshtain critically examines and deconstructs these traditional, gendered archetypes. She analyzes how the myth of the male “Just Warrior” and the female “Beautiful Soul” has shaped perceptions of war, conflict, and citizenship.

Answer: 1. Mitra Mela
Explanation: In 1899, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Ganesh Savarkar founded a secret revolutionary organization named Mitra Mela in Nashik, which was later renamed Abhinav Bharat Society in 1904.