Year 2016

If development is not engendered, it is endangered

Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate.

Discuss the essentials of the 69th Constitutional Amendment Act and anomalies, if any, that have led to recent reported conflicts between the elected representatives and the institution of the Lieutenant Governor in the administration of Delhi. Do you think that this will give rise to a new trend in the functioning of the Indian federal politics?

How globalization has led to the reduction of employment in the formal sector of the Indian economy? Is increased informalization detrimental to the development of the country?

Explain how ethics contributes to social and human well-being.

Why should impartiality and non-partisanship be considered as foundational values in public services, especially in the present-day socio-political context? Illustrate your answer with examples.

Write notes on the following in about 150 words each : (10x5=50 marks, 150 words)

(a) Differences between Social Anthropology and Sociology (10 marks)

(b) Cultural Relativism (10 marks)

(c) Lineage and Clan (10 marks)

(d) Totemism (10 marks)

(e) Functionalism (10 marks)

Write on the following in about 150 words each :

(a) Significance of Mesolithic findings from Belan Valley (10 marks, 150 words)

(b) Linguistic elements in Indian population (10 marks, 150 words)

(c) Relevance of caste in contemporary Indian politics (10 marks, 150 words)

(d) Impact of Jainism on Indian society (10 marks, 150 words)

(e) Ethno-archaeological evidences for the survival of hunting-gathering traditions in India (10 marks, 150 words)

Answer the following in about 150 words each: (10x5=50)

(a) Describe the “Basket of eggs topography”. (10)

(b) Differentiate between insolation and temperature and explain anomalous temperature. (10)

(c) Discuss Maritime Zones. (10)

(d) Bring out the ecological significance of Tropical Rainforest Biome. (10)

(e) Explain the hydro-meteorological hazards in the Himalayas. (10)

(a) On the outline map of India provided to you, mark the location of all of the following. Write in your QCA Booklet the significance of these locations, whether physical/commercial/economic/ecological/environmental/cultural, in not more than 30 words for each entry : (20 marks, 30 words for each entry)

(i) Pir Panjal Range

(ii) River Indravati

(iii) Nathu La Pass

(iv) Jog Falls

(v) Pulicat Lake

(vi) Kudankulam

(vii) Nalanda

(viii) Kudremukh

(ix) Headquarters of N-E Railways

(x) Farakka Barrage

(b) Explain the shifting of river courses and river capturing in the Himalayas. (In about 150 words) (10 marks, 150 words)

(c) Mention the space relationship of India with neighbouring countries. (In about 150 words) (10 marks, 150 words)

(d) Define agricultural intensity and bring out its regional distribution in India. (In about 150 words) (10 marks, 150 words)

Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you and write a short note of about 30 words on each of them in your Question-cum-Answer Booklet. Locational hints for each of the places marked on the map are given below seriatim: (50 marks, about 30 words per note)

(i) A Mesolithic site

(ii) A Neolithic site

(iii) A Megalithic-Chalcolithic site

(iv) A Neolithic site

(v) A Neolithic site

(vi) A Megalithic site

(vii) A site known for Buddhist remains

(viii) A Harappan site

(ix) A Harappan site

(x) A Harappan site

(xi) A Neolithic site

(xii) A Harappan site

(xiii) A capital city

(xiv) A rock-cut cave site

(xv) A late Harappan site

(xvi) An educational centre

(xvii) A terra-cotta art centre

(xviii) A seaport

(xix) A capital city

(xx) A capital city

Answer the following in about 150 words each :

(a) Comment on the French ambition of building a territorial empire in India. (10 marks, 150 words)

(b) After the Battle of Plassey, how did India transit from the medieval to the modern age? (10 marks, 150 words)

(c) Do you agree with the view that the growth of vernacular literature in the 19th and the 20th centuries paved the way for social reform and cultural revival in India? (10 marks, 150 words)

(d) “The Mutiny of 1857 was much more than a Mutiny of Sepoys and much less than a National Rebellion.” Comment. (10 marks, 150 words)

(e) Explain “Constructive Swadeshi” characterised by atmashakti (self-reliance), which propelled the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal. (10 marks, 150 words)

Answer the following in about 150 words each :

(a) What is the logical necessity for Locke to introduce the concept of secondary qualities? Give reasons for your answer. (10 marks, 150 words)

(b) Examine Kant's criticism on Descartes' view of Self. (10 marks, 150 words)

(c) Why does Wittgenstein reject the possibility of private language? (10 marks, 150 words)

(d) Explain verification theory. Does it lead to elimination of metaphysics? (10 marks, 150 words)

(e) Discuss Quine's attack on the analytic-synthetic distinction. (10 marks, 150 words)

Answer all of the following questions in about 150 words each: (10x5=50)

(a) “Sovereignty is the supreme power over citizens and subjects, unrestrained by law.” Discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)

(b) A well-ordered society, according to Rawls, is effectively regulated by a public conception of justice. Do you agree? Give reasons. (10 marks, 150 words)

(c) “Socialism itself is the fulfilment of democracy.” Analyse. (10 marks, 150 words)

(d) Evaluate the statement that all human beings have certain unalienable rights. (10 marks, 150 words)

(e) “The goal in punishing should be to reform the individual.” Comment. (10 marks, 150 words)

Comment on the following in about 150 words each : (50 marks, 150 words)

1. (a) “How would I and my fellow human beings behave if we were to find ourselves in a state of nature, and what does this behaviour tell us about our innate pre-dispositions?” (Thomas Hobbes) (10 marks)

1. (b) The Post-Behavioural Approach. (10 marks)

1. (c) Affirmative Action. (10 marks)

1. (d) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s idea of state socialism. (10 marks)

1. (e) Gramsci’s concept of Hegemony. (10 marks)

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : (10x5=50 marks, 150 words each)

(a) Critically examine the Marxist aspect of political economy approach to the study of comparative politics.

(b) Comment on the decline of political parties and examine whether new social movements shall be alternative strategy for establishing link between government and society.

(c) Discuss the impact of globalization on the internal functioning of the state.

(d) Critically examine the functional and system approaches to the study of international relations.

(e) “A combination of internal pressures (ethnic and regional forces) and external threats (EU, UN, TNC, global market, etc.) has produced what is commonly referred to as a ‘crisis of the nation-state’.” Elaborate.

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each (10 marks, 150 words):

(a) “Taylorism is considered very controversial despite its popularity.” (Stephen P. Waring) Comment.

(b) “Public Administration is the translation of politics into reality that citizens see everyday.” (Donald F. Kettl and James W. Fesler) Explain.

(c) “Morale can drive an organization forward or can lead to employees’ discontent, poor job performance and absenteeism.” Examine.

(d) “The autonomy of Public Corporations raised a great debate about their internal working and external relation with the Ministers and the Parliament.” Discuss.

(e) “In spite of certain advantages, Social Audit arrangements have mostly been ineffective because there is no legal provision for punitive action.” Comment.

Attempt all of the following questions in about 150 words each : (10x5=50)

(a) “The Regulating Act of 1773 not only introduced values in administration but also laid the foundation of centralized administration in India.” Explain. (10 marks, 150 words)

(b) Do you think that some of the ideals enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution remain only on paper even today ? Critically evaluate. (10 marks, 150 words)

(c) Examine the efficacy of the measures taken to redefine and execute cooperative federalism in India. (10 marks, 150 words)

(d) Evaluate the performance and efficacy of the Maharatna, Navratna and Miniratna type of Public Sector Undertakings in the context of Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG). (10 marks, 150 words)

(e) “The growing prominence of NGOs in development areas is strongly related to the declining legitimacy of the State.” Explain. (10 marks, 150 words)

Write short answers of the following questions in about 150 words each : (10×5=50)

(a) “Sociology is pre-eminently study of modern societies.” Discuss.

(b) What is ‘value-free sociology’? Clarify.

(c) Analyze the importance of qualitative method in social research.

(d) Evaluate Marx's ideas on mode of production.

(e) “Vertical mobility brings structural change even in a closed social system.” Comment.

Write short notes with a sociological perspective on the following, in about 150 words each : (10x5=50 marks)

(a) Salient features of A.R. Desai's Marxist Sociology (10 marks)

(b) Significance of Village Studies in Indian Sociology (10 marks)

(c) 'Isolationism' as a dominant feature of colonial tribal policy (10 marks)

(d) Anti-Brahmanical movements during the colonial period (10 marks)

(e) Patriarchy as a form of dominance (10 marks)

Direction for the following 6 (six) items:

Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow each passage. Your answer to these items should be based on the passages only.

Passage - 1

Accountability, or the lack of it, in governance generally, and civil services, in particular, is a major factor underlying the deficiencies in governance and public administration. Designing an effective framework for accountability has been a key element of the reform agenda. A fundamental issue is whether civil services should be accountable to the political executive of the day or to society at large. In other words, how should internal and external accountability be reconciled? Internal accountability is sought to be achieved by internal performance monitoring, official supervision by bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission and Comptroller and Auditor General, and judicial review of executive decisions. Articles 311 and 312 of the Indian Constitution provide job security and safeguards to the civil services, especially the All India Services.The framers of the Constitution had envisaged that provision of these safeguards would result in a civil service that is not totally subservient to the political executive but will have the strength to function in larger public interest. The need to balance internal and external accountability is thus built into the Constitution. The issue is where to draw the line.

Over the years, the emphasis seems to have tilted in favour of greater internal accountability of the civil services at large through the election process. This system for seeking accountability to society has not worked out and has led to several adverse consequences for governance. Some special measures can be considered for improving accountability in civil services. Provisions of Articles 311 and 312 should be reviewed, and laws and regulations framed to ensure external accountability of civil services. The proposed Civil Services Bill seeks to address some of these requirements. The respective roles of professional civil services and the political executive should be defined so that professional managerial functions and management of civil services are depoliticized. For this purpose, effective statutory civil service boards should be created at the centre and in the states. Decentralization and devolution of authority to bring government and decision-making closer to the people also help to enhance accountability.

According to the passage, which of the following factor/factors led to the adverse consequences for governance/public administration?

1. Inability of civil services to strike a balance between internal and external accountabilities.

2. Lack of sufficient professional training to the officers of All India Services.

3. Lack of proper service benefits in civil services.

4. Lack of constitutional provisions to define the respective roles of professional civil services vis-à-vis political executive in this context.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(A) 1 only

(B) 2 and 3 only

(C) 1 and 4 only

(D) 2, 3 and 4

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses on its prorogation.

2. A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, which has not been passed by the Lok Sabha, shall not lapse on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(A) 1 only

(B) 2 only

(C) Both 1 and 2

(D) Neither 1 nor 2