Year 2025

Truth knows no color.

Discuss the salient features of the Harappan architecture.

Discuss the ‘corrupt practices’ for the purpose of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Analyze whether the increase in the assets of the legislators and/or their associates, disproportionate to their known sources of income, would constitute ‘undue influence’ and consequently a corrupt practice.

Distinguish between the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) with special reference to India. Why is the IHDI considered a better indicator of inclusive growth?

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

(a) Mendelian and non-Mendelian traits. (10 marks)

(b) Theoretical significance of Purum kinship-system. (10 marks)

(c) Osteodontokeratik culture and its makers. (10 marks)

(d) Smell as a signal among non-human primates. (10 marks)

(e) Culture and embodiment. (10 marks)

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

(a) ‘Soanian cultural’ tradition

(b) Caste domination, factionalism and political power

(c) Regionalism and Autonomy

(d) Verrier Elwin’s philosophy with respect to Arunachal Pradesh

(e) Characteristics and communication between Little and Great Traditions

Answer the following in about 150 words each : (10 marks for each subpart)

(a) Explain the causes of glacial lake outburst flood. (10 marks, 150 words)

(b) What is solifluction? What are its impacts? (10 marks, 150 words)

(c) What geological and tectonic processes lead to the formation of nappes in orogenic belts? (10 marks, 150 words)

(d) Explain the relationship between air masses and local winds. (10 marks, 150 words)

(e) What are the fundamental differences among ocean wave, ocean current and tide? (10 marks, 150 words)

(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 : (2×10=20)

(i) Rushikulya River

(ii) Datar Hill

(iii) Kikruma

(iv) Choritand Tillaya

(v) Byalalu

(vi) Neyyar

(vii) Uttarlai

(viii) Sri Vijayapuram

(ix) Dharwas

(x) Gitabitan

(b) Referring to the location and physical formation of karewas, highlight their economic significance. (10 marks)

(c) How does Himalayan ecosystem regulate the cropping pattern and agricultural activities in Himalayan region of India? Discuss. (10 marks)

(d) Write a critically argued essay on nautical tourism and its infrastructure in India. (10 marks)

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 each)

(i) Neolithic site

(ii) Mesolithic site

(iii) Paleolithic site

(iv) Neolithic site with stone artefacts

(v) Site of Indus Valley Civilization

(vi) Early Harappan site with a fire-pit

(vii) Late Harappan site

(viii) The Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) site

(ix) Mesolithic site

(x) Megalithic site

(xi) Mahajanapada of South India

(xii) Site of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana

(xiii) Major Rock Edict of Asoka

(xiv) Asokan Minor Rock Edict

(xv) Commercial centre of the Mauryas

(xvi) Saka-Kushan coin hoard

(xvii) An inscription mentioning Ashvamedha Sacrifice

(xviii) Site of Post-Mauryan period burnt brick house

(xix) Terracotta craft centre of Post-Mauryan period

(xx) Important port of the Pallava period

Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each: 10×5=50

(a) "The Sikh monarchy was Napoleonic in the suddenness of its rise, the brilliancy of its success and the completeness of its overthrow."

(b) "The seeds of domestic dissensions were thickly and deeply sown in the Maratha system under the Peshwas."

(c) "Bhagat Singh and his comrades significantly expanded the meaning and scope of revolution, redefining it beyond mere political upheaval to include social and ideological transformation."

(d) "The significant feature of the Indian Councils Act of 1892 was the principle of election which it introduced, though the word 'election' was very carefully avoided in it."

(e) "The colonial rule opened the Indian markets for British-manufactured goods and led to 'deindustrialization' or destruction of indigenous handicraft industries."

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

(a) “Ideas are timeless and spaceless.” Elucidate this statement with reference to Plato. (10 marks)

(b) “In the empirical world, everything is a compound of Matter and Form.” Evaluate this statement with reference to Aristotle. (10 marks)

(c) Explain the difference between being-for-itself and being-in-itself as presented by Sartre. (10 marks)

(d) “The golden mountain is very high.” Discuss this statement in the context of Russell’s theory of descriptions. (10 marks)

(e) How does Hegel challenge Kant’s distinction between Phenomena and Noumena? Discuss (10 marks)

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

(a) "Corrupt practices reveal an inherent tension between particularistic and universalistic normative standards." Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons and justification for your answer. (10 marks, 150 words)

(b) How does gender as a social construct affect individuals' opportunities, rights, and access to resources? Critically discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)

(c) Is the idea of secularism necessarily related to the idea of religious pluralism? Discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)

(d) Comment on Plato's critique of Democracy. (10 marks, 150 words)

(e) Discuss the salient features of equality according to J.S. Mill. (10 marks, 150 words)

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

(a) Explain the Philosophical approach to the study of Political theory. (10 marks)

(b) Write a note on the relation between equality and liberty from the multi-cultural perspective. (10 marks)

(c) Explain the Macpherson's view on power. (10 marks)

(d) Mention the difference between Italian and German brands of facism. (10 marks)

(e) Explain briefly the elite theory of democracy. (10 marks)

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each :

(a) Discuss the psychological approach to the study of comparative politics. (10 marks, 150 words)

(b) Neo-liberalism lightened neo-realism's dark view of international politics. Comment. (10 marks, 150 words)

(c) Explain the non-traditional security threats in the context of food and environmental crises. (10 marks, 150 words)

(d) Discuss the political socialization of open and closed societies. (10 marks, 150 words)

(e) Comment on the Red Lipstick Movement in the context of feminist rights. (10 marks, 150 words)

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each :

(a) Imperfect market and political factors limit the application of Public Choice approach. Explain. (10 marks, 150 words)

(b) The fine art of decision-making is not making decisions that others can make. Comment. (10 marks, 150 words)

(c) Has the media nixed its role in holding the governments accountable and ensuring transparency? Argue. (10 marks, 150 words)

(d) Is Herbert Simon justified in criticizing some principles of administration as proverbs? Analyse. (10 marks, 150 words)

(e) Administrative Law has evolved from the need to create a system of Public Administration under law. Elucidate. (10 marks, 150 words)

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

(a) Arthashastra of Kautilya means the science of economics of livelihood of the people. Comment.

(b) Trace the reasons for limited effectiveness of the NITI Aayog.

(c) Highlight the constitutional provisions and judicial interventions to promote gender equality in India.

(d) In contemporary times, the District Collector should prioritize teamwork over hierarchical structures. Comment.

(e) Examine the significance of field organizations in enhancing policy implementation of projects like MGNREGA and Swachh Bharat Mission.

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

(a) What is common sense? How are common knowledge and sociology related to each other? Explain.

(b) What is the relationship (similarities and differences) between sociology and history in terms of their area of study and methodology? Discuss.

(c) What is a variable in social research? What are their different types? Elaborate.

(d) Can Merton's reference group theory be relevant in understanding ‘identity making’ in digital world? Explain.

(e) Is the social stratification theory gender-blind? Elucidate.

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

(a) 'Textual perspective is important in understanding of Indian Social System.’ Discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)

(b) Justify that the Indian traditions are modernizing. Also discuss its contributing factors. (10 marks, 150 words)

(c) According to you, which social reform movement has played the most effective role in uplifting the status of women? Explain. (10 marks, 150 words)

(d) How did Colonial Policies for the tribes affected their socio-economic conditions in India? Discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)

(e) How would you appropriate to characterise G. S. Ghurye as a practitioner of ‘theoretical pluralism’? (10 marks, 150 words)

Passage-1

Maintaining an ecosystem just to conserve biodiversity will affect its commercial potential as well as the livelihoods dependent on the ecosystem. There is also a conflict between using an ecosystem only for livelihoods, for commercial exploitation, or strictly for conservation. Deforestation caused due to commercial exploitation will lead to indirect harm like floods, siltation problems and microclimatic instability, apart from adversely affecting livelihoods dependent on forests. These conflicts are particularly acute in developing countries where the dependence of people on the ecosystem is significant, and commercial exploitation has the potential to boost national income.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the critical message conveyed by the author of the passage?

(a) Conservation of biodiversity is not an issue to be worried about when some people depend on ecosystems for their livelihoods.

(b) Commercial exploitation of forests goes against the fundamental rights of the people dependent on forests for food and shelter.

(c) Sustenance of livelihood and degradation of ecosystem while being together exacerbate one another, leading to conflicts and imbalance.

(d) Commercial exploitation of ecosystems should be completely stopped.

With reference to investments, consider the following:

I. Bonds

II. Hedge Funds

III. Stocks

IV. Venture Capital

How many of the above are treated as Alternative Investment Funds?

(A) Only one

(B) Only two

(C) Only three

(D) All the four