Democracy: Classical and contemporary theories; different models of democracy-representative, participatory and deliberative (PSIR PYQs)
| Year | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | "Representative democracy is not an absolute principle, rather a question of time, place and circumstances." Analyze the statement. Mention the major challenges to representative democracy. (20 marks) | View answer |
| 2025 | Explain briefly the elite theory of democracy. | View answer |
| 2024 | Deliberative democracy seeks to promote democratic decision making about public issues among the citizens. Discuss. | View answer |
| 2023 | Success of contemporary democracies lies in State limiting its own power. Comment. | View answer |
| 2022 | Elitist theory of democracy denies the possibility of democracy as ‘rule of the people’. Elucidate. | View answer |
| 2021 | "Free and fair deliberation is key to the foundation of democracy." Explain. | View answer |
| 2020 | Representative democracy ……. means the people as a body must be able to control the general direction of government policy. (J. S. Mill). Comment. | View answer |
| 2019 | Comment: Deliberative democracy. | View answer |
| 2018 | Comment in 150 words Substantive Democracy. | View answer |
| 2018 | Critically examine Macpherson's views on Democracy. | View answer |
| 2017 | Deliberative democracy does not have its salience without participation and participatory democracy does not have its credence without deliberations. Comment. | View answer |
| 2016 | Explicate the features of Representative Democracy. | View answer |
| 2015 | Comment in 150 words: Difference between Participatory and Deliberative Democracy. | View answer |
| 2014 | Comment in 150 words: "India has thrown up a form of judicial democracy that has no parallel anywhere else, and has nurtured a kind of civil society that is uniquely its own." (Bhikhu Parekh) | View answer |
| 2014 | Explicate the features of deliberative democracy. | View answer |
| 2012 | Comment on issues of debate in contemporary democratic theory. (150 words) | View answer |
| 2011 | Examine the 'Participatory Model of Democracy'. | View answer |
| 2010 | Comment Robert Dahl's concept of deformed polyarchy. | View answer |
| 2010 | Assess the deliberate theories of democracy. | View answer |
| 2009 | Comment on the proposition that liberal constitutionalism precedes liberal democracy. | View answer |
| 2007 | 'Political process in a country is merely the manifestation of its_ political culture". Elucidate. | View answer |
| 2005 | "Democratic theory presupposes self-determination, human rights and social justice." Discuss this with particular reference to M.K. Gandhi. | View answer |
| 2001 | Comment: Polyarchy. | View answer |
| 2000 | The modern pluralist democracies have posed a great threat to the fabric of nation state. Discuss. | View answer |
| 1997 | Comment: "Laws are any necessary relations arising from the nature of a thing." (Montesquieu) | View answer |
| 1997 | Examine the nature and limits of the rights of Resistance and Revolution recognised in modern political theory. | View answer |
| 1997 | Discuss the philosophical basis of doctrine of popular sovereignty, and its significance for mankind. | View answer |
| 1995 | Comment: "Punishment should be preventive and corrective rather than retaliatory." (Bentham) | View answer |
| 1993 | Comment: "Obedience to mere impulse of appetite is slavery." (Rousseau) | View answer |
Syllabus unit: Democracy
PSIR Optional study material from LotusArise IAS
Two ways to prepare with us — the full self-study system, or just the notes you need right now.
| What you get | PSIR Mains Master Kit 2027 | PSIR Complete Notes (Store) |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 notes — Political Theory + Indian Government and Politics | Included | Included — Section A and Section B |
| Paper 2 notes — Comparative Politics and India and the World | Included | Included — Section A and Section B |
| Topic-wise PYQ bank | 1986–2026, with trend analysis and probables by Dec 2026 | 1991–2025 question papers, free with every notes pack |
| Practice question set for timed answer writing | ✅ Available now | ❌ |
| Answer toolkit — intros, conclusions, frameworks, thinker and example banks | By Dec 2026 | ❌ |
| Revision booklets for the last 60 days | ✅ Available now | ❌ |
| Format | Online articles + PDF | PDF download |
| Access | Valid until UPSC CSE Mains 2027 | Instant download after payment |
| Price | ₹1,770 (regular ₹5,000) | ₹1,180 for all four sections · ₹599 a paper · ₹354 a section |
| Best for | Aspirants who want the whole system in one place | Aspirants who want the notes now, in the parts they need |
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