PSIR Optional · Paper II · Section B: India and the World
India and the Global South Notes · PYQs · Solved Answers
Free notes, every previous year question and the solved answers for India and the Global South (Paper II, Section B: India and the World), arranged so you can read a topic and immediately see how UPSC has asked it. Syllabus: Relations with Africa and Latin America; leadership role in the demand for NIEO and WTO negotiations.
34
Solved answers
1992–2026
Years covered
36
Questions listed
7
Free notes
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Free notes Previous year questions Solved answers All PSIR Optional units
Paper II · Unit 04
India and the Global South notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order. Read a topic, then open its previous year questions below.
Free notes
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India and China in Africa and India’s Major African Bilaterals
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India and South-South Cooperation
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India and WTO Negotiations
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India-Africa Relations: Evolution, Principles, and Drivers
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India-Latin America Relations
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India’s Development Partnership with Africa
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India’s Leadership Role in the Demand for a New International Economic Order
Free practice
Previous year questions: India and the Global South
Every question UPSC has asked from this unit, year-wise, with a link to its solved answer.
Topic-wise question list
Year-wise question papers
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UPSC PSIR Optional Question Paper 2026
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2025
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2024
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2023
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2022
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2021
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2020
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2019
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2018
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2017
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2016
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2015
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2014
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PSIR Optional Question Paper 2013
Solved answers
Solved PYQ answers: India and the Global South
Model answers to the previous year questions of this unit, newest exam year first.
PYQ Solutions
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Answer in about 150 words: Analyse the relevance of India-Brazil economic co-operation in strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.
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Examine India and South-Africa co-operation through bilateral and multi-lateral forums.
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Answer in about 150 words: Describe India’s objections to agricultural negotiations at the World Trade Organisation.
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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?
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Discuss some of the key drivers of India’s new interests in Africa which might help in developing long-term comparative advantage over China.
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Discuss the potential role that India could play as the leader of the Global South in realising the goal of establishing a new international economic order in the 21st century.
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“Nothing is going to move within the WTO negotiations unless India is on board.” Discuss the main reasons behind India’s increased clout in the WTO.
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Discuss the major drivers of India’s interests in Africa.
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What diplomatic steps has India taken to articulate the interests of the Global South in International Politics?
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Why is the compromise reached at WTO regarding the Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing not a Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver?
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Discuss the relevance of the demand for New International Economic Order (NIEO) in the present era of globalisation.
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Explain India’s position on the waiver of intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines in WTO.
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How do the guiding principles of India-Africa relations seek to enhance harmony and mutual cooperation between India and Africa?
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How is India pursuing her foreign policy objectives through the IBSA Dialogue Forum (India, Brazil and South Africa)?
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“India’s capacity building programmes under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) has earned much goodwill for it in Africa.” Discuss.
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“India’s Research and Information System for Developing Countries” (RIS) is a major initiative in the area of South-South Cooperation. Discuss.
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India’s coalitional diplomacy within the WTO has earned it wide appreciation. What accounts for the success of India’s coalitional diplomacy?
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Suggest measures so that India’s partnership with Africa becomes a true symbol of South South Cooperation, delivering clear-cut economic and political dividends to both sides of the equation.
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Analyse the stalled progress of Doha Round of WTO negotiations over the differences between the developed and the developing countries.
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Discuss the factors for the decline of India’s presence in Latin America.
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Sketch the leadership role of India in WTO negotiations. (150 words)
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Identify India’s contributions and assistance in the process of nation-building in South Africa.
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‘The constant breakdown in WTO negotiations suggest too many disagreements in world politics’. Would you agree?
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Does India’s rise as a major market power in a globalised world mean that it is no longer concerned with the ‘new international economic order’ that it once championed? Discuss.
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Give a critical account of India’s role in the affairs of the Third World countries.
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Comment: India and the emerging International Economic Order.
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How far institutions like WTO and IMF have influenced India’s political and economic sovereignty? What has been India’s response to these?
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Comment: India and the WTO.
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Describe, explain and suggest improvement in the state of India’s relationship with Latin America.
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Comment: IMF and India’s development.
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Critically examine the various controversial issues in the functioning of the World Trade Organization from the point of view of developing countries, particularly India.
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Give us analysis of India’s Africa policy.
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Explain the role of the Third World countries in the promotion of NIEO.
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Comment: India and the IMF.
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 | ❌ |
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| Price | ₹1,770 (regular ₹5,000) | ₹1,180 for all four sections · ₹599 a paper · ₹354 a section |
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