PSIR Optional · Paper I · Section A: Political Theory and Indian Political Thought
Rights Notes · PYQs · Solved Answers
Free notes, every previous year question and the solved answers for Rights (Paper I, Section A: Political Theory and Indian Political Thought), arranged so you can read a topic and immediately see how UPSC has asked it. Syllabus: Meaning and theories of rights, different kinds of rights, the concept of human rights.
18
Solved answers
2002–2026
Years covered
19
Questions listed
3
Free notes
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Free notes Previous year questions Solved answers All PSIR Optional units
Paper I · Unit 05
Rights notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order. Read a topic, then open its previous year questions below.
Free notes
Free practice
Previous year questions: Rights
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: Rights
Model answers to the previous year questions of this unit, newest exam year first.
PYQ Solutions
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“Rights of the man are separate and independent of the State.” Critically analyze the perspective of Laski.
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The debate on human rights is caught between the limitations of both universalism and cultural relativism. Comment.
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Comment on multicultural perspective on rights.
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Human Rights are complex and contested social practice that organises relations between individuals, society and the State. Comment.
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Write on the Cultural Relativism.
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Can there be universal conception of human rights? Give your arguments.
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Assess the significance of right to property in political theory.
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Discuss the doctrine of ‘rights as trumps’.
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What do you understand by three generations of Human Rights?
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What do you understand by Multiculturalism 7 Discuss Bhikhu Parekh’s views on Multiculturalism.
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“The implementation of human rights is regarded as a matter of changing the conduct of States.” Comment.
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Comment in 150 words: Idea of Natural Rights.
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Analyse the relation between natural rights and human rights.
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Explain Berlin’s notion of value pluralism.
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Critically examine the cultural relativist approach to human rights.
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Explain as to why Jeremy Bentham dismisses the theory of natural rights as ‘nonsense upon stilts.’
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“Human rights are basic moral guarantees that people in all countries and cultures possess, simply because they are people”. Explain the statement.
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Discuss the evolution of the theories of human rights from natural rights to collective and environmental rights.
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 |
Other units in Paper I · Section A: Political Theory and Indian Political Thought
- Political Theory: Meaning and Approaches
- Theories of the State
- Justice
- Equality and Liberty
- Democracy
- Concept of Power, Hegemony, Ideology and Legitimacy
- Political Ideologies
- Indian Political Thought
- Western Political Thought
Paper I · Section A: Political Theory and Indian Political Thought — section overview · All PSIR Optional units