Party System: PSIR Optional PYQs (Topic-wise)

Party System: National and regional political parties, ideological and social bases of parties; patterns of coalition politics; Pressure groups, trends in electoral behaviour; changing socio-economic profile of Legislators.

1. Comment: Personality factor and party system in India. (1992)
2. ‘Tradition is not always incompatible with Modernity’. Comment on the statement with reference to the modernisation trends in Indian policy. (1992)
3. “Political reforms must precede and not follow social reforms.” (Tilak). Discuss.  (1994)
4. Comment: Politics of terrorism. (1995)
5. Comment: Proportional representation. (1996)
6. Comment: Minority Governments in India. (1997)
7. Comment: Politics of terrorism in India. (1998)
8. Differentiate a political party from a pressure group. Explain the role of R.S.S. and Bajrang Dal-units of Sangh-Parivar as pressure-groups in the Indian political system. (1999)
9. Write: “Divisionism” in Indian political parties with special reference to Janta Dal, Congress, CPI and Akali Dal. (1999)
10. Indian democracy began with the unique advantages of an efficient civil service and a well-organized political party yet its record is dismal. What are the causes for such poor performance? (2001)
11. Identify the major pressure-groups in Indian Politics and examine their role in it. (2003)
12. Comment: Coalition Governments in India at the Centre since 1998. (2005)
13. “Political reform must precede and not follow social reforms”. (Tilak). Elucidate. (2007)
14. Comment: Revision in the Election Code of Conduct. (2008)
15. In what ways do pressure groups and movements exert influence in politics? In the Indian political context, discuss the implications of such influence being exerted. (2008)
16. Comment: Implications of the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) on electoral politics. (2009)
17. Comment: Upsurge in political participation among the marginalised communities in the Indian General Elections during the last two decades. (2010)
18. Critically examine and comment: “The principle of collective responsibility, a la the Cabinet system of government, has eroded in the context of the emergence of coalition governments in India.” (2010)
19. Comment: Trade unions as pressure group in Indian politics. (2011)
20. Examine the changing pattern of electoral behaviour in India. (2011)
21. Examine the impact of coalition-politics on Indian political system. (2012)
22. Explain to what extent the concept of “oneparty dominance” (W.H. Morris-Jones) model is relevant in Indian politics today. (2013)
23. Comment in 150 words: Marginalization of the left ideology in India. (2014)
24. Discuss the nature of reforms of the electoral process in India and explain the further scope for reforms. (2014)
25. Explain how pressure groups have been influencing public policy-making with suitable illustrations. (2014)
26. Account for the changes in the socio-economic profile of legislators during last one decade in India. (2014)
27. “Identity politics has trumped development politics in India.” Comment. (2015)
28. Account for the rise of regional political parties and assess their role in contemporary India. (2015)
29. Discuss the pattern of Political Parties from one dominant party system to coalition politics in national politics. (2016)
30. State subvention/funding may be an effective instrument in strengthening electoral democracy in India. Comment. (2017)
31. India has moved from ‘one-party dominant system’ to ‘one-party led coalition’. Discuss. (2017)
32. Comment in150 words: Political personalities are more significant than political parties in India. (2018)
33. Explain the increasing role of regional political parties in the national politics. (2018)
34. The changing socio-economic profile of of legislators does not augur well for the health of Indian democracy. Comment. (2019)
35. To what extent has the inadequate intraparty democracy affected the functioning of Indian Democracy? (2020)
36. “The Indian party system is shaped by a complex interaction of the country’s federal structure, electoral system and social cleavages.” Explain. (2021)
37. How far is it correct that the regional parties have strengthened Indian democracy and federal system? Substantiate your answer with suitable examples. (2022)
38. Electoral behaviour of voters is governed more by the social and economic factors than the political factors. Explain. (2022)
39. The decade 1989-1999 has created an epochal shift in the Indian party system at the national level. Identify the major national trends in the party system during this era. (2023)
40. Critically assess the role of pressure groups in the decision-making process of the government. (2024)
41. Illustrate with examples how regional parties in India have played a crucial role in drawing the historically disadvantaged groups into the mainstream political system. (2025)
42. The decision to conduct the Population Census-2027 has reopened the debate on delimitation in India. Discuss its various aspects. (2025)