University of Lucknow B.A. Semester I — Previous Year Question Papers

This page is being built subject-by-subject as the complete Previous Year Question (PYQ) paper bank for University of Lucknow B.A. (NEP) Semester I students. We are starting with Political Science, which is now fully available below with both compulsory Semester I papers — Political Theory (P1) and National Movement of India (P2) — each with 5 complete model sets (Set A to Set E) of 10 questions each, prepared by LUUPDATE for focused B.A. Semester I exam practice. More B.A. Semester I subjects, such as History, Economics, Sociology, Hindi, English and others, will be added to this same page in future updates, so please bookmark this page and check back regularly as new subjects are published.

Political Science

Political Science at B.A. Semester I (University of Lucknow, NEP syllabus) has two compulsory core papers. P1 – Political Theory and P2 – National Movement of India are both compulsory for every student enrolled in Political Science at this semester. Both papers are covered in full below, each with 5 complete model sets (Set A to Set E) of 10 questions, for a total of 100 practice questions across the subject.

P1 – Political Theory (Compulsory)

Political Theory (Paper-I, P1) covers the Definition, Nature and Scope of Political Science, its Relation with other Social Sciences, and Methods of Study (Unit I); Approaches to the study of Political Science — the Traditional Approach (Institutional, Historical and Philosophical) and the Modern Approach (Behavioural and Post-Behavioural) (Unit II); the State — its Origin, Nature and Ends, and the Welfare State (Unit III); and the Concepts of Law, Justice, Liberty and Equality (Unit IV). Time: 3 Hours, Maximum Marks: 75. Answer any five of the ten questions given below; all questions carry equal marks (15 each). The five sets below (Set A to Set E) give you full practice coverage across every unit of the syllabus.

Set A

Q1. Discuss the meaning, definition and nature of Political Science, and examine the extent to which it can be regarded as a science. [15]

Q2. Explain the scope of Political Science and discuss how its subject matter has expanded from the study of the State alone to the study of political processes, power and behaviour in society. [15]

Q3. Discuss the essential features of the Traditional Approach to the study of Political Science, and examine its main strengths and weaknesses. [15]

Q4. Explain the Institutional Approach to the study of Political Science, and discuss the extent to which the study of formal political institutions helps in understanding political life. [15]

Q5. Explain the Historical Approach to the study of Political Science, and discuss how it seeks to explain political phenomena through the study of their historical evolution. [15]

Q6. Discuss the meaning, elements and essential characteristics of the State, and distinguish it from other associations such as society and government. [15]

Q7. Explain the Social Contract Theory of the origin of the State, and discuss the versions of the theory as given by Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. [15]

Q8. Critically examine Thomas Hobbes' version of the Social Contract Theory of the origin of the State. [15]

Q9. Discuss the meaning and definition of Law, and examine the various sources from which Law is derived in a modern State. [15]

Q10. Explain the Austinian (Analytical) theory of Law as the command of the sovereign, and examine the criticisms levelled against it. [15]

Set B

Q1. Examine the relationship of Political Science with Economics, bringing out the points of contact as well as the points of difference between the two disciplines. [15]

Q2. Examine the relationship of Political Science with History, and discuss why History is often described as 'past politics' and Politics as 'present history'. [15]

Q3. Explain the Philosophical Approach to the study of Political Science, and discuss its contribution to normative political theory. [15]

Q4. Discuss the circumstances that led to the emergence of the Modern (Behavioural) Approach as a reaction against the Traditional Approach to Political Science. [15]

Q5. Explain the meaning and essential characteristics of the Behavioural Approach to the study of Political Science. [15]

Q6. Critically examine John Locke's version of the Social Contract Theory of the origin of the State. [15]

Q7. Critically examine Jean-Jacques Rousseau's version of the Social Contract Theory of the origin of the State. [15]

Q8. Explain the Historical theory of Law associated with Savigny, and discuss the extent to which it corrects the shortcomings of the Analytical theory. [15]

Q9. Explain the Sociological theory of Law, and discuss how it views Law as an instrument of social control and social engineering. [15]

Q10. Discuss the relationship between Law and Liberty, and examine how far Law can be regarded as a condition rather than a limitation of Liberty. [15]

Set C

Q1. Examine the relationship of Political Science with Sociology, bringing out the ways in which the two disciplines complement and enrich each other's study. [15]

Q2. Examine the relationship of Political Science with Ethics, and discuss the extent to which political theory has traditionally been concerned with moral and ethical questions. [15]

Q3. Examine the main contributions as well as the limitations of the Behavioural Approach to the study of Political Science. [15]

Q4. Explain the circumstances that led to the emergence of the Post-Behavioural Approach, and discuss its relationship with the Behavioural Approach. [15]

Q5. Discuss the essential features and the credo of relevance associated with the Post-Behavioural Approach to the study of Political Science. [15]

Q6. Explain the Evolutionary (Historical) Theory of the origin of the State, and discuss the various factors, such as kinship, religion, force and political consciousness, that contributed to its evolution. [15]

Q7. Explain the Force Theory of the origin of the State, and examine its strengths and weaknesses as an explanation of how States actually came into being. [15]

Q8. Explain the Divine Origin Theory of the State, and discuss the reasons for its decline in the modern age. [15]

Q9. Discuss the meaning and definition of Justice, and distinguish between its legal and social conceptions. [15]

Q10. Explain the concept of Distributive Justice and discuss the principal theories advanced to explain the basis on which social benefits and burdens ought to be distributed. [15]

Set D

Q1. Examine the relationship of Political Science with Psychology, and discuss how insights from psychology have enriched the modern study of political behaviour. [15]

Q2. Discuss the historical method of studying Political Science, and examine its usefulness as well as its limitations. [15]

Q3. Discuss the philosophical (deductive) method of studying Political Science, and examine its main features and shortcomings. [15]

Q4. Distinguish between the Traditional and Modern (Behavioural) Approaches to the study of Political Science, bringing out their basic differences in method and outlook. [15]

Q5. Distinguish between the Behavioural and Post-Behavioural Approaches to the study of Political Science, bringing out the shift in emphasis from pure science to relevance and action. [15]

Q6. Discuss the nature of the State as understood by the Individualist school of political thought, and examine its view regarding the proper functions of the State. [15]

Q7. Discuss the nature of the State as understood by the Idealist school of political thought, with special reference to Hegel's conception of the State. [15]

Q8. Discuss the ends (functions) of the State, distinguishing between its minimal and maximal functions as conceived by different schools of political thought. [15]

Q9. Explain the meaning and definition of Liberty, and distinguish between its negative and positive conceptions. [15]

Q10. Discuss the various kinds of Liberty, such as natural, civil, political and economic liberty, and examine the safeguards necessary for their protection. [15]

Set E

Q1. Discuss the observational and comparative methods of studying Political Science, and examine their significance in the modern study of politics. [15]

Q2. Explain why the study of Political Science is important for a citizen in a democracy, and discuss its practical value in public life and administration. [15]

Q3. Critically examine the view that Political Science lacks the precision of a natural science, and discuss whether it can nevertheless be studied scientifically. [15]

Q4. Critically examine David Easton's contribution to the development of the Behavioural and Post-Behavioural Approaches in Political Science. [15]

Q5. Discuss the significance of a pluralistic approach that combines traditional, behavioural and post-behavioural insights in the contemporary study of Political Science. [15]

Q6. Explain the meaning and essential features of the Welfare State, and discuss the historical circumstances that led to its emergence. [15]

Q7. Critically examine the merits and demerits of the Welfare State, and discuss the challenges it faces in the contemporary world. [15]

Q8. Discuss the relationship between Liberty and Equality, and examine whether the two values are complementary to each other or stand in conflict. [15]

Q9. Explain the meaning and definition of Equality, and distinguish between its various kinds, such as natural, social, civil, political and economic equality. [15]

Q10. Examine the relationship between Law, Liberty and Equality, and discuss how a proper balance among the three is essential for a just political order. [15]

P2 – National Movement of India (Compulsory)

National Movement of India (Paper-II, P2) covers the Birth and Growth of Nationalism in India, the Indian National Congress, and the Policies and Programmes of the Moderates and Extremists (Unit I); the Revolutionary Movement in India — its Goals and Strategy, the Swaraj Party, and the Non-Cooperation Movement (Unit II); the Civil Disobedience Movement, the Macdonald Award and the Poona Pact, and the Government of India Act 1935 (Unit III); and the Quit India Movement, the Politics of the Muslim League, the Cripps Mission, the Cabinet Mission, and the Partition of India (Unit IV). Time: 3 Hours, Maximum Marks: 75. Answer any five of the ten questions given below; all questions carry equal marks (15 each). The five sets below (Set A to Set E) give you full practice coverage across every unit of the syllabus.

Set A

Q1. Discuss the various factors responsible for the birth and growth of nationalism in India during the second half of the nineteenth century. [15]

Q2. Trace the circumstances leading to the foundation of the Indian National Congress in 1885, and examine the objectives with which it was established. [15]

Q3. Examine the aims, methods and achievements of the Moderate phase of the Indian National Congress between 1885 and 1905. [15]

Q4. Discuss the origin, growth and objectives of the Revolutionary Movement in India, and examine the goals and strategy adopted by the revolutionaries in their struggle against British rule. [15]

Q5. Examine the role played by revolutionary organisations and leaders, such as the Anushilan Samiti, the Ghadar Party and Bhagat Singh, in the Indian freedom struggle. [15]

Q6. Discuss the causes, course and consequences of the failure of the revolutionary terrorist movement in achieving its objective of ending British rule in India. [15]

Q7. Discuss the causes that led Mahatma Gandhi to launch the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930, and examine the significance of the Dandi March in this context. [15]

Q8. Examine the course of the Civil Disobedience Movement from 1930 to 1934, and discuss the response of the British Government and the Indian people to it. [15]

Q9. Discuss the circumstances leading to the launching of the Quit India Movement in August 1942, and examine its main course and significance. [15]

Q10. Examine the role played by the underground leadership and popular participation in sustaining the Quit India Movement of 1942 in the absence of the top Congress leadership. [15]

Set B

Q1. Discuss the socio-religious and political factors that contributed to the rise of the Extremist trend within the Indian National Congress. [15]

Q2. Compare and contrast the policies and programmes of the Moderates and the Extremists within the Indian National Congress, bringing out the basic differences in their ideology and methods of political action. [15]

Q3. Examine the role played by the Partition of Bengal in 1905 in transforming the character of Indian nationalism and strengthening the Extremist movement. [15]

Q4. Trace the circumstances leading to the formation of the Swaraj Party in 1923, and examine the objectives with which it was established. [15]

Q5. Discuss the programme and strategy of the Swaraj Party regarding council entry and obstructive politics within the legislatures, and assess its achievements and limitations. [15]

Q6. Examine the differences between the No-Changers and the Pro-Changers within the Indian National Congress, and discuss how these differences led to the emergence of the Swaraj Party. [15]

Q7. Discuss the circumstances leading to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931, and examine its terms and significance in the context of the Civil Disobedience Movement. [15]

Q8. Assess the achievements and limitations of the Civil Disobedience Movement, and examine the reasons for its eventual withdrawal in 1934. [15]

Q9. Assess the impact of the Quit India Movement on the British Government's policy towards India, and examine its significance in hastening the process of Indian independence. [15]

Q10. Trace the origin and growth of the Muslim League, and examine the politics pursued by it under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah from the 1930s onwards. [15]

Set C

Q1. Discuss the contribution of the early Moderate leaders, such as Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjee and Gopal Krishna Gokhale, to the growth of national consciousness in India. [15]

Q2. Examine the ideology and political programme of the Extremist leaders, such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai, in the Indian national movement. [15]

Q3. Discuss the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement as a method of political agitation adopted by the nationalists, and examine its impact on the growth of the national movement. [15]

Q4. Discuss the causes that led Mahatma Gandhi to launch the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920, and examine its main programme. [15]

Q5. Examine the course of the Non-Cooperation Movement from 1920 to 1922, and discuss the reasons for its withdrawal following the Chauri Chaura incident. [15]

Q6. Assess the significance of the Non-Cooperation Movement in the history of the Indian national movement, and examine its impact on the character and methods of subsequent mass movements. [15]

Q7. Discuss the background and provisions of the Macdonald Award (Communal Award) of 1932, and examine the reaction of different political groups to it. [15]

Q8. Examine the circumstances leading to the Poona Pact of 1932 between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and discuss its main provisions and significance. [15]

Q9. Discuss the circumstances leading to the adoption of the Lahore Resolution of 1940 by the Muslim League, and examine its significance for the demand for Pakistan. [15]

Q10. Discuss the background, proposals and failure of the Cripps Mission of 1942, and examine the reasons for its rejection by the major Indian political parties. [15]

Set D

Q1. Examine the circumstances leading to the Surat Split of 1907 in the Indian National Congress, and discuss its consequences for the unity of the national movement. [15]

Q2. Examine the crucial role played by the Ilbert Bill controversy of 1883 in awakening political consciousness among the educated Indians and paving the way for the formation of the Indian National Congress. [15]

Q3. Discuss the Khilafat Movement and examine the reasons for its alliance with the Non-Cooperation Movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. [15]

Q4. Discuss the aims and activities of the Ghadar Party, and examine the contribution of Indian revolutionaries settled abroad to the national movement. [15]

Q5. Discuss the impact of the Macdonald Award and the Poona Pact on the question of separate electorates for the depressed classes in India. [15]

Q6. Examine the background and main provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, with special reference to provincial autonomy and the proposed federal structure. [15]

Q7. Discuss the reaction of the Indian National Congress and other political parties to the Government of India Act, 1935, and examine the working of provincial autonomy under the Act. [15]

Q8. Examine the composition and proposals of the Cabinet Mission of 1946, and discuss its plan for the constitutional future of India. [15]

Q9. Discuss the reasons for the failure of the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946, and examine its consequences for Hindu-Muslim relations in India. [15]

Q10. Examine the circumstances and factors that led to the Partition of India in 1947, and discuss the role played by the Muslim League's demand for Pakistan in this context. [15]

Set E

Q1. Discuss the Drain of Wealth theory propounded by Dadabhai Naoroji, and examine how the economic critique of British rule by early Congress leaders contributed to the growth of nationalism in India. [15]

Q2. Assess the contribution of the vernacular and English press, and of socio-religious reform movements such as the Arya Samaj and the Brahmo Samaj, in fostering national consciousness in nineteenth-century India. [15]

Q3. Examine the causes of the eventual merger of the Swaraj Party with the Indian National Congress, and assess its overall contribution to the national movement. [15]

Q4. Discuss the Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919, and examine how these events provided the immediate background for the launching of the Non-Cooperation Movement. [15]

Q5. Critically examine the Government of India Act, 1935, as a step towards self-government in India, bringing out its merits and defects. [15]

Q6. Examine the proceedings of the First, Second and Third Round Table Conferences, and discuss their significance in the context of the Civil Disobedience Movement. [15]

Q7. Discuss the concept of Dyarchy as introduced under the Government of India Act, 1935, and examine the changes it brought about as compared to the Government of India Act, 1919. [15]

Q8. Discuss the Mountbatten Plan of 1947 and examine the events leading to the transfer of power and the eventual Partition of India. [15]

Q9. Discuss the Two-Nation Theory propounded by the Muslim League, and examine its role in shaping the final decision to partition India in 1947. [15]

Q10. Examine the significance of the slogan 'Do or Die' given by Mahatma Gandhi at the launch of the Quit India Movement, and discuss the Government's response in suppressing the movement. [15]