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Political Science · 2020 · Set 59/2/1

CBSE Class 12 Political Science 2020 — Set 59/2/1

CBSE Class XII Board 2020 · Set 59/2/1

Real board examination⚠ Old pattern · pre-2020 syllabus
Sets

This paper has 4 questions on a topic removed in CBSE’s 2023-24 syllabus update (each marked Not in syllabus). It’s kept for historical accuracy — the exam really asked it that year — but isn’t in the current syllabus and doesn’t count toward a concept’s importance. Switch to to focus on what’s still examinable.

About this paper

The real Class-12 board examination held in 2020. Every question below is solved the concept-first way. Sample papers are labelled honestly — never shown as a past exam.

Total marks
80
Questions
34
Duration
180 min
Sections
5

The marks / questions / duration above are the official exam pattern. We currently have 34 of this paper’s questions (100% of the full paper), with 34 fully solved. Questions we couldn’t yet extract or verify are held — never shown as complete.

Sections & marks

SectionTypeQuestionsMarks eachTotal
ASection AVery short answer (one word/sentence, ≤20 words)20120
BSection BShort answer (≤40 words)326
CSection CLong answer (≤100 words)4416
DSection DPassage / picture-cartoon based, and the map question4520
ESection ELong answer (≤150 words)3618
Total3480

The question paper

The questions we hold for this paper, laid out by section. Solutions are on the Answers tab.

Board Examination

Political Science

CBSE Class XII Board 2020 · Set 59/2/1

Series/Set: 59/2/1Roll No. ________
Time Allowed: 3 hoursMaximum Marks: 80

General Instructions

  1. This question paper contains 34 questions divided into 5 sections — A, B, C, D, E.
  2. Section A comprises 20 questions of 1 mark each (Very short answer (one word/sentence, ≤20 words)).
  3. Section B comprises 3 questions of 2 marks each (Short answer (≤40 words)).
  4. Section C comprises 4 questions of 4 marks each (Long answer (≤100 words)).
  5. Section D comprises 4 questions of 5 marks each (Passage / picture-cartoon based, and the map question).
  6. Section E comprises 3 questions of 6 marks each (Long answer (≤150 words)).

Above is the official exam pattern. The questions printed below are those we currently hold for this paper.

Section A

Very short answer (one word/sentence, ≤20 words) · 1 mark each · 20 of 20 shown

Q1.
During the First Gulf War, who was the President of Iraq ?
(OR)
Which was the first country in the South Asian region to liberalise its economy ?
[1]
Q2.
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) came into being after the Socialist Revolution in Russia in (A) 1914 (B) 1917 (C) 1939 (D) 1991
[1]
Q3.
Write the full form of SEATO.
⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — The Cold War Era — chapter removed 2023-24
[1]
Q4.
Which one of the following was the last to happen ? (A) Foundation of NATO (B) First World War (C) Dropping of Atomic bomb on Hiroshima (D) First NAM Summit
[1]
Q5.
Which among the following statements about the objectives for the establishment of the European Union is false ? (A) To provide a common foreign policy (B) Creation of a single currency (C) Establishment of a common market (D) Cooperation on justice and home affairs
[1]
Q6.
Justify the policy of protectionism adopted by India after independence, by giving any one argument.
[1]
Q7.
Suggest any one step that should be taken to make the World Trade Organisation (WTO) more acceptable to the developing countries.
[1]
Page 1 of 6
Q8.
Identify the following statement as true or false. Give any one example to justify your answer. “The countries of the North are more concerned about the protection of the global commons than the countries of the South.”
[1]
Q9.
Write the full name of the leader who played a prominent role in the integration of Princely States with India.
[1]
Q10.
In your opinion, which major factor was responsible for the dominance of the Congress Party in the first three general elections in India ?
[1]
Q11.
Identify the political party which lays emphasis on the idea of one country, one culture and one nation. (A) Indian National Congress (B) Bharatiya Jana Sangh (C) Swatantra Party (D) Communist Party of India
[1]
Q12.
Who among the following was the author of the book titled ‘Economy of Permanence’ ? (A) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (B) C. Rajagopalachari (C) Acharya Narendra Dev (D) J.C. Kumarappa
[1]
Q13.
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate name of the State : The ‘______ Model’ is the name given to the path of planning and development charted by the State of ______.
[1]
Q14.
Explain the concept of ‘Privy Purse’.
[1]
Q15.
The foreign policy of a nation is affected by which factors ? Choose the correct answer. (A) Cultural factors only (B) Domestic factors only (C) Domestic and international factors (D) Economic factors only
[1]
Q16.
Correct the statement given below and rewrite it in your answer-book : After Nehru, Atal Behari Vajpayee became the first Prime Minister to visit China in 1988 to improve relations between the two countries.
[1]
Q17.
Analyse Chogyal’s role at the time of Sikkim’s merger with India as its 22nd State.
[1]
Page 2 of 6
Q18.
Do you agree that “the proclamation of Emergency in 1975 weakened the federal distribution of power in India” ? Give any one argument to support your answer.
[1]
Q19.
Why was Anti-Arrack Movement called totally a woman’s movement ?
⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — Rise of Popular Movements — chapter removed 2023-24
[1]
Q20.
Assess the outcome of the Assam Accord of 1985.
[1]
Section B

Short answer (≤40 words) · 2 marks each · 3 of 3 shown

Q1.
Give any one suitable argument to support India’s candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
[2]
Q2.
Differentiate between one-party dominance of India and the one-party dominance of China.
[2]
Q3.
Why did the appointment of A.N. Ray, the Chief Justice of India, in 1973 become controversial ?
[2]
Section C

Long answer (≤100 words) · 4 marks each · 4 of 4 shown

Q1.
Explain India’s role in the Bangladesh War of 1971.
[4]
Page 3 of 6
Q2.
Give any four arguments to prove that the Soviet Union had become stagnant in an administrative and political sense. OR If the Soviet Union had not disintegrated, how would that situation have affected world politics ?
[4]
Q3.
How far is it justified to say that a new chapter of peace and cooperation might evolve in South Asia if all the countries in the region allow free trade across the borders ?
[4]
Q4.
Who was the chairperson of the Mandal Commission ? Mention any three main recommendations of this Commission.
[4]
Section D

Passage / picture-cartoon based, and the map question · 5 marks each · 4 of 4 shown

Q1.
Study the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow : Thus it was decided that what was till then known as ‘India’ would be divided into two countries, ‘India’ and ‘Pakistan’. Such a division was not only very painful, but also very difficult to decide and to implement. It was decided to follow the principle of religious majorities. This basically means that areas where the Muslims were in majority would make up the territory of Pakistan. The rest was to stay with India. The idea might appear simple, but it presented all kinds of difficulties. (a) Why did the partition of India in 1947 prove to be very painful ? (b) Analyse any two major difficulties that arose in the way of partition. (c) What would have been India’s position in the world, had there been no partition of India ?
[5]
Page 4 of 6
Q2.
Study the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow : These developments were accompanied by a rapidly escalating crisis within the USSR that hastened its disintegration. Gorbachev initiated the policies of economic and political reform and democratisation within the country. The reforms were opposed by leaders within the Communist Party. (a) Which developments hastened the disintegration of the Soviet Union ? (b) What was the outcome of opposing the reforms initiated by Gorbachev ? (c) How did Boris Yeltsin emerge as a national hero ?
[5]
Q3.
Study the cartoon given below carefully and answer the questions that follow : (a) What do the soldier and the pigeon shown in the cartoon symbolise ? (b) What message does the cartoon convey ? (c) As per the cartoon, what task is the soldier trying to accomplish ? [For Visually Impaired Candidates, in lieu of this question: (30.1) What is meant by alliance building as a component of traditional security policy ? (30.2) Distinguish between the internal and external notion of traditional security with the help of examples.]
[5]
Q4.
In the given political outline map of India (on page 17), five States have been marked as (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E). Identify these States on the basis of information given below and write their correct names in your answer-book along with the respective serial number of the information used and the concerned alphabets given in the map as per the following format : Sr. no. of the information used | Concerned alphabet in the map | Name of the State (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (i) The State related to Anti-Arrack Movement. (ii) The State related to the movement for Right to Information. (iii) The State where ‘Operation Blue Star’ was launched. (iv) Recently created Union Territory. (v) Insurgency affected region which became a State in 1986. [For Visually Impaired Candidates, in lieu of this question: (31.1) Which State is related to Anti-Arrack Movement ? (31.2) The movement for ‘Right to Information’ was started in which State ? (31.3) ‘Operation Blue Star’ is related to which State ? (31.4) Name the two recently created Union Territories. (31.5) Name the 22nd State of the Indian Union which came into existence in 1975.]
⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — Rise of Popular Movements — chapter removed 2023-24
[5]
Section E

Long answer (≤150 words) · 6 marks each · 3 of 3 shown

Q1.
Explain any three different ways in which American hegemony could be overcome. OR Explain any three factors responsible for the European Union to be a highly influential regional organisation.
⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — US Hegemony in World Politics — chapter removed 2023-24
[6]
Page 5 of 6
Q2.
Suggest any three ways to implement the concept of ‘Common but differentiated responsibility’. OR Analyse any three reasons for resistance to globalisation.
[6]
Q3.
Describe the circumstances under which the Presidential election of 1969 was held. How did the outcome of this election affect the Congress Party ? OR Describe any three lessons taught by the Emergency of 1975.
[6]
Page 6 of 6