Since the actual KSET 2025 Political Science paper is a future event and cannot be provided, I can offer you the next best thing: a highly realistic and representative model question paper.
This model paper is structured based on the official KSET pattern for Political Science and includes the core syllabus areas. It is designed to mimic the style, difficulty level, and format you can expect on November 3rd, 2025.
Model KSET Political Science Question Paper
Paper Code: [To be announced]
Date: 03/11/2025| Time: 3 Hours | Maximum Marks: 300
Instructions:
- This question paper consists of two parts: Part-A and Part-B.
- Part-A consists of 50 Objective Type Questions (MCQs) of 2 marks each.
- Part-B consists of 50 Objective Type Questions (MCQs) of 4 marks each.
- All questions are compulsory.
- There is no negative marking.
PART-A
(Answer all 50 questions. Each question carries 2 marks)
- Who among the following is considered the founding father of the modern theory of sovereignty?
(a) Jean Bodin
(b) John Austin
(c) Thomas Hobbes
(d) John Locke - The concept of “Post-Behavioralism” in Political Science was primarily a reaction against:
(a) Normative political theory
(b) The excesses of behavioralism
(c) Marxist analysis
(d) Classical philosophy - The “Veil of Ignorance” is a key concept in the theory of justice proposed by:
(a) John Rawls
(b) Robert Nozick
(c) Amartya Sen
(d) Isaiah Berlin - Which of the following is NOT a feature of a Presidential system of government?
(a) Fixed tenure of the executive
(b) Separation of powers
(c) The executive is responsible to the legislature
(d) The head of state is also the head of government - The “Gujral Doctrine” is primarily associated with India’s foreign policy towards its:
(a) Western neighbors
(b) Immediate neighbors
(c) Superpowers
(d) ASEAN countries - The “Basic Structure Doctrine” of the Indian Constitution was propounded by the Supreme Court in which landmark case?
(a) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
(b) Golaknath v. State of Punjab
(c) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
(d) S.R. Bommai v. Union of India - Who among the following is NOT a classical exponent of the Social Contract theory?
(a) Thomas Hobbes
(b) John Locke
(c) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
(d) Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel - The term “Hegemony” in International Relations is most closely associated with the:
(a) Liberal Institutionalist School
(b) English School
(c) Realist School (specifically Hegemonic Stability Theory)
(d) Constructivist School - The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts are related to:
(a) Fundamental Rights
(b) Panchayati Raj and Municipalities
(c) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
(d) The Union Judiciary - The concept of “Satyagraha” as a form of political action was developed by:
(a) B.R. Ambedkar
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(… and so on for 40 more questions covering Political Theory, Indian Government and Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Public Administration.)
PART-B
(Answer all 50 questions. Each question carries 4 marks)
- Which of the following pairs of thinkers and their concepts is correctly matched?
- Hannah Arendt – The Banality of Evil
- Antonio Gramsci – Cultural Hegemony
- Michel Foucault – Governmentality
- Jürgen Habermas – Communicative Action
Codes:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2, and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4 - Consider the following statements regarding the Indian Federal system:
- The Constitution of India describes India as a ‘Federal Union of States’.
- The Parliament has the power to form new states and alter the areas of existing states.
- The distribution of legislative power between the Union and States is laid down in the Seventh Schedule.
- The Governor of a state is appointed by the President and acts as an agent of the Central government.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3, and 4 only
(c) 1, 3, and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4 - The ‘Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)’ in the contemporary international system faces challenges due to:
- The end of the Cold War bipolarity.
- The rise of new security threats like terrorism and climate change.
- Internal divergences among its member states on key global issues.
- The increasing dominance of multilateral organizations like the UN.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2, and 3 only
(b) 1, 3, and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4 - Match the following:
List-I (Concept) List-II (Propounder)
A. Power Knowledge Nexus 1. David Easton
B. Political System 2. Michel Foucault
C. Security Dilemma 3. John Herz
D. Capability Approach 4. Amartya Sen
Codes:
A B C D
(a) 2 1 3 4
(b) 1 2 4 3
(c) 2 1 4 3
(d) 1 2 3 4 - Which of the following are the features of a ‘Welfare State’?
- State responsibility for securing a social minimum for its citizens.
- Progressive taxation to fund welfare schemes.
- Promotion of egalitarian social policies.
- Strict adherence to laissez-faire economic principles.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2, and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3, and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4 - Consider the following statements about the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in India:
- It is a constitutional body.
- It plays a crucial role in decision-making at the highest level.
- Its political head is the Prime Minister.
- It has superseded the role of the Cabinet Secretariat in many policy areas.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3, and 4 only
(c) 1, 3, and 4 only
(d) 2 and 4 only - The “Democratic Peace Theory” in International Relations posits that:
(a) Democracies are inherently more peaceful than non-democracies.
(b) Democracies never go to war with each other.
(c) Democracies are more likely to win the wars they fight.
(d) Democracies prioritize economic interdependence over military power. - In the context of the Indian Constitution, the phrase “Procedure established by law” is derived from the Constitution of which country?
(a) United States of America
(b) United Kingdom
(c) Ireland
(d) Japan - Who among the following feminist thinkers argued that the distinction between ‘public’ and ‘private’ sphere is a political one and that “the personal is political”?
(a) Simone de Beauvoir
(b) Carol Pateman
(c) Kate Millett
(d) Susan Moller Okin - The ‘Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013’ was passed to:
(a) Strengthen local self-government
(b) Establish an ombudsman to inquire into allegations of corruption
(c) Regulate the funding of political parties
(d) Provide for the right to information
(… and so on for 40 more complex and analytical questions.)
End of Question Paper
How to Use This Model Paper for Your KSET 2025 Preparation:
- Simulate Exam Conditions: Sit for 3 hours without interruption and attempt the entire paper. This builds stamina and time management skills.
- Syllabus Mapping: After attempting, check which areas (e.g., Western Political Thought, Indian Constitution, IR Theories) you are strong or weak in.
- Focus on Concepts: Don’t just memorize answers. Understand the underlying concepts. For example, why is the “Veil of Ignorance” central to Rawls’ theory?
- Practice Answering “Match the Following” and “Which of the following are correct” types of questions, as they are very common in KSET and test comprehensive knowledge.
- Refer to Standard Textbooks: For any concept you find difficult in this model paper, go back to your standard textbooks (e.g., by O.P. Gauba, Heywood, M. Laxmikanth, Andrew Heywood for IR, etc.).
Disclaimer: This is a predictive model paper created for practice purposes. The actual KSET paper on 03/11/2025 will have its own unique set of questions. Always refer to the official KSET website for the latest syllabus and notification.