[HIGHER SECONDARY (CLASSES XI AND XII) 2016
POLITICAL SCIENCE (PG) CODE-27]
Group–A
1. Introduction: (i) Definition, Nature and Scope of Political Science (ii) Relations with History, Economics, Philosophy and Sociology (iii) Meaning of “Politics” and “Political”
2. Approaches: (i) Traditional approach: Basic Tenets—Historical, Philosophical and Legal approaches. (ii) Behavioural approach: Basic Tenets—Concepts of Power, Process and Quantification. (iii) Postbehavioural critique of Behaviouralism. (iv) Marxian approach: Basic Tenets—Dialectical Materialism. Materialist Interpretation of History. Base-Superstructure. Class and Class-struggle.
3. State: (i) Definition, (ii) Characteristic, (iii) State and other Associations.
4. Origin of the State: (i) Social Contract Theory of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau-concepts of—(a) State of Nature (b) Social Contract (c) Sovereignty (d) Individual Liberty-Value of the Theory (ii) Evolutionary Theory—Value of the theory (iii) Marxian theory—From Primitive Communism to
emergence of classes and formation of State.
5. Nature of the State: (i) Idealist theory-Hegel and Green. (ii) Marxian Theory-Engels and V.I. Lenin (iii) Gandhian Theory-Concepts of Trusteeship and Sarvoday.
6. Political System: System theory (David Easton) and Structural-Functional Theory (Almond & Powel).
7. Functions of State: (i) Individualist Theory: Herbert Spencer, John Stuart Mill. (ii) Socialist Theory: (a) Guild Socialism (b) Syndicalism (c) Scientific Socialism. (iii) Theory of Welfare State.
8. Sovereignty: (i) Definition and characteristics, (ii) De Jure and De Facto, (iii) Monistic Theory of Sovereignty, (iv) Pluralistic Theory of Sovereignty, (v) Popular Sovereignty, (vi) Internal and external limitations of Sovereignty.
9. Nationality, Nationalism and Nations: (i) Definitions of the terms. (ii) Concepts of (a) Right of Selfdetermination of Nations, (b) Internationalism, (c) Globalisation.
10. Citizenship: (i) Definition, (ii) Acquisition or Loss of Citizenship, (iii) Difference between Natural and Naturalised citizen.
11. Rights and Duties: (i) Definition (ii) Types of Rights—Civil, Economic, Political (including right to resistance) and Social (with special reference to Gender- equality)
12. Liberty: (i) Definition of the concept, (ii) Relation between Liberty and Equality, (iii) Safeguards of Liberty in modern States.
13. Democracy: (i) Democracy as an ideal, (ii) Democracy as a form of Governance, (iii) Representative Democracy and Participatory Democracy.
14. Totalitarianism: (i) Definition and characteristics, (ii) Fascism as a form of Totaliratianism.
15. Public Opinion: (i) Definition, (ii) Different Media, (iii) Role and Importance.
16. Political Party: (i) Definition, (ii) Function, (iii) Definition of Party System, (iv) Types of Party System. (a) Single Party System (b) Bi-Party System (c) Multi-Party System (d) Dominant Party System
17. Pressure Groups: (i) Definition (ii) Difference with Political Party, (iii) Functions.
18. Representation: (i) Definition, (ii) Methods of Representation—(a) Territorial, (b) Functional, (c) Proportional, (iii) Adult Franchise-Arguments for and against.
19. Ideologies: (i) Liberalism, (ii) Democratic Socialism.
20. Law: (i) Definition, (ii) Sources of Law.
Group–B
1. Constitution: (i) Definition, (ii) Classification, (iii) Difference between (a) Constitution and Convention, (b) Convention and Custom, (c) Convention and Law, (d) Constitution and Law
2. Forms of Government: (i) Features of Cabinet form of Government, (ii) Features of Federal Government (iii) Difference between Federation and Confederation.
3. Preamble to the Indian Constitution: (i) Definition, (ii) Significance
4. Indian Federation: (i) Nature of Indian Federalism, (ii) Difference with American Federalism, (iii) Growth and development of Regionalism in India, (iv) Concept of Cooperative federalism.
5. Fundamental Rights and Duties in Indian Constitution: (i) Different types of Fundamental Rightsdescription, significance and limitations. (ii) Fundamental Duties-significance.
6. Directive Principles of State Policy in Indian Constitution: (i) Description of the Principles (ii) Constitutional Status and Importance.
7. President of India: (i) Position, (ii) Functions, (iii) Comparison with American President and the President of Peoples’ Republic of China.
8. Prime Minister of India: (i) Position (ii) Functions (iii) Role. (iv) Comparison with British Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of Peoples’ Republic of China
9. State Executive: (i) Role of Governor in the administration of a State. (ii) Powers and Position of Chief Minister
10. Indian Parliament: (i) Composition, (ii) Nature of Parliamentary Sovereignty in India, (iii) Comparison with British Parliament, (iv) Relations between the two Houses (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) (v) Role of Speaker of Lok-Sabha-Comparison with that in British Parliament. (vii) Parliamentary control over Executive in India, Britain, USA and Peoples’ Republic of China (viii) Definition of (a) Money Bill and (b) Budget (ix) Functions of (a) Public Accounts Committee and (b) Estimates Committee in Indian Parliament.
11. Indian Judicial System: (i) Difference with American Judicial System, (ii) Composition and functions of the Supreme Court of India. (iii) Judicial Review in India and USA, (iv) Meaning of Judicial Activism (v) Recent trends of Judicial Activism in India.
12. Amendment procedure of Indian Constitution: (i) Procedure, (ii) Comparison with U.S. Constitution and the Constitution of Peoples’ Republic of China.
13. Election Commission of India: (i) Comparison and functions of the Election Commission (ii) The role of the Chief Election Commissioner.
14. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Minorities and Anglo Indians: Special Provisions in the Constitution of India for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Anglo-Indians and Minorities.
15. Planning Process in India: (i) Composition and functions of Planning Commission of India. (ii) Composition and functions of National Development Council. (iii) Composition and functions of State Planning Board of West Bengal. (iv) Composition and functions of District Planning Committees of West Bengal.
16. District Administration: Role of (i) District Magistrates, (ii) Sub-divisional Officers, (iii) Block Development Officers.
17. Panchayati-Raj in West Bengal: Structure and Functions of (a) Zilla Parishad, (b) Panchayat Samiti (c) Gram Panchayat.
18. Municipal Administration in West Bengal: (i) Structure and Functions of Calcutta Municipal Corporation (ii) Structure and Functions of Municipalities in West Bengal.
Group—C
1. International Law: (i) Definition of International Law, (ii) Nature of International Law
2. International Organisation: (i) Origin of the United Nations, (ii) Aims and Objectives of U.N. (iii) Composition and functions of (a) General Assembly, (b) Security Council, (c) Secretariat-the role and importance of the Secretary General (d) Economic and Social Council, (e) International Court of Justice (f) Specialised Agencies.
