Federal Public Service Commission
Repeating Questions (Political Science)
Competitive Examination-2016-2025
The Political Science paper from 2016–2025 shows a highly consistent pattern, with repeated focus on core political thinkers, fundamental theories, and Pakistan’s constitutional and political issues. However, the trend has clearly shifted from theoretical explanation to critical, comparative, and application-based questions, especially linking concepts with Pakistan’s governance and global politics.
SUBJECTIVE
1. Political Thinkers (MOST IMPORTANT AREA)
These are guaranteed zones — almost every year:
• Aristotle → Classification of government, realism, state purpose (2016, 2021, 2024, 2025)
• Plato → Justice, Ideal State (2018, 2022, 2025)
• Thomas Hobbes / John Locke / Jean-Jacques Rousseau → Social Contract, State of Nature (2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2025)
• Ibn Khaldun → Asabiyyah, rise/decline of states (2017–2021, 2025)
Trend:
Shift from simple “explain” → critical analysis + comparison + modern relevance
2. Core Political Concepts (Repeated Theories)
These concepts keep rotating:
• Social Contract Theory → asked again & again (2018, 2020, 2021, 2025)
• Sovereignty → classical vs modern vs Islamic (2020, 2024)
• Fascism → theory + causes (2017, 2019, 2020)
• State & Government concepts → every 2–3 years
• Federal vs Unitary system → 2016, 2017, 2020, 2025
Trend:
From definition-based → analytical & critical evaluation
3. Pakistan-Centric Political Questions (VERY HIGH WEIGHTAGE)
This is the backbone of Paper-II:
• 1973 Constitution & 18th Amendment → 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
• Constitutional development (1956, 1962, 1973) → repeated multiple times
• National Integration issues → 2019, 2021, 2025
• Civil-Military Relations → 2019, 2023
• Political instability / democracy issues → recurring
Trend:
Questions now demand evaluation + solutions, not just history.
4. Foreign Policy & International Relations
Very frequent and evolving:
• Pakistan Foreign Policy → 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025
• Global institutions:
o European Union → 2016, 2017, 2022, 2025
o World Trade Organization → 2020, 2023, 2025
o South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation → 2016, 2023, 2025
Trend:
Shift toward critical evaluation (failures, challenges, reforms) instead of description.
5. Comparative Politics (VERY REPEATABLE)
Common comparisons:
• US vs UK system → 2017, 2021
• France system → 2016, 2018, 2025
• Turkey (military role) → 2016, 2019, 2021, 2025
• China political system → 2020, 2022
Trend:
Focus is on comparison + effectiveness + real-world application.
6. Governance & Political Structures
Repeated themes:
• Political parties & their role → 2016, 2017, 2024, 2025
• Judiciary & judicial activism → 2018, 2019, 2023
• Local government system → 2018, 2021
• Bureaucracy → 2023
Trend:
Now linked with Pakistan’s failures + reforms
FINAL TREND SUMMARY (VERY IMPORTANT)
Across 10 years, the paper clearly shows:
Same core topics are repeated
But questions are becoming:
• More analytical
• More comparative
• More application-based (Pakistan + global context)