ISC 2026 Political Science Improvement Examination Question Paper for Class 12

About this paper

This is the ISC Class 12 Political Science paper (code 852) from CISCE's 2026 Improvement Examination. It carries 80 marks, runs for three hours plus fifteen minutes of reading time, and has 13 compulsory questions in three sections. Section A has sixteen one-mark subparts: multiple choice, assertion–reason, analogy, fill in the blanks, true or false and one-word answers. Section B has eight four-mark short answers, including an image-based question on universal adult franchise and one built on a quote from Justice P.N. Bhagwati. Section C has four eight-mark long answers: an image-based question on electoral systems, regional aspirations, and a closing case study on the eviction of pavement dwellers. Internal choices are given in Questions 5, 7 and 10. This copy has the questions only.

Exam

ISC Class 12

Subject

Political Science

Year

2026

Paper code

852

Maximum marks

80

Time allowed

3 hours + 15 min reading

Questions

13

Pages

8

Answers included

No, questions only

Paper pattern

• Section A

  16 marks

  Question 1 with sixteen one-mark very short answer subparts, including multiple choice and assertion–reason items

• Section B

  32 marks

  Questions 2–9, four marks each, including an image-based question; internal choice in Questions 5 and 7

• Section C

  32 marks

  Questions 10–13, eight marks each, including an image-based question and a closing case study; internal choice in Question 10

Topics covered

• Presidential and parliamentary systems
• Liberal democracy and party systems
• Unitary features of the UK government
• Universal adult franchise
• Written constitutions
• US Senate and the Rajya Sabha
• Political and permanent executive
• Preamble to the Constitution of India
• Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
• Presidents and Supreme Courts of India and the USA
• Electoral systems
• Regional aspirations and federalism

Questions from this paper

1. The British Parliament is considered supreme, which implies its ultimate authority to make laws that cannot be challenged by the courts. In light of the statement, discuss two unitary features of the government in the UK.
2. Do you think a written constitution is a necessity in modern democracies? Give four reasons to support your answer.
3. Compare the principle of 'due process of law' to the principle of 'procedure established by law'.
4. Fundamental Rights are negative injunctions while Directive Principles are positive instructions. Explain.
5. Compare the position of the President of India to that of the President of the USA as given in their respective systems.
6. How do regional aspirations pose a challenge to the federal structure of India? Substantiate your answer with examples.