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Exam Review

Key Facts: Maharashtra HSC Political Science Exam

3 hours

Typical Maharashtra HSC Political Science theory paper duration

MSBSHSE HSC exam pattern reporting for Political Science

~35%

Common minimum pass floor for Maharashtra HSC subjects including Political Science

MSBSHSE HSC passing practice

80 + 20

Common theory + project/oral/internal mark split for HSC Political Science (subject code 42)

Maharashtra HSC subject-wise mark distribution reporting

English MCQ adaptation

This free local bank is not the official HSC paper format

OpenExamPrep practice policy

Maharashtra MSBSHSE HSC Political Science (code 42) is a Class 12 public-exam theory subject of about 3 hours theory (commonly 80+20) with ~35% pass floor, covering Balbharati’s six Std XII chapters from the post-1991 world through India’s foreign policy — not a pure MCQ board paper. This free 2026 bank is an English MCQ study adaptation for Balbharati/MSBSHSE-focused Political Science concepts and events.

Sample Maharashtra HSC Political Science Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Maharashtra HSC Political Science exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1The Cold War bipolar order effectively ended with which major event in 1991?
A.Formation of the European Union
B.Disintegration of the Soviet Union
C.Creation of the United Nations
D.Signing of the Treaty of Versailles
Explanation: The Soviet Union’s disintegration in 1991 ended one of the two superpower poles and marked the close of the Cold War bipolar order that had structured international politics since 1945.
2After the Cold War, the term ‘unipolar world’ most commonly referred to dominance by which power?
A.China
B.Russia
C.The United States
D.The European Union as a single superpower state
Explanation: With the Soviet Union gone, the United States emerged as the sole superpower, producing a unipolar moment in which American political, military, and economic leadership shaped the ‘New World Order’ discourse of the early 1990s.
3Joseph Nye’s concept of ‘soft power’ emphasises a state’s ability to:
A.Coerce others through military force alone
B.Attract others so they want the outcomes you want
C.Control the UN Security Council veto permanently
D.Impose colonial rule on weaker states
Explanation: Soft power, as developed by Joseph Nye, is the capacity to achieve preferred outcomes through attraction—culture, values, and institutions—rather than coercion or payment alone.
4The 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States are widely treated in the Balbharati syllabus as a turning point for:
A.The creation of SAARC
B.Modern transnational terrorism and the global ‘war on terror’
C.The founding of the Non-Aligned Movement
D.The start of the Cold War
Explanation: 9/11 demonstrated a new scale of transnational terrorist violence against civilian and symbolic targets and reshaped global security agendas around counter-terrorism.
5Which of the following is an example of a new state created after the Cold War through ethnic/national self-determination processes discussed in the textbook?
A.South Sudan (later independence) and states emerging from Yugoslavia’s breakup
B.Canada
C.Japan
D.Brazil
Explanation: Post-Cold War state creation included the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union and later cases such as South Sudan (2011), illustrating ethnic nationalism and self-determination claims.
6President George H. W. Bush’s phrase ‘New World Order’ in the early 1990s was closely associated with:
A.Soviet military victory in Afghanistan
B.US-led multinational action against Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and American leadership after bipolarity
C.India’s first nuclear test in 1974
D.Formation of the Warsaw Pact
Explanation: After Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait, a US-led multinational coalition reversed the occupation. Bush framed this cooperation and post-Cold War US leadership as a ‘New World Order’.
7Hard power, in contrast to soft power, primarily relies on:
A.Cultural attraction and educational exchange only
B.Coercion through military force, threats, or economic inducements/sanctions
C.Voluntary imitation of a country’s cuisine alone
D.Abolishing all international organisations
Explanation: Hard power is the capacity to get others to act against their preferences through coercion—military force, threats, or carrots/sticks such as economic pressure.
8Francis Fukuyama’s ‘End of History’ thesis after the Cold War argued, in essence, that:
A.All historical calendars would stop in 1991
B.Liberal democracy and market-oriented systems had triumphed as the dominant political-economic model
C.Only monarchy would remain worldwide
D.The United Nations would dissolve immediately
Explanation: Fukuyama claimed that with communism’s collapse, liberal democracy and associated economic models faced no serious ideological rival—an ‘end of history’ as ideological evolution, not literal time.
9Which feature is characteristic of liberal democracy as described in the textbook context?
A.One-party rule without elections
B.Universal suffrage, free and fair elections, competitive parties, and rule of law
C.Hereditary absolute monarchy only
D.Military rule without civilian institutions
Explanation: Liberal democracy combines representative institutions with individual liberty protections: competitive elections, multi-party politics, universal adult franchise, and constitutional rule of law.
10Humanitarian intervention in the 1990s typically meant:
A.States intervening abroad mainly to protect human rights and prevent mass atrocities, often via UN-authorised missions
B.Closing all embassies permanently
C.Ending all foreign trade
D.Abolishing domestic constitutions
Explanation: The 1990s saw increased emphasis on intervening—often through UN peacekeeping or coalitions—to stop severe human-rights abuses and protect civilians in conflict zones (e.g., parts of the former Yugoslavia, Somalia, Cambodia).

About the Maharashtra HSC Political Science Exam

Maharashtra HSC Political Science under MSBSHSE (subject code 42) covers Class 12 Political Science aligned to the Balbharati Standard XII textbook. Core topics include the post-1991 world order (end of Cold War, unipolarity, multipolarity, terrorism), dimensions of globalisation, humanitarian issues (environment, poverty, gender), challenges to peace and national integration in contemporary India, good governance and citizen-centric administration, and India’s foreign policy (principles, NAM, neighbourhood, major powers, multilateral forums). Official assessment is commonly a ~3-hour theory paper for 80 marks plus 20 project/oral/internal marks, with about 35% pass requirements. This free local bank provides English four-option MCQs for revision; pair it with official Balbharati materials and written short/essay practice via mahahsscboard.in.

Exam sponsor: Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Maharashtra HSC Political Science is a Class 12 theory subject under MSBSHSE (subject code 42). Official logistics commonly describe about 3 hours of theory work for 80 marks, with 20 marks project/oral/internal assessment. Qualifying typically requires about 35% in the subject (often reported with separate theory and internal floors — e.g., ~28/80 and ~7/20). Syllabus follows Balbharati Standard XII Political Science: The World since 1991; Globalisation; Humanitarian Issues; Challenges to Peace, Stability and National Integration; Good Governance; and India and the World. English/Marathi medium materials are typical; this practice bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation. Confirm current syllabus and circulars on mahahsscboard.in.

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

~35%

Exam / Certification Fees

As notified by MSBSHSE and paid through affiliated junior colleges for regular and repeater sittings (no single fixed public subject fee for all categories).

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

~17% of this local bank

The World since 1991

Post-Cold War order, unipolarity, multipolarity, terrorism, and regionalism.

~17% of this local bank

Globalisation

Political, economic, ideological, technological, and socio-cultural dimensions.

~16% of this local bank

Humanitarian Issues

Environment, sustainable development, poverty, and gender.

~17% of this local bank

National Integration & Peace

Challenges to peace, stability, and national integration in India.

~16% of this local bank

Good Governance

Values of good governance and citizen-centric initiatives in India.

~17% of this local bank

India and the World

Indian foreign policy, NAM, neighbourhood, and multilateral engagement.

Preparing for the Maharashtra HSC Political Science Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: ~35%
  • Assessment: Maharashtra HSC Political Science is a Class 12 theory subject under MSBSHSE (subject code 42). Official logistics commonly describe about 3 hours of theory work for 80 marks, with 20 marks project/oral/internal assessment. Qualifying typically requires about 35% in the subject (often reported with separate theory and internal floors — e.g., ~28/80 and ~7/20). Syllabus follows Balbharati Standard XII Political Science: The World since 1991; Globalisation; Humanitarian Issues; Challenges to Peace, Stability and National Integration; Good Governance; and India and the World. English/Marathi medium materials are typical; this practice bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation. Confirm current syllabus and circulars on mahahsscboard.in.
  • Time limit: 3 hours
  • Exam / certification fees: As notified by MSBSHSE and paid through affiliated junior colleges for regular and repeater sittings (no single fixed public subject fee for all categories). Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Maharashtra HSC Political Science: Suggested Study Strategy

1Prepare a terminology notebook of chapter definitions — many objective items test precise terms (e.g., soft power, unipolarity, globalisation, good governance, non-alignment).
2Build year-event timelines for 1989–91 (Berlin Wall, Soviet disintegration), 9/11, LPG reforms (1991), and major foreign-policy milestones for faster recall.
3Link Globalisation and India and the World: LPG reforms, WTO, and post-1991 foreign policy often cross-appear.
4For national integration, separate structural, psychological, and security dimensions before choosing options.
5Use current Balbharati Std XII Political Science and MSBSHSE materials from mahahsscboard.in to balance objective drills with written short/essay practice under ~3-hour timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Maharashtra HSC Political Science officially examined?

Political Science (subject code 42) is examined under the Maharashtra HSC (Class 12) public examination by MSBSHSE. Logistics commonly describe about 3 hours of theory work for 80 marks, plus 20 marks project/oral/internal assessment. Candidates typically need about 35% in the subject. Confirm the year’s syllabus, timetable, and circulars on mahahsscboard.in.

Is this practice bank the same format as the official HSC Political Science paper?

No. Official MSBSHSE HSC Political Science papers mix objective items (including MCQs) with short and longer structured answers. This bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation for concepts and facts only — not an official translation, blueprint replica, or full written-paper simulation.

What syllabus does this bank follow?

It is aligned to Maharashtra HSC (Class 12) Political Science / Balbharati Standard XII Political Science: The World since 1991; Globalisation; Humanitarian Issues; Challenges to Peace, Stability and National Integration; Good Governance; and India and the World.

What is the pass mark for Maharashtra HSC Political Science?

MSBSHSE practice commonly requires about 35% overall in the subject — often reported as roughly 28 marks out of 80 theory and 7 out of 20 internal/project when both components apply. Always verify the current HSC notification for your sitting.

Where should I check official syllabus and results?

Use the Maharashtra State Board sites at mahahsscboard.in and mahahsscboard.org, plus Balbharati/eBalbharati digital textbooks, for syllabus materials, circulars, timetables, and published results.