CSS International Relations Past Papers: Solved MCQs from 1991 to 2025
Welcome to the ultimate resource for CSS aspirants specializing in International Relations. This dedicated page provides a complete, year-wise collection of all past paper Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) from 1991 to the present. Navigate effortlessly through buttons for each year to access the MCQs. Find everything from the consolidated ‘International Relations’ papers (1991-2015) to the specialized ‘International Relations I & II’ papers (2016-2025). Use this page to test your knowledge, identify important trends, and solidify your preparation for one of the most competitive CSS subjects.
Start Your Practice: Year-Wise International Relations MCQs
Repeated MCQs of International Relations I (1991–2025)
| Repeated MCQ Topic/Keyword | Focus Area | Years of Occurrence |
| Treaty of Westphalia (Signed in 1648) | Foundational History | 2024, 2014, 2011, 2005 |
| Cuban Missile Crisis (Year: 1962) | Cold War History | 2024, 2011, 2010, 2008 |
| Theory of International Politics (Author: Kenneth Waltz) | Neorealism | 2023, 2017, 2014, 2013 |
| OIC First Summit (Location: Rabat) | International Organizations | 2020, 2000, 1998 |
| GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) | IPE/Institutions | 2020, 2018 |
| Pivot to Asia Policy (Initiator: Obama) | US Foreign Policy | 2020, 2018 |
| Offensive Realism (Exponent: John Mearsheimer) | Realist Theory | 2024, 2019, 2017 |
| Art of War (Author: Sun Tzu) | Strategy/Literature | 2024, 2021 |
| Diplomacy (Author: Henry Kissinger) | Statecraft/Literature | 2023, 2019, 2008 |
| Monroe Doctrine (Concepts: Non-colonization/Non-intervention) | US Foreign Policy | 2018 |
| Détente (Meaning: Easing of tensions) | Cold War Concepts | 2018, 2013, 1991 |
| Perestroika/Glasnost (Giver: Mikhail Gorbachev) | Cold War/History | 2023, 2016, 2013, 2010 |
Trend Analysis: International Relations I
IR I shows a strong and persistent trend focusing on foundational IR history, core theories, and Cold War milestones.
1. Realist Theory Dominance: Questions on key realist texts and figures are highly recurrent. The authorship of “Theory of International Politics” (Kenneth Waltz) is tested in almost every recent paper. Similarly, the specific variants of realism, like Offensive Realism, are frequently examined.
2. Historical Constants: The modern state system’s establishment via the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) is a staple question. Major Cold War events like the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) and the end of the Cold War signaled by Perestroika/Glasnost are critical non-negotiable facts.
3. US Foreign Policy Benchmarks: Core U.S. doctrines, especially the Monroe Doctrine, and strategic shifts like the “Pivot to Asia”, are consistently revisited, requiring knowledge of US geopolitical strategy.
Repeated MCQs of International Relations II (2016–2025)
| Repeated MCQ Topic/Keyword | Focus Area | Years of Occurrence |
| NATO Formation Year (1949) | Post-War Institutions | 2025, 2010, 2007 |
| Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD: Nuclear, Chemical, Biological) | Security Studies | 2025, 2021, 2006 |
| SAARC Establishment Year (1985) | Regionalism | 2023, 2011 |
| Hegemonic Stability Theory (Single dominant state ensures stability) | IPE/Theory | 2023, 2018 |
| ‘Tragedy of Great Power Politics’ (Author: John Mearsheimer) | Realist Theory | 2022, 2021 |
| INF Treaty (Signed between US and Soviet Union) | Arms Control | 2022, 2019 |
| ‘Rise and Fall of Great Powers’ (Author: Paul Kennedy) | Literature/Theory | 2021, 2017 |
| Monroe Doctrine (Year: 1823) | US Foreign Policy | 2025, 2021 |
| Peaceful Co-existence (Giver: Nikita Khrushchev) | Cold War Concepts | 2021, 2017 |
| Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) (Founding Year: 2001) | Regionalism | 2021, 2019 (Founding members) |
| Iran-Pakistan Pipeline (Also called Peace Pipeline) | Geopolitics/Energy | 2017, 2015 |
| ‘Axis of Evil’ (Coined by G.W. Bush) | US Foreign Policy | 2023, 2016 |
| Camp David Accords (Year: 1978) | Diplomacy/Middle East | 2023 |
Trend Analysis: International Relations II
IR II focuses on the application of theory, arms control, and contemporary organizations, often involving quantifiable facts and specific years of diplomatic milestones.
1. Security and Disarmament: Facts concerning WMD and major arms control treaties like the INF Treaty are highly recurrent, reflecting the importance of proliferation and non-proliferation regimes.
2. Organization Structure and Purpose: Questions frequently test knowledge of IOs and regional blocs, focusing on founding dates (NATO, SAARC, SCO) and their core mandates (e.g., NSG).
3. Strategic Concepts and IPE: Concepts linking economics and power, such as Hegemonic Stability Theory, show continuity. The application of IR theory, evidenced by the repeated question on “The Tragedy of Great Power Politics”, remains central.
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