TATA INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
MUMBAI
RAT M. Phil. Model question paper
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. The scoring for RAT is 100 marks and the interview is for 100 marks. RAT will assess research and analytical abilities and personal interview will assess your research aptitude, competence and subject knowledge and suitability to join the research stream. 2. The duration of the test paper is for 2 hours and the test paper is for 100 marks. 3. The test paper consists of Part I and Part II. You are expected to answer both the parts. 4. Part I will assess the analytical skills and it is for 40 marks. You are required to answer either of the two the qualitative part or the quantitative part. Both the choices carry equal marks and you need to answer all the questions within that. 5. Part II will assess the conceptual and interpretative skills and it is for 60 marks. These questions will assess your subject specific competence in answering the questions. The questions would cover wide-ranging social sciences subjects and you have to answer 5 questions out of 10 choices. Each answer carries 12 marks. 6. Write your Admit Card No. legibly in the box below. 7. Hand over the test paper upon completion to the invigilator without fail. ADMIT CARD NO.
INVIGILATORS SIGNATURE Marks obtained:
For PART I: For PART II: Total Examiners Signature with Date
Page 1 of 5
PART I: ANALYTICAL SKILLS
(40 marks)
Quantitative part with two questions to be answered (OR) Qualitative part with two questions to be answered
Quantitative Part:
Table : Access to Reproductive and Child Health Care Services in India, 200506 No Anti natal care checkup1 Non Institutional delivery1 Births not attended by health professional1 No post partum checkup# Current contrace ptive use
Place of residence Rural Urban 27.7 9.3 71.1 32.5 62.5 26.5 66.1 34.3 53.0 64.0
Social Groups SC ST OBC Others 25.9 29.4 25.5 15.2 67.1 82.3 62.3 49.0 59.4 74.6 53.3 42.2 62.9 68.6 59.8 47.4 55.0 47.9 54.2 61.8
Standard of living Lowest Second Middle Fourth Highest Total 41.3 30.7 19.9 10.0 2.6 22.8 87.3 76.5 60.8 42.1 16.3 61.3 80.6 68.2 51.0 32.8 11.2 53.4 80.7 72.3 57.1 43.2 20.7 57.6 42.2 51.1 56.8 62.5 67.5 56.3
Source: National Family Health Survey III, IIPS and ORC Macro (2007) [28]
1 #
Based on information on births during five years preceding the survey date
For non institutional birth only
1. What are the key relationships that you can observe by studying this table? (250 words) 2. How do you explain the differential access to reproductive and child health services? (250 words)
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Qualitative Part:
Dharavi police start computer literacy drive V Narayan | TNN Mumbai: Dharavi, with its seemingly unending maze of chawls may have an estimated annual turnover of $650 million, but its also one of the citys most crime-prone areas. Now, in an effort to tackle this problem, the Dharavi police have launched a drive to spread computer literacy among residents who are 18 years and above. The program, which will offer a computer course to interested Dharavi residents, was launched on Saturday. The aim of the project is to equip locals with computer skills, which will help them get employment, providing an opportunity to turn their backs on a life of crime. The initial response has been positive, say those involved in the project. On Saturday, over a hundred residents, including 39 women, took their first class. The Dharavi police thrashed out a plan of action with the Mumbai commissioner of police D Sivanandhan, regional additional commissioner of police, Sadanand Date and zonal DCP Milind Bharambe. The fruit of their labour is a spanking new lab equipped with 11 computers on the first floor of the Dharavi police chowki at T Junction. Tutors from the Vedanta Computer Institute will conduct classes in batches of nine from 9 am to 9 pm daily. () The message is simple: There is no need to resort to a life of crime in order to make ends meet, added Patil. () The Vedanta Foundation and the Mumbai police have worked together to spread computer literacy in four sensitive police stations across the cityNagpada, Agripada, Dharavi and Dadar. The initiative has been launched on a pilot basis. We believe this step will bring the police closer to the community and enhance their ability to deal with crime, said Sivanandhan. (Source:
[Link]
1. How does the piece above construct Dharavi and specifically the youth population? What are your views on this construction? (250 words) 2. What role, if any, do slums like Dharavi play in the political economy of the city? (250 words)
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PART II: CONCEPTUAL & INTERPRETATIVE SKILLS
(60 marks)
Attempt 5 questions out of the 10 choices. Each question carries 12 marks. (each answer can be of 200 words)
Q1: The accumulation of data is of course a necessary first step and includes the deriving of fresh data from new sources, but an advance in knowledge is dependent on using the data to present new formulations.
Source: Thapar, Romila (2000), Cultural Pasts: Essay in Early India History, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, p. 52.
Explore how relevant this statement is for social science research?
Q2: Chapter IX of Capital (Volume 1), authored by Karl Marx, describes the concept The rate of surplusvalue. Elaborate the significance of this concept in contemporary global labour market?
Q3: Students cannot afford to have party politics. They hear all parties, as they read all sorts of books, but their business is to assimilate the truth of all and reject the balance.
Source: Gandhi M. K. (1947), India of My Dreams, Ahmadabad: Navjivan Trust, p. 223.
Comment if students should have a pro-active role in party politics in a democracy.
Q4: Domestic work is one of the oldest and most important occupations for millions of women around the world. It is rooted in the global history of slavery, colonialism and other forms of servitude.
Source: International Labour Organization (2010), Decent work for domestic workers: fourth item on agenda, Geneva: ILO, p. 1
Assess this quote using appropriate perspectives from social sciences. Q5: For National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) to be able to realize its potential, the role of civil society organizations is critical.
Source: Shah, Mihir (2007), Employment guarantee, civil society and Indian democracy, Economic and political weekly, Nov 17, p 43
Describe why and how civil society has a significant role in assuring an effective implementation of NREGA?
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Q6: Children of agriculturists tend to study arts courses a lot more than those whose parents are salary earners or businessmen. Those in rural areas also tend to go in more for arts than those living in urban areas.
Source: National Council of Applied Economic Research (2005), India Science Report, New Delhi: NCAER, p iv.
What are likely reasons for why children of farmers tend to study arts than engineering or medicine? Q7: Using the concepts in the discipline that you are trained in, how do you explain farmers suicides in India? Q. 8. Is it lack of motivation or poor reward system that contributes to low productivity of employees/workers? Q. 9. What is the significance of the institution of Family as a contributing factor in maintenance or deterioration of health and mental health? Q10: Is there a meeting ground between theory and practice, thought and action? Comment.
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