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PMS Examination Pakistan Studies Syllabus

The Pakistan Studies syllabus for PMS Examination in full: 8 chapters and 28 topics, every one listed below, plus 50 Pakistan Studies flashcards with answers.

8Chapters
28Topics
50Flashcards

Pakistan Studies syllabus: all 8 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  1. Ideology of Pakistan

     3 topics
    • Two-Nation Theory
    • Ideological Basis
    • Role of Religion in Statehood

  2. Pakistan Movement

     4 topics
    • Aligarh Movement and Sir Syed
    • Formation of Muslim League
    • Constitutional Developments (1909-1947)
    • Lahore Resolution 1940

  3. Land and People of Pakistan

     4 topics
    • Physical Geography and Regions
    • Climate and Natural Resources
    • Population and Demography
    • Provinces and Administrative Divisions

  4. Constitutional and Political History

     4 topics
    • Early Years and Constitutional Crises
    • Constitutions of 1956, 1962, 1973
    • Military and Civilian Regimes
    • Separation of East Pakistan

  5. Government and Politics

     4 topics
    • Federal and Provincial Structure
    • Parliamentary System
    • Local Government System
    • Role of Judiciary

  6. Economy of Pakistan

     3 topics
    • Agriculture and Industry
    • Energy and Water Resources
    • Economic Challenges and Reforms

  7. Foreign Policy of Pakistan

     3 topics
    • Principles and Determinants
    • Relations with Major Powers
    • Pakistan and Regional Organizations

  8. Contemporary Issues

     3 topics
    • Terrorism and Security
    • Governance and Corruption
    • Social and Educational Challenges

PMS Examination Pakistan Studies flashcards — 50 questions with answers

  1. What is the Two-Nation Theory?

    The ideological belief that Hindus and Muslims of the Indian subcontinent are two distinct nations with their own religion, culture, customs, history, and social order, and therefore Muslims deserve a separate homeland.

  2. Who is regarded as the first proponent of the Two-Nation Theory in the modern era?

    Sir Syed Ahmad Khan is regarded as the originator, as he first used the term 'two nations' in the 1880s to describe the distinct identities of Hindus and Muslims.

  3. In which famous address did Allama Iqbal give philosophical shape to the idea of a separate Muslim state?

    In his 1930 Presidential Address at the Allahabad session of the Muslim League, where he proposed a consolidated Muslim state in north-western India.

  4. What constitutes the ideological basis of Pakistan?

    Islam and the Two-Nation Theory — the conviction that Muslims are a separate nation requiring a state where they can order their lives according to Islamic principles.

  5. What role did religion play in the demand for Pakistan?

    Islam served as the unifying force and the defining marker of Muslim nationhood, providing the cultural, legal, and moral foundation that distinguished Muslims from Hindus and justified a separate state.

  6. What was the Aligarh Movement?

    An educational and social reform movement launched by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in the late 19th century to uplift Indian Muslims through modern Western and scientific education while preserving their Islamic identity.

  7. Which institution founded by Sir Syed became the intellectual center of the Aligarh Movement?

    The Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College, established at Aligarh in 1875, which later became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920.

  8. Why did Sir Syed Ahmad Khan advise Muslims to stay away from the Indian National Congress?

    He believed Muslims were politically and educationally behind Hindus, and that joining Congress (a Hindu-majority body) would harm Muslim interests under a democratic system based on majority rule.

  9. When and where was the All-India Muslim League founded?

    It was founded on 30 December 1906 at Dhaka (Dacca) during the annual meeting of the Muslim Educational Conference.

  10. Who was the first president of the All-India Muslim League?

    Sir Aga Khan III was the first president of the All-India Muslim League.

  11. What were the main objectives of the Muslim League at its founding in 1906?

    To promote loyalty to the British government, protect and advance the political rights and interests of Indian Muslims, and prevent hostility toward other communities.

  12. What was the Simla Deputation of 1906?

    A delegation of 35 Muslim leaders led by Sir Aga Khan that met Viceroy Lord Minto, demanding separate electorates and weighted representation for Muslims — a precursor to the Muslim League's formation.

  13. What did the Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) grant to Muslims?

    It introduced the principle of separate electorates for Muslims, allowing them to elect their own representatives, a key political safeguard for the Muslim community.

  14. What was the significance of the Lucknow Pact of 1916?

    It was an agreement between the Congress and the Muslim League in which Congress accepted separate electorates for Muslims; it marked Hindu-Muslim unity and recognition of the League as the representative of Muslims.

  15. What were the Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) known for introducing?

    It introduced 'dyarchy' in the provinces, dividing subjects into 'reserved' and 'transferred' categories, and expanded Indian participation in government.

  16. What were Jinnah's Fourteen Points (1929)?

    A set of constitutional demands by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah safeguarding Muslim rights, including a federal system, one-third Muslim representation in the central legislature, separate electorates, and provincial autonomy.

  17. What was the main feature of the Government of India Act 1935?

    It proposed an All-India Federation and provincial autonomy, abolished dyarchy in provinces, and served as the basis for the constitutions of independent India and Pakistan.

  18. When and where was the Lahore Resolution passed?

    It was passed on 23 March 1940 at the Minto Park (now Iqbal Park) session of the All-India Muslim League in Lahore.

  19. Who moved the Lahore Resolution of 1940?

    It was moved by A.K. Fazlul Haq, the Chief Minister of Bengal, and seconded by several leaders.

  20. What did the Lahore Resolution of 1940 demand?

    It demanded that the areas where Muslims were in a majority (the north-western and eastern zones of India) be grouped to constitute independent states with autonomous and sovereign constituent units.

Show the other 30 Pakistan Studies flashcards

  1. Why is the Lahore Resolution also called the 'Pakistan Resolution'?

    Because it formally articulated the demand for a separate Muslim homeland, which later became Pakistan; the press popularly dubbed it the Pakistan Resolution.

  2. What is the total land area of Pakistan?

    Approximately 796,096 square kilometres (about 881,913 sq km including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan).

  3. Name the major physiographic regions of Pakistan.

    The Northern Mountains (Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindu Kush), the Western (Balochistan) Plateau, the Potohar Plateau, the Indus Plain, and the deserts (Thar, Cholistan).

  4. What is the highest peak in Pakistan and where is it located?

    K-2 (Mount Godwin-Austen), at 8,611 metres, located in the Karakoram Range; it is the second-highest peak in the world.

  5. Which mountain ranges meet in northern Pakistan?

    The Himalayas, the Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush ranges converge in northern Pakistan.

  6. What is the longest river in Pakistan?

    The Indus River, about 2,900 km long, is the longest river and the lifeline of Pakistan's agriculture.

  7. What type of climate does most of Pakistan have?

    Pakistan has predominantly an arid to semi-arid (continental) climate with hot summers, cool winters, and low, variable rainfall, except in the northern mountains and monsoon-affected areas.

  8. What are the four main seasons of Pakistan?

    Cold/winter season (Dec-Feb), hot/summer season (Mar-Jun), monsoon/rainy season (Jul-Sep), and the post-monsoon/retreating monsoon season (Oct-Nov).

  9. Name some major mineral resources of Pakistan.

    Natural gas, coal (Thar), rock salt (Khewra), gypsum, limestone, copper and gold (Reko Diq, Saindak), chromite, and iron ore.

  10. Where is the largest salt mine in Pakistan located?

    The Khewra Salt Mine in the Salt Range, Punjab — the second-largest salt mine in the world.

  11. According to the 2023 census, what is the approximate population of Pakistan?

    Around 241 million people, making Pakistan the fifth most populous country in the world.

  12. What is the most populous province of Pakistan?

    Punjab is the most populous province, containing roughly half of Pakistan's total population.

  13. What is meant by 'demographic dividend' in the context of Pakistan?

    The potential economic growth opportunity arising from Pakistan's large youth population (a majority under 30), provided they are educated and gainfully employed.

  14. How many provinces does Pakistan have, and name them.

    Four provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Balochistan.

  15. What are the federally administered/special territories of Pakistan?

    Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan; the former FATA was merged into KP in 2018.

  16. What is the largest province of Pakistan by area?

    Balochistan is the largest province by area (about 44% of Pakistan's land) but the least populous.

  17. What administrative unit lies below the province in Pakistan?

    The division, which is subdivided into districts, then tehsils/talukas, and finally union councils.

  18. Who was the first Governor-General of Pakistan?

    Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah served as the first Governor-General of Pakistan (1947-1948).

  19. What was the Objectives Resolution of 1949?

    A resolution passed by the Constituent Assembly on 12 March 1949 laying down the principles that sovereignty belongs to Allah, and that the state would be guided by Islamic principles of democracy, freedom, equality, and social justice; it became the preamble of later constitutions.

  20. What major constitutional crisis occurred in 1954?

    Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad dissolved the first Constituent Assembly, a move upheld by the Federal Court in the controversial 'Maulvi Tamizuddin' / Doctrine of Necessity case.

  21. What was the 'One Unit' scheme of 1955?

    A policy that merged the four provinces and princely states of West Pakistan into a single administrative unit called West Pakistan, to balance representation against the populous East Pakistan; it was abolished in 1970.

  22. When did Pakistan's first Constitution come into force and what did it declare Pakistan to be?

    The 1956 Constitution came into force on 23 March 1956, declaring Pakistan an 'Islamic Republic' for the first time.

  23. What form of government did the 1956 Constitution establish?

    A parliamentary form of government with a unicameral legislature and parity of representation between East and West Pakistan.

  24. What were the key features of the 1962 Constitution?

    Introduced by Ayub Khan, it established a presidential system with a powerful President, indirect elections through 'Basic Democracies' (an electoral college of 80,000 members), and a unicameral legislature.

  25. What was the 'Basic Democracies' system introduced by Ayub Khan?

    A four-tier local government and electoral system (union councils up to provincial level) of 80,000 'Basic Democrats' who acted as an electoral college to elect the President and assemblies.

  26. When was the 1973 Constitution enacted and who was the Prime Minister?

    The 1973 Constitution was enacted on 14 August 1973 under Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto; it remains Pakistan's current constitution.

  27. What form of government does the 1973 Constitution establish?

    A federal parliamentary democratic system with a bicameral legislature (National Assembly and Senate), a President as ceremonial head of state, and a Prime Minister as head of government.

  28. What were the main causes of the separation of East Pakistan in 1971?

    Economic disparity, political marginalization, denial of the 1970 election mandate to the Awami League, the language issue, and the military operation, which led to civil war, Indian intervention, and the creation of Bangladesh.

  29. Which party won the 1970 general elections and what was the outcome?

    The Awami League under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won a majority (mostly in East Pakistan); the refusal to transfer power triggered the crisis that culminated in the creation of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971.

  30. What is the structure of the Federal Legislature (Majlis-e-Shoora) of Pakistan?

    It is bicameral: the National Assembly (lower house, directly elected, currently 336 seats) and the Senate (upper house representing provinces equally, 96 members), together with the President.

PMS Examination Pakistan Studies FAQ

What is in the PMS Examination Pakistan Studies syllabus?

PMS Examination Pakistan Studies is split into 8 chapters: Ideology of Pakistan, Pakistan Movement, Land and People of Pakistan, Constitutional and Political History, Government and Politics, Economy of Pakistan, Foreign Policy of Pakistan and Contemporary Issues. Together they contain 28 topics.

How many chapters are in PMS Examination Pakistan Studies?

8 chapters, containing 28 topics. The largest chapter is Pakistan Movement, with 4 topics.

Are there flashcards for PMS Examination Pakistan Studies?

Yes — a 50-card Pakistan Studies deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.