Examius

🇵🇰 PPSC Subject Specialist Test · subject

PPSC Subject Specialist Test Pakistan Studies Syllabus

The Pakistan Studies syllabus for PPSC Subject Specialist Test in full: 6 chapters and 22 topics, every one listed below, plus 61 Pakistan Studies flashcards with answers.

6Chapters
22Topics
61Flashcards

Pakistan Studies syllabus: all 6 chapters

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

  1. Ideology & Pakistan Movement

     4 topics
    • Two-Nation Theory & Ideology of Pakistan
    • Aligarh Movement & Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
    • All India Muslim League & Key Resolutions
    • Independence Movement & Partition 1947

  2. Constitutional & Political History

     4 topics
    • Constitutions of 1956, 1962 & 1973
    • Major Political Eras & Governments
    • Separation of East Pakistan 1971
    • Constitutional Amendments

  3. Geography of Pakistan

     4 topics
    • Physical Features & Provinces
    • Rivers, Dams & Irrigation
    • Climate & Natural Regions
    • Natural Resources & Minerals

  4. Economy & Agriculture

     4 topics
    • Major Crops & Agricultural Output
    • Industries & Trade
    • Economic Plans & CPEC
    • Population & Demographics

  5. Culture & Society

     3 topics
    • Languages & Literature of Pakistan
    • Festivals, Heritage & Tourism Sites
    • National Symbols & Institutions

  6. Foreign Policy & Defence

     3 topics
    • Pakistan's Foreign Relations
    • Armed Forces & Nuclear Program
    • Pakistan in International Organizations

PPSC Subject Specialist Test Pakistan Studies flashcards — 61 questions with answers

  1. What is the Two-Nation Theory?

    The ideology that Hindus and Muslims are two distinct nations with their own customs, religion, and traditions, and therefore Muslims must have a separate homeland. It formed the ideological basis for the creation of Pakistan.

  2. Who is generally credited with first articulating the idea of a separate Muslim identity that underpinned the Two-Nation Theory?

    Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, who first used the word 'nation' (qaum) for Muslims of the subcontinent in the 19th century.

  3. In which 1930 speech and where did Allama Iqbal present the idea of a separate Muslim state in northwest India?

    In his Presidential Address at the Allahabad session of the All India Muslim League in 1930.

  4. Who coined the name 'Pakistan' and in which pamphlet?

    Chaudhry Rahmat Ali, in his 1933 pamphlet 'Now or Never' (the name derived from Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, Sindh, and Balochistan).

  5. What does the acronym 'PAKISTAN' stand for as proposed by Rahmat Ali?

    P=Punjab, A=Afghania (NWFP), K=Kashmir, I=Indus/Sindh, S=Sindh, TAN=Balochistan; combining to mean 'Land of the Pure.'

  6. When and where was the Aligarh movement's flagship institution founded, and what was it first called?

    Founded in 1875 in Aligarh as the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College; it became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920.

  7. What were the main aims of the Aligarh Movement led by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan?

    To promote modern Western and scientific education among Muslims, reconcile them with British rule, and revive Muslim political and social standing after 1857.

  8. What was the Two-Nation Theory's view expressed by Sir Syed after the Hindi-Urdu controversy (1867)?

    It convinced Sir Syed that Hindus and Muslims could not progress as one nation, leading him to advocate that Muslims were a separate nation.

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

    On 30 December 1906 in Dhaka (Dacca), during the All India Muhammadan Educational Conference.

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

    Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan III (with Nawab Viqar-ul-Mulk as a key organizer).

  11. What was the Simla Deputation of 1906 and what did it secure?

    A delegation of Muslims led by Aga Khan that met Viceroy Lord Minto demanding separate electorates for Muslims; it led to separate electorates in the Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909.

  12. What was the Lucknow Pact of 1916?

    An agreement between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League in which Congress accepted separate electorates for Muslims; it marked Hindu-Muslim unity and was negotiated with Jinnah's key role.

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

    A set of constitutional demands by Jinnah safeguarding Muslim rights, including a federal system, provincial autonomy, separate electorates, one-third Muslim representation in the central legislature, and protection of Muslim culture and religion.

  14. What was the Lahore Resolution and when was it passed?

    Passed on 23 March 1940 at the Muslim League's Lahore session, it demanded independent states for Muslim-majority regions of the subcontinent. It is also called the Pakistan Resolution.

  15. Who presented the Lahore Resolution (1940)?

    A.K. Fazlul Haq (the 'Sher-e-Bangal'), Chief Minister of Bengal.

  16. Why is 23 March celebrated in Pakistan?

    It marks the passing of the Lahore Resolution (1940) and the proclamation of Pakistan as a republic in 1956; celebrated as Pakistan Day (Pakistan Resolution Day).

  17. What was the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946?

    A British proposal that rejected outright partition but proposed a loose federation with grouping of provinces; its failure to satisfy both Congress and the League moved the subcontinent toward partition.

  18. What was 'Direct Action Day' (16 August 1946)?

    A day of protest called by the Muslim League to demonstrate Muslim demand for Pakistan; it led to communal riots, especially in Calcutta.

  19. What was the 3rd June Plan (1947)?

    The Mountbatten Plan announcing the partition of British India into India and Pakistan, including division of Punjab and Bengal and referendums in NWFP and Sylhet.

  20. Which Act formally created Pakistan and India, and when did Pakistan gain independence?

    The Indian Independence Act 1947; Pakistan gained independence on 14 August 1947.

Show the other 41 Pakistan Studies flashcards

  1. Who was the Radcliffe Boundary Commission chairman, and what was its task?

    Sir Cyril Radcliffe; it drew the boundary lines (Radcliffe Line) dividing Punjab and Bengal between India and Pakistan, announced on 17 August 1947.

  2. Who was Pakistan's first Governor-General and first Prime Minister?

    Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the first Governor-General; Liaquat Ali Khan was the first Prime Minister.

  3. What was the Objectives Resolution (1949) and who moved it?

    Passed on 12 March 1949 and moved by Liaquat Ali Khan, it laid down the founding principles of Pakistan's constitution, declaring sovereignty belongs to Allah and is exercised by the people within limits prescribed by Him.

  4. When was the Constitution of 1956 enforced and what did it declare Pakistan?

    Enforced on 23 March 1956, it declared Pakistan an 'Islamic Republic' for the first time and made Pakistan a republic ending dominion status.

  5. What type of government system did the 1956 Constitution establish?

    A parliamentary, federal system with a unicameral legislature and the principle of parity between East and West Pakistan.

  6. Who abrogated the 1956 Constitution and when?

    President Iskander Mirza abrogated it on 7 October 1958 and imposed martial law; soon after, General Ayub Khan took over.

  7. What were the main features of the 1962 Constitution?

    It established a presidential system with a strong President (Ayub Khan), an indirect electoral college of 'Basic Democrats,' a unicameral legislature, and a federal structure with one-unit West Pakistan.

  8. What was the 'Basic Democracies' system introduced under Ayub Khan?

    A tiered system of local government (introduced 1959) whose elected members (Basic Democrats) formed the electoral college that elected the President and national/provincial assemblies under the 1962 Constitution.

  9. When was the 1973 Constitution enforced and who was the Prime Minister?

    Enforced on 14 August 1973; Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became the Prime Minister (having earlier been President).

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

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

  11. What is the name of the two houses of Parliament under the 1973 Constitution?

    The National Assembly (lower house) and the Senate (upper house); together they form the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament).

  12. Which constitution is the only one still in force in Pakistan and how many constitutions has Pakistan had?

    The 1973 Constitution is still in force; Pakistan has had three constitutions (1956, 1962, and 1973).

  13. What is the One Unit scheme and when was it established and dissolved?

    The merger of the four provinces of West Pakistan into a single province 'West Pakistan' in 1955 (to balance East Pakistan); it was dissolved in 1970 by Yahya Khan.

  14. Who imposed Pakistan's first martial law and who became Chief Martial Law Administrator in 1958?

    Iskander Mirza imposed it on 7 October 1958; General Ayub Khan became Chief Martial Law Administrator and soon assumed the presidency.

  15. What were the Six Points of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1966)?

    A demand for maximum autonomy for East Pakistan including a federal parliamentary government, federal control limited to defence and foreign affairs, separate currencies/fiscal policy, provincial taxation, separate foreign trade accounts, and a provincial militia—seen as a charter for autonomy/separation.

  16. Which party won the most seats in the 1970 general elections, and in which wing?

    The Awami League (led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) won a majority, dominating East Pakistan; the Pakistan Peoples Party (Bhutto) won most seats in West Pakistan.

  17. When did East Pakistan separate to become Bangladesh?

    On 16 December 1971, following the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and the surrender of Pakistani forces in Dhaka.

  18. What was the Hamoodur Rahman Commission?

    The commission set up to investigate the causes of the 1971 military debacle and the separation of East Pakistan.

  19. What was Operation Searchlight (1971)?

    The military operation launched by the Pakistan Army on 25 March 1971 to suppress the Bengali nationalist movement in East Pakistan.

  20. What did the 1st Amendment to the 1973 Constitution accomplish?

    It redefined Pakistan's boundaries by removing references to East Pakistan, recognizing Bangladesh, after its separation.

  21. What did the 2nd Amendment (1974) to the Constitution declare?

    It declared Ahmadis (Qadianis) as non-Muslims for the purposes of the constitution and law.

  22. What did the 8th Amendment (1985) introduce, and which famous clause did it add?

    Passed under Zia-ul-Haq, it indemnified martial-law actions and added Article 58(2)(b), empowering the President to dissolve the National Assembly at his discretion.

  23. What did the 13th Amendment (1997) do?

    It repealed Article 58(2)(b), removing the President's power to unilaterally dissolve the National Assembly, restoring parliamentary supremacy.

  24. What did the 18th Amendment (2010) achieve?

    It abolished the President's power to dissolve Parliament, devolved many powers to provinces (abolishing the Concurrent List), renamed NWFP to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and strengthened parliamentary democracy.

  25. Which constitutional amendment renamed NWFP as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?

    The 18th Amendment (2010).

  26. How many provinces does Pakistan have, and name them?

    Four provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan (plus the territories of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and the federal capital Islamabad).

  27. Which is Pakistan's largest province by area and which is largest by population?

    Balochistan is the largest by area (about 44% of Pakistan); Punjab is the largest by population.

  28. What is K2 and where is it located?

    K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) is the highest mountain in Pakistan and the second-highest in the world (8,611 m), located in the Karakoram Range in Gilgit-Baltistan.

  29. Name the major mountain ranges of northern Pakistan.

    The Himalayas, the Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush ranges.

  30. What is the longest river of Pakistan and its approximate length?

    The Indus River, about 2,900 km long, which originates in Tibet and flows through Pakistan into the Arabian Sea.

  31. Name the five major rivers of Punjab (the rivers of the Indus system).

    Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej (Punjab = 'land of five waters'), all tributaries of the Indus.

  32. What was the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) and who mediated it?

    A water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank, allotting the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India.

  33. What is the Tarbela Dam and on which river is it built?

    One of the world's largest earth-filled dams, built on the Indus River in KP; a major source of hydroelectric power and water storage in Pakistan.

  34. On which river is the Mangla Dam built and what is its significance?

    Built on the Jhelum River in Azad Kashmir; one of Pakistan's largest dams, used for irrigation and hydroelectric power.

  35. What is the largest natural region/desert in the south of Pakistan, and name two major deserts.

    Major deserts include the Thar (Sindh) and Cholistan (Punjab) deserts; the Thal desert lies in Punjab and the Kharan desert in Balochistan.

  36. What type of climate does most of Pakistan have, and what are its four seasons?

    Mostly arid to semi-arid (continental) climate; the four seasons are winter (cold, Dec-Feb), spring, summer (hot, with monsoon Jul-Sep), and autumn.

  37. What is the monsoon and which season brings most of Pakistan's rainfall?

    Seasonal winds from the Bay of Bengal/Arabian Sea bringing rain in summer (July-September); the southwest monsoon provides most of Pakistan's annual rainfall.

  38. Where is Pakistan's largest natural gas field located?

    The Sui gas field in Balochistan, discovered in 1952, is Pakistan's largest natural gas reserve.

  39. Where are Pakistan's major coal reserves located?

    The Thar coalfield in Sindh holds one of the world's largest lignite coal reserves; other reserves are in Balochistan (Sharigh, Khost) and Salt Range (Punjab).

  40. What major mineral is found at Saindak and Reko Diq in Balochistan?

    Copper and gold; Saindak and Reko Diq are major copper-gold mining/deposit sites in Balochistan.

  41. Where is Pakistan's main rock salt deposit and what is the famous mine called?

    The Salt Range in Punjab; the Khewra Salt Mine is one of the world's largest and oldest salt mines.

PPSC Subject Specialist Test Pakistan Studies FAQ

What is in the PPSC Subject Specialist Test Pakistan Studies syllabus?

PPSC Subject Specialist Test Pakistan Studies is split into 6 chapters: Ideology & Pakistan Movement, Constitutional & Political History, Geography of Pakistan, Economy & Agriculture, Culture & Society and Foreign Policy & Defence. Together they contain 22 topics.

How many chapters are in PPSC Subject Specialist Test Pakistan Studies?

6 chapters, containing 22 topics. The largest chapter is Ideology & Pakistan Movement, with 4 topics.

Are there flashcards for PPSC Subject Specialist Test Pakistan Studies?

Yes — a 61-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.