Why choose Political Science &

International Relation (PSIR) as optional?

PSIR is one of the most suitable optional in the current scenario.

PSIR CONTRIBUTES 1000 plus MARKS IN CURRENT
PATTERN OF CSE.
 Optional-I- 250 marks
 Optional-II – 250 marks
 G.S. Essay- 250 marks
 GS I, II, III and IV- 150 plus marks
 Personality Test/Interview- 150 Plus marks

PSIR is the best performing optional in the changed scenario with

Predictability in Question Pattern.

 One can score 60 to 70 percent of 750 Marks (PSIR + Essay)

with basic understanding of PSIR.

 The syllabus of PSIR is inter-linked with General Studies

Syllabus and is application based in both the papers.

 Every year there is at least one Essay topic related with

PSIR syllabus.

 PSIR is extremely helpful in Personality Test/Interview.

 Comprehensiveness and greater Predictability in Question

Pattern makes it the 'Most Suitable Subject' for Students with
Science (Engineering and Medicine) and Commerce
Background.

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 Convergences with GS syllabus

Political Science &IR helps you in multiple ways due to its

greater convergences with GS syllabus as enumerated below-

GS Paper I-
 The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important
contributors or contributions from different parts of the
country.

 Post-independence consolidation and reorganization

within the country.

 History of the world topics like- colonization,

decolonization, political philosophies like
communism, capitalism, socialism etc. - their forms
and effect on the society.
 Role of women and women’s organization,
developmental issues

 Effects of globalization on Indian society.

 Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism &

secularism

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GS paper II-
Entire GS Paper II excluding some governance and
Social Justice issues

GS PAPER III-
 Land reforms in India and Green Revolution
 Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in
industrial policy and their effects
 Issues relating to intellectual property rights.
 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation
 Linkages between development and spread of
extremism.
 Role of external state and non-state actors in creating
challenges to internal security.
 Challenges to internal security through communication
networks,
 Security challenges and their management in border
areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism

GS PAPER IV-
 Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from
India and world.
 Ethical issues in international relations and funding

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 Syllabus Of Political Science
PAPER - I : POLITICAL THEORY AND INDIAN POLITICS

SECTION A- Political Theory

 Political Theory: meaning and approaches.

 Theories of the State: Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluralist, Post-
colonial and feminist.
 Justice: Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawls’ theory of
justice and its communitarian critiques.
 Equality: Social, political and economic; relationship between equality
and freedom; Affirmative action.
 Rights: Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; concept of
Human Rights.
 Democracy: Classical and contemporary theories; different models of
democracy: representative, participatory and deliberative.
 Concept of power, hegemony, ideology and legitimacy.
 Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism
and Feminism.

Political Thought

 Indian Political Thought: Dharamshastra, Arthashastra and Buddhist

traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M.K. Gandhi, B.R.
Ambedkar, M.N. Roy.
 Western Political Thought: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke,
John S. Mill, Marx, Gramsci, and Hannah Arendt.

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 SECTION B- Indian Government and Politics
 Indian Nationalism:
a. Political Strategies of India’s Freedom Struggle: Constitutionalism to
mass Satyagraha, Non-cooperation, Civil Disobedience; Militant and
revolutionary movements, Peasant and workers’ movements.
b. Perspectives on Indian National Movement: Liberal, Socialist and
Marxist; Radical humanist and Dalit.
 Making of the Indian Constitution: Legacies of the British rule;
different social and political perspectives.
 Salient Features of the Indian Constitution: The Preamble,
Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles; Parliamentary
System and Amendment Procedures; Judicial Review and Basic Structure
doctrine.
 (a) Principal Organs of the Union Government: Envisaged role and
actual working of the Executive, Legislature and Supreme Court.
(b) Principal Organs of the State Government: Envisaged role and
actual working of the Executive, Legislature and High Courts.
 Grassroots Democracy: Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government;
significance of 73rd and 74th Amendments; Grassroot movements.
 Statutory Institutions/Commissions: Election Commission,
Comptroller and Auditor General, Finance Commission, Union Public
Service Commission, National Commission for Scheduled Castes,
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for
Women; National Human Rights Commission, National Commission for
Minorities, National Backward Classes Commission.
 Federalism: Constitutional provisions; changing nature of centre-state
relations; integrationist tendencies and regional aspirations; inter-state
disputes.
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  Planning and Economic Development : Nehruvian and Gandhian
perspectives; role of planning and public sector; Green Revolution, land
reforms and agrarian relations; liberalilzation and economic reforms.
 Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics.
 Party System: National and regional political parties, ideological and
social bases of parties; patterns of coalition politics; Pressure groups,
trends in electoral behaviour; changing socio- economic profile of
Legislators
 Social Movements: Civil liberties and human rights movements;
women’s movements; environmentalist movements.

Paper I – Reading List

SECTION A

 Political theory – An introduction to political theory by OP Gauba (8th edition)

 Political theory by Andrew Heywood

 Western Political Thought – Subroto Mukherjee and Sushila Ramawsamy

 Indian Political Thought – Ignou MA booklet on political thought + classroom

handouts

SECTION B
 Indian Government and Politics – Oxford handbook on Indian politics (edited) By

Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Niraja Jayal

 Indian government and politics by AS Narang + class handouts

 Selected articles in The Hindu and The Indian Express, and other reputed journals like

EPW etc

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 Paper II

Section A: Comparative Politics and International Relations

 Comparative Politics: Nature and major approaches; Political economy

and political sociology perspectives; Limitations of the comparative
method.
 State in Comparative Perspective: Characteristics and changing nature of
the State in capitalist and socialist economies, and advanced industrial
and developing societies.
 Politics of Representation and Participation: Political parties, pressure
groups and social movements in advanced industrial and developing
societies.
 Globalization: Responses from developed and developing societies.
 Approaches to the Study of International Relations: Idealist, Realist,
Marxist, Functionalist and Systems theory.
 Key concepts in International Relations: National interest, Security and
power; Balance of power and deterrence; Transnational actors and
collective security; World capitalist economy and globalization.
 Changing International Political Order:
a) Rise of super powers; strategic and ideological Bipolarity, arms
race and Cold War; nuclear threat;
b) Non-aligned movement: Aims and achievements;
c) Collapse of the Soviet Union; Unipolarity and American
hegemony; relevance of non-alignment in the contemporary world.
 Evolution of the International Economic System: From Bretton woods to
WTO; Socialist economies and the CMEA (Council for Mutual
Economic Assistance); Third World demand for new international
economic order; Globalization of the world economy.

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  United Nations: Envisaged role and actual record; specialized UN
agencies-aims and functioning; need for UN reforms.
 Regionalization of World Politics: EU, ASEAN, APEC, SAARC,
NAFTA.
 Contemporary Global Concerns: Democracy, human rights, environment,
gender justice, terrorism, nuclear proliferation.

Section B: India and the World:

 Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants of foreign policy; institutions of

policy-making; continuity and change.
 India’s Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement: Different phases;
current role.
 India and South Asia:
a) Regional Co-operation: SAARC – past performance and future
prospects.
b) South Asia as a Free Trade Area.
c) India’s “Look East” policy.
d) Impediments to regional co-operation: river water disputes; illegal
cross-border migration; ethnic conflicts and insurgencies; border
disputes.
 India and the Global South: Relations with Africa and Latin America;
leadership role in the demand for NIEO and WTO negotiations.
 India and the Global Centres of Power: USA, EU, Japan, China and
Russia.
 India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace-keeping; demand for
Permanent Seat in the Security Council.
 India and the Nuclear Question: Changing perceptions and policy.

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  Recent developments in Indian Foreign Policy: India’s position on the
recent crises in Afghanistan, Iraq, and West Asia, growing relations with
US and Israel; Vision of a new world order.

Paper II - Reading List

Section A: Comparative Politics and International Relations

 “The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International

Relations” by John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens.
 “Global Politics” by Andrew Heywood.
 “The Oxford Handbook of International Relations” by Christian Reus-
Smit and Duncan Snidal.
Section B: India and the World

 “Does the Elephant Dance: Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy” by

David. M. Malone.
 “India’s Foreign Policy since Independence” by V P. Dutt.
 “Challenge and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy.” by Rajiv
Sikri.
 IDSA website should be followed for articles.
 MEA website should be regularly followed for updates and articles.
 IR editorials should be followed in The Hindu and The Indian Express.
 The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy” by David M. Malone, C
Raja Mohan and Srinath Raghvan.
 “India’s Foreign Policy: Retrospect and Prospect” by Sumit Ganguly.
 “Foreign Policy of India” by V N. Khanna.

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 SPECIAL FEATURES OF OPTIONAL
CLASSROOM PROGRAMME

Our aim is to provide “ONE STOP SOLUTION” for

students for optional preparation. Following are the major
components of our classroom programme:

 Strategic classroom preparation with special focus on

conceptual clarity and understanding of trends and
issues.
 Focus on lucid explanation instead of mere dictation with
“Exam focused approach” that will inculcate in students
the competency to deal with the unexpected questions.
 Concise, well – researched and exam ready study
material on each and every topic.
 PSIR Mentorship programme: PSIR faculty would be
available for personalised guidance and mentorship in
order to help you sail through the unchartered waters of
civil services exam preparation.
 Test series and answer writing programme are an
essential aspects of the course.
 Comprehensive and timely coverage of syllabus

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  We focus on inter-linkages among both optional papers,
Paper I and II.
 Interactive class to bring out the best in student
 Classroom Session of 2.5 hours daily, seven days a week,
total 375+ hours of Classroom teaching, and
Discussions.
 Updated Extracts from Journals, Newspapers and
Magazines relevant for dynamic portions of syllabus
especially IGP &IR sections.

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