Political Science and International Relations(PSIR)

Optional Subject – Political Science and International Relations ( Paper – I )

Political Theory and Indian Politics:

Political Theory:

Meaning and Approaches

Theories of the State: Liberal, Neoliberal, Marxist, Pluralist, Post-Colonial, and Feminist.

Justice: The concept of justice with special reference to John Rawls’ theory of justice and its communitarian critiques.

Equality: Social, political, and economic equality and the relationship between equality and freedom; affirmative action.

Rights: Meaning and theories different kinds of rights the notion of human rights.

Democracy: Classical and contemporary theories of democracy; various models of democracy—representative, participatory, and deliberative.

Concepts of Power, Hegemony, Ideology, and Legitimacy.

Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism, and Feminism.

Indian Political Thought:

The traditions of Dharamshastra, Arthashastra, and Buddhist traditions.

Thinkers: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M.K. Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, M.N. Roy.

Western Political Thought:

Thinkers: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John Stuart Mill, Marx, Gramsci, and Hannah Arendt.

Indian Government and Politics:

Indian Nationalism:

(a) Political strategies of India’s freedom struggle constitutionalism to mass satyagraha, non-cooperation, civil disobedience, and Quit India militant and revolutionary movements peasants and workers’ movements.
(b) Perspectives on Indian national movement: Liberal, Socialist, and Marxist Radical humanist and Dalit perspectives.

Making of the Indian Constitution:

The legacies of the British rule different social and political perspectives.

Salient Features of the Indian Constitution:

Preamble Fundamental Rights and Duties Directive Principles of State Policy Parliamentary System and Amendment Procedure Judicial Review and Basic Structure Doctrine.

Principal Organs of the Union Government:

(a) Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary — Structure, functioning, roles, and powers.
(b) Principal Organs of the State Government — Executive, Legislature, and High Courts.

Grassroots Democracy:

Panchayati Raj and Municipal Governance significance of the 73rd and 74th Amendments grassroots movements.

Statutory Institutions/Commissions:

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Finance Commission, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Women, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Commission for Minorities, National Commission for Backward Classes.

Federal System:

Constitutional provisions changing nature of center-state relations integrative tendencies and regional aspirations inter – state disputes.

Planning and Economic Development:

Nehruvian and Gandhian perspectives on planning role of planning and public sector Green Revolution, land reforms, and agriculture liberalization and economic reforms.

Caste, Religion, and Ethnicity in Indian Politics.

Party System

National and regional political parties ideological and social bases of parties trends in electoral behavior the changing socio – economic profile of legislators.

Social Movements

Civil liberties and human rights movements women’s movements environmental movements.

Political Science and International Relations ( Paper 2 )

Comparative Politics and International Relations:

Comparative Political Analysis and International Politics:

Comparative Politics:

Nature and major approaches political economy and political sociology perspectives limitations of the comparative method.

The state in a comparative perspective Changing nature of the state in capitalist and socialist economies and advanced industrial and developing societies.

Political 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:

Rise of superpowers, strategic and ideological bipolarity, arms race, and the Cold War; nuclear threat.

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 the WTO socialist economies and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) demands of the Third World for a New International Economic Order (NIEO) globalization of the world economy.

United Nations

Envisioned role and actual record specialized UN agencies — aims and functioning the 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.

India and the World:

India’s Foreign Policy:

Determinants of foreign policy institutions of policy – making continuity and change.

Non-Alignment Movement (NAM):

India’s contribution to NAM Different phases and current role.

India and South Asia:

(a) Regional cooperation SAARC — past performance and future prospects.
(b) South Asia as a Free Trade Area.
(c) India’s “Look East” policy.
(d) Obstacles to regional cooperation 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 NIEO and WTO negotiations.

India and Global Centers of Power:

Relations with the United States, European Union (EU), Japan, China, and Russia.

India and the UN System

Role in UN peacekeeping demand for permanent membership in the UN Security Council.

India and the Nuclear Issue:

Changing perceptions and policy.

Recent Developments in Indian Foreign Policy:

India’s position on the Afghanistan crisis, relations with Iraq and West Asia growing ties with the US and Israel India’s role in the emerging global order.

Get in Touch

First Name

Last Name

Phone

Message

The form has been submitted successfully!

There has been some error while submitting the form. Please verify all form fields again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is PSIR a popular optional subject for the IAS exam?

PSIR is a well-rounded optional subject as it overlaps significantly with the General Studies papers, especially in Polity, Governance, International Relations, and Ethics. It is also highly dynamic, covering both theoretical frameworks and contemporary global and domestic issues.

What are the key topics to focus on in PSIR for scoring well?

Paper 1: Political theories, thinkers (Western and Indian), concepts like justice, equality, and democracy, and Indian Constitution/governance.
Paper 2: Comparative politics, global governance, international organizations, India’s foreign policy, and contemporary global issues like globalization and climate change.

How much overlap does PSIR have with General Studies (GS) in the UPSC syllabus?

PSIR has significant overlap with GS:
GS Paper 2: Indian Polity, Governance, and International Relations.
GS Paper 1: Social issues related to caste, religion, and ethnicity.
GS Paper 4: Ethics and political ideologies like Gandhism.
This makes it a strategic optional choice.

What is the ideal strategy for preparing PSIR as an optional subject?

Understand the syllabus thoroughly and link theoretical concepts with contemporary examples.
Refer to standard books like OP Gauba (Political Theory), Andrew Heywood (Global Politics), and Rajeev Bhargava (Indian Political Thought).
Follow current affairs regularly, especially on international relations and India’s foreign policy.
Practice answer writing with emphasis on clarity, structure, and use of examples.

Is a background in Political Science necessary for choosing PSIR?

No, a background in Political Science is not mandatory. With the right resources and a disciplined approach, even candidates from non-PSIR backgrounds can excel in this optional subject. Its concepts are straightforward and its relevance to current affairs makes it easier to understand and apply.

Talk to a Counselor

Would you like to start a learning with us?

+91 7388368910