“Limits exist only in our minds. When we harness our creativity, our opportunities become boundless.”
This sentiment encapsulates our approach as we support UPSC aspirants, particularly those choosing Political Science and International Relations as their optional subject.
Selecting the right optional subject is a critical choice on the UPSC journey, given its substantial influence on the mains examination results.
An effective optional subject should not only enhance your performance in the mains but also serve as a safeguard, balancing your General Studies scores. It should unlock your full potential.
Why Choose Political Science and International Relations as an Optional?
Political Science and International Relations are compelling choices for several reasons:
- The subject is accessible and engaging, making it a favourite among aspirants.
- It covers a range of topics relevant to General Studies Paper 2 and the Essay paper.
- There is a strong history of successful candidates choosing this subject.
- Abundant study materials are readily available.
Who Should Consider Political Science and International Relations?
This subject is ideal for those who:
- Have a genuine passion for politics and international affairs.
- Prefer analytical understanding over rote memorization.
Is Political Science a Scoring Subject?
Many candidates score above 300 in this optional, making it a sought-after choice. While UPSC does not favour any specific subject, your genuine interest should always take precedence.
Why Enroll in Our Premier Political Science Coaching in Bangalore and Across India?
We offer comprehensive coverage of both Political Science papers, with structured modules and specialized workshops focused on answer writing. Enjoy access to over 150 hours of offline and online lectures from experienced faculty.
Benefits of Online Political Science Coaching:
Experience the convenience of learning at your pace and place. With online coaching, you won’t miss lectures and can save valuable commuting time.
Choose Us for Your Political Science Optional Preparation:
Our program is tailored for those keen on choosing Political Science and seeking help in understanding theories and mastering answer writing. We aim to help you realize your potential and grasp foundational concepts.
Answer Writing in Political Science:
Our coaching emphasizes techniques specific to Political Science, encouraging the inclusion of theorists’ perspectives, data, and relevant terminology. We guide you in connecting topics and employing case studies for well-rounded answers.
Recommended Books for PSIR Optional Preparation
Choosing the right books for the Political Science and International Relations optional subject is crucial. Here’s a well-rounded booklist to cover the entire UPSC PSIR syllabus:
- “A History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx” by Subrata Mukherjee & Sushila Ramaswamy (PHI)
- “Western Political Thought” by O.P. Gauba (National Paperback)
- “Political Ideologies” by Andrew Heywood (Red Globe Press)
- “Political Theory: An Introduction to Political Science” by Rajeev Bhargav & Ashok Acharya (Pearson)
- “Foundations of Indian Political Thought” by V.R. Mehta (Manohar)
- “India’s Struggle for Independence” by Bipan Chandra (Penguin Random House)
- “Indian Government and Politics” by B.L. Fadia (Sahitya Bhawan)
- “The Oxford Companion to Politics in India” by Pratap Bhanu Mehta (Oxford)
- “Comparative Politics” by J.C. Johari (Sterling Publisher Pvt.)
- “Global Politics” by Andrew Heywood (Red Globe Press)
- “Globalization of World Politics” by John Baylis, Steve Smith, and Patricia Owens (Oxford University Press)
- “The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy” by David M. Malone, C. Raja Mohan, and Srinath Raghavan (Oxford Handbooks)
Join us today for the best online Political Science classes in India, and let us assist you in achieving your UPSC aspirations.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE OPTIONAL SUBJECT PROGRAMME (OSP) FOR UPSC 2025
- Course Duration: September 2024 to February 2025 (5 months).
- Classes: 3-hour sessions, three days a week.
- Includes 6 full-length tests and daily answer writing practice.
- Available in Offline + Live and Interactive Online formats.
Political Science Optional Coaching Fees:
- Online video lectures for both optional papers: Rs. 25,000/-
- Classroom lectures for both optional papers + study material + 6 tests: Rs. 40,000/-
For registration: Visit Legacy IAS Academy or contact us on 9606900004/05.
Offline + Live-and-Interactive Online Classes for Optional Subject
Classes are accessible through:
- Offline physical sessions,
- Live and interactive online sessions,
- Recorded sessions available without restrictive timelines.
Optional Subjects are also part of the Foundation and 2-Year Integrated Courses at Legacy IAS Academy, integrating coaching for both Optional and General Studies with a wide array of features including test series, answer writing practice, and personalized guidance.
What is the UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus?
The PSIR optional syllabus seamlessly blends both static and dynamic elements in an easily comprehensible manner. Out of a total of 1750 marks for all Mains papers, the optional paper’s weightage is 500 marks, that is, 250 marks for each paper.
Some advantages of choosing PSIR as your UPSC Optional Subject are as follows:
- Interest and Passion: Opting for PSIR allows you to study a subject you are genuinely interested in, making the learning process more engaging and productive.
- Scoring Potential: PSIR is known for its potential to yield high scores. Its well-structured syllabus allows for concise and analytical answers, which can enhance your exam performance.
- Overlapping with General Studies: There’s a significant overlap between the PSIR syllabus and in areas like Indian Polity, International Relations, and Governance of GS Paper I for Prelims and GS II for Mains.
- Availability of Study Material: There is a wealth of study material available for Political Science, ranging from textbooks to coaching classes. This abundance of resources simplifies your preparation process.
- Relevant Current Affairs: PSIR is a dynamic subject closely tied to current political and international events. Studying it helps you stay updated with current affairs, a crucial aspect of the UPSC exam.
- Career Opportunities: A background in PSIR can open doors to various career opportunities beyond the UPSC exam. It can lead to roles in public administration, diplomacy, international organisations, and academia.
- Interdisciplinary Nature: PSIR is an interdisciplinary subject, drawing from fields like history, sociology, economics, and law. This interdisciplinary approach enriches your understanding of governance and politics, providing a broader perspective.
PSIR Optional Syllabus for Paper 1
The PSIR optional syllabus for Paper 1 is divided into several sections, covering various aspects of political theory, Indian political thought, Western political thought, and comparative politics. Candidates are expected to have a deep knowledge of these topics and the ability to critically analyze and apply various political theories and concepts.
Political Theory and Indian Politics
Macro Topic | Micro Topics |
Political Theory | Meaning and approaches. |
Theories of state | Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluralist, post-colonial and Feminist. |
Justice | Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawl’s 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 |
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, Hannah Arendt. |
Indian Government and Politics
Macro Topic | Micro Topics |
Indian Nationalism | – Political Strategies of India’s Freedom Struggle:
– 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. |
Principle organs of the government | – Principal Organs of the Union Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive, Legislature and Supreme Court. |
Grassroots Democracy | Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government; Significance of 73rd and 74th Amendments; Grassroots 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. |
Planning and Economic Development | Nehruvian and Gandhian perspectives; Role of planning and public sector; Green Revolution, land reforms and agrarian relations; liberalization and economic reforms. |
Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics | N/A |
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 Movement | – Civil liberties and human rights movements; women’s movements; environmentalist movements. |
PSIR Optional Syllabus – Paper 2
The PSIR optional syllabus for Paper 2 is divided into several sections, covering various aspects of Indian government and politics, comparative politics, and international relations. Below is an outline of the PSIR Paper 2 syllabus:
Comparative Political Analysis and International Politics
Macro Topic | Micro Topics |
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. |
Globalisation | 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 globalisation. |
Changing International Political Order | – Rise of super powers; Strategic and ideological Bipolarity, arms race and cold war; Nuclear threat; |
Evolution of the International Economic System | – From Brettonwoods to WTO; – Socialist economies and the CMEA (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance); – Third World demand for new international economic order; – Globalisation of the world economy. |
United Nations | – Envisaged role and actual record; – Specialized UN agencies—aims and functioning; – need for UN reforms. |
Regionalisation of World Politics | EU, ASEAN, APEC, AARC, NAFTA. |
Contemporary Global Concerns | Democracy, human rights, environment, gender justice terrorism, nuclear proliferation. |
India and the World
Macro Topic | Micro Topics |
Indian Foreign Policy | – Determinants of foreign policy; – The institutions of policy-making; – Continuity and change. |
India’s Contribution | To the Non-Alignment Movement Different phases; Current role. |
India and South Asia | – Regional Co-operation: SAARC-past performance and future prospects.
|
India and the Global South | – Relations with Africa and Latin America; – A 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. |
Recent developments in Indian Foreign Policy | – India’s position on the recent crises in Afghanistan, Iraq and West Asia, growing relations with the US and Israel; – Vision of a new world order. |
How to Prepare for the UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus
Preparing for the Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) optional syllabus requires a systematic approach and a thorough grasp of the syllabus. Follow this step-by-step guide to effectively prepare for the UPSC PSIR optional:
- Understand the Syllabus: Start by gaining a complete understanding of the PSIR optional syllabus. Familiarize yourself with the topics and sub-topics outlined by UPSC to create a clear preparation roadmap.
- Collect Study Materials: Gather essential study resources, including textbooks and reference materials.
- Join a Coaching Institute: While enrolling in a coaching institute for PSIR is not mandatory, it can provide valuable structured guidance. Institutes like Legacy IAS Academy which offer exam-focused study materials, test series, and expert mentorship.
- Create a Study Plan: Develop a detailed study plan that encompasses the entire syllabus. Allocate sufficient time for each topic, prioritizing areas of strength and those needing more focus.
- Focus Areas: Begin with political theories, as they underpin the subject. Explore the Indian political system, the Constitution, comparative politics, and international relations to gain a comprehensive understanding of governance and global affairs.
- Stay Updated with Current Affairs: Regularly follow current affairs, particularly in politics, international relations, and governance. Make it a habit to read newspapers and relevant magazines.
- Practice Answer Writing: Consistently practice writing answers to enhance your ability to express ideas clearly and concisely. Utilize previous UPSC question papers for practice.
- Join a Test Series: Participate in a PSIR optional test series to evaluate your preparation and receive feedback on your performance. Mock tests are invaluable for time management and refining your answering skills.
- Revision: Regularly revisit what you’ve learned to ensure retention. Create concise notes or mind maps for quick revision, especially in the months leading up to the exam.
Remember, the UPSC PSIR optional syllabus is extensive, so effective time management and a focus on conceptual understanding are essential.