UPSC Political Science Syllabus and Booklist for Optional Preparation
Master PSIR with a clear syllabus breakdown and topper-recommended booklist to boost your UPSC preparation.
Get a detailed UPSC Political Science syllabus along with a topper-recommended booklist to help you prepare smartly, build strong concepts, and score high in both Paper I (Political Theory & Indian Politics) and Paper II (International Relations).
📘 Paper I: Political Theory and Indian Politics
Part A: Political Theory
Understand the foundational concepts that shape politics and governance.
Topics Covered:
Political Theory: Meaning and Approaches
Theories of the State: Liberal, Marxist, Neoliberal
Justice: Conceptions and Critiques
Equality: Social, Economic, and Political
Rights: Meaning and Theories
Democracy: Classical and Contemporary Theories
Power, Authority, and Legitimacy
Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism, Feminism
Indian Political Thought: Manu, Kautilya, Gandhi, Ambedkar, Savarkar
Western Political Thought: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Marx
📚 Recommended Books for Part A:
An Introduction to Political Theory – O.P. Gauba
Political Theory: An Introduction – Rajeev Bhargava & Ashok Acharya
Western Political Thought – Brian Nelson / Subrata Mukherjee & Sushila Ramaswamy
Indian Political Thought – V.R. Mehta / Himanshu Roy
Part B: Indian Government and Politics
Paper I – Sociological Thinkers, Theory & Core Concepts
Explore the philosophical and practical foundations of Indian democracy.
Topics Covered:
Indian Nationalism: Liberal, Socialist, Extremist, Subaltern
Making of the Indian Constitution: Colonial legacy, Constituent Assembly
Salient Features of the Constitution
Fundamental Rights & Duties, DPSPs
Union Government: President, PM, Parliament, Supreme Court
State Government: Governor, CM, State Legislature
Centre-State Relations, Emergency Provisions
Local Government: 73rd and 74th Amendments
Electoral Process, Party System, Pressure Groups
Communalism, Regionalism, Secularism, Caste and Politics
Challenges to Indian Democracy: Corruption, Criminalization, Identity Politics
📚 Recommended Books for Part B:
Indian Polity – M. Laxmikanth
Introduction to the Constitution of India – D.D. Basu
Politics in India – Rajni Kothari
Indian Government and Politics – B.L. Fadia / A. Appadorai
Democratic Politics in India – NCERT Class 11 & 12
🌐 Paper II: Comparative Politics and International Relations
Part A: Comparative Political Analysis and International Politics
Deep dive into global political systems and international frameworks.
Topics Covered:
Comparative Politics: Nature, Methods, Approaches
State: Theories, Welfare State, Globalisation
Political Institutions: Legislature, Executive, Judiciary
Party Systems, Electoral Systems, Pressure Groups
Development Process and Dependency Theory
Globalisation: Political and Economic Dimensions
Theories of International Relations: Realism, Liberalism, Marxism, Feminism
Cold War, Post-Cold War Era, Global Order
United Nations and Its Role
Non-Aligned Movement
Global Issues: Terrorism, Climate Change, Human Rights
📚 Recommended Books for Part A:
Comparative Politics – J.C. Johari / Rod Hague
Global Politics – Andrew Heywood
International Relations – Joshua Goldstein / V.N. Khanna
The Globalization of World Politics – Baylis & Smith (for advanced learners)
Part B: India and the World
Analyze India’s evolving role in world affairs.
Topics Covered:
India’s Foreign Policy: Historical Perspective and Objectives
NAM, Nehruvian Legacy, Contemporary Relevance
India and Major Powers: US, Russia, China
India and South Asia: SAARC, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh
India and International Organizations: UN, WTO, IMF, World Bank
India and Nuclear Policy
Indian Diaspora and Foreign Policy
Contemporary Global Issues: Energy Security, Climate Diplomacy, Cybersecurity
📚 Recommended Books for Part B:
Does the Elephant Dance? – David Malone
Challenge and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy – Rajiv Sikri
India’s Foreign Policy – Muchkund Dubey
IGNOU Notes on Foreign Policy
Current Affairs – ORF, IDSA Reports, MEA Website
🏆 Topper Tips for PSIR Preparation
✅ Follow a Smart Strategy:
Start with Paper I – builds your theoretical foundation.
Read from standard books, then refer to topper notes or IGNOU.
Integrate current affairs with Paper II (especially IR).
Practice answer writing with PYQs weekly.
✅ Revise Like a Toppers:
Make short notes after 1st reading.
Use keywords: sovereignty, realism, secularism, legitimacy, etc.
Always link theory with contemporary examples.
Practice 3-mark, 10-mark, and 15-mark answers from past year papers.