Political Science and International Research (PSIR) Optional

UPSC CSE Exam is conducted in three phases: Preliminary, Main, and Interview. Moreover, in the Main exam aspirants are given a chance to pick Optional Subject of their choice. Political Science and International Research (PSIR) is one of the 48 Optional Subjects offered by UPSC in the Main Exam.
PSIR includes two parts Political Science which deals with political ideas, laws, and more. And International Relation which covers topics like international news and the interaction of different countries with each other. Moreover, the subject has two papers Paper 1 and Paper 2, both carrying 250 Marks each, total 500 Marks.

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.
• 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.

 

Faculty for PSIR OPTIONAL

Renowned, Ex. Assistant Professor Neeraj Ruhil Sir has authored multiple papers and reports centred on socio-economic affairs, governance, and political research.He is highly Experienced, Expert and Senior Faculty of Political Science. He is the life Member of IPAA. His guidance and Experienced make subject more Engaging. Neeraj RuhilSir's Exam Oriented Approach make you more confidant you in UPSC CSE Mains Exams.

Through his guidance, many aspirants have excelled in PSIR Optional Papers. Furthermore, he is very interactive with the students and personally guides every student. He resolves doubts and queries ensuring that students get a clear understanding of each and every topic thoroughly.

OFFLINE/ ONLINEPSIR OPTIONAL AT RAM IAS ACADEMY

With the changing world and modernization, people are becoming drawn towards technology. Moreover, many aspirants are going for online coaching rather than traditional. To keep up with this modernization, RAM IAS ACADEMY has an Online Mode of coaching for aspirants wanting to do distance learning. It also provides students with Live Lectures, Recorded Lectures, and PDF Notes. These facilities have proven to be very beneficial for students in their PSIR Optional preparation. Additionally, RAM IAS ACADEMY also provides a Hybrid Mode of learning, which allows students to take the benefit of both Offline and Online Classes at the same time. This is the best facility for students who are looking for flexibility and time efficiency.

 

Political Science and International Research (PSIR) OptionalSyllabus 2025

Syllabus of PSIR Paper - I

Political Theory and Indian Politics:

1. Political Theory: meaning and approaches.
2. Theories of state: Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluralist, Post-colonial, and Feminist.
3. Justice: Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawl’s theory of justice and its communitarian critiques.
4. Equality: Social, political, and economic; the relationship between equality and freedom; Affirmative action.
5. Rights: Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; Concept of Human Rights.
6. Democracy: Classical and contemporary theories; different models of democracy—representative, participatory and deliberative.
7. Concept of power: hegemony, ideology, and legitimacy.
8. Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism, and Feminism.
9. Indian Political Thought: Dharmashastra, Arthashastra, and Buddhist Traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M. K. Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, M. N. Roy.
10. Western Political Thought: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx, Gramsci, Hannah Arendt.

Indian Government and Politics

1. Indian Government and Politics
   (a) Political Strategies of India’s Freedom Struggle: Constitutionalism to mass Satyagraha, Noncooperation, Civil Disobedience; Militant and Revolutionary Movements, Peasant and Workers Movements.
   (b) Perspectives on Indian National Movement; Liberal, Socialist, and Marxist; Radical Humanist and Dalit.
2. Making of the Indian Constitution: Legacies of the British rule; different social and political perspectives. 
3. 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.
4. (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. 
5. Grassroots Democracy: Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government; Significance of 73rd and 74th Amendments; Grassroot movements.
6. 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.
7. Federalism: Constitutional provisions; changing nature of center-state relations; integrationist tendencies and regional aspirations; inter-state disputes.
8. 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.
9. Caste, Religion, and Ethnicity in Indian Politics.
10. Party System: National and regional political parties, ideological and social bases of parties; Patterns of coalition politics; Pressure groups, trends in electoral behavior; changing socio-economic profile of Legislators. 
11. Social Movement: Civil liberties and human rights movements; women’s movements; environmentalist movements.

Syllabus of PSIR Paper - II

Comparative Politics and International Relations

1. Comparative Politics: Nature and major approaches; Political economy and political sociology perspectives; Limitations of the comparative method.
2. State in Comparative Perspective: Characteristics and changing nature of the State in capitalist and socialist economies, and advanced industrial and developing societies.
3. Politics of Representation and Participation: Political parties, pressure groups and social movements in advanced industrial and developing societies.
4. Globalisation: Responses from developed and developing societies.
5. Approaches to the Study of International Relations: Idealist, Realist, Marxist, Functionalist and Systems theory.
6. Key Concepts in International Relations: National interest, security and power; Balance of power and deterrence; Transational actors and collective security; World capitalist economy and globalisation.
7. Changing International Political Order:
   (a) Rise of superpowers; 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. 
8. 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; Globalisation of the world economy.
9. United Nations: Envisaged role and actual record; Specialized UN agencies—aims and functioning; the need for UN reforms.
10. Regionalisation of World Politics: EU, ASEAN, APEC, AARC, NAFTA.
11. Contemporary Global Concerns: Democracy, human rights, environment, gender justice terrorism, nuclear proliferation.

India and the World

1. Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants of foreign policy; the institutions of policy-making; continuity and change. 
2. India’s Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement Different phases; current role. 
3. 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.
4. India and the Global South: Relations with Africa and Latin America; Leadership role in the demand for NIEO and WTO negotiations. 
5. India and the Global Centres of Power: USA, EU, Japan, China and Russia.
6. India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace-keeping; Demand for Permanent Seat in the Security Council.
7. India and the Nuclear Question: Changing perceptions and policy.
8. 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.

Books to Prepare for PSIR Optional Syllabus

When it comes to choosing books for the Political Science and International Relations optional subject, it's essential to have a comprehensive and well-rounded list of books that cover the entire UPSC Political Science syllabus. Here's a recommended booklist for PSIR:

·        A History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx- by Subrata Mukherjee & Sushila Ramaswamy (PHI)

• Western Political Thought- by OP Gauba (National Paperback)
• Political Ideologies-  by Andrew Heywood (Red Globe Press)
• Political Theory – An Introduction to Political Science- by Rajeev Bhargav & Ashok Acharya (Pearson)
• Foundation of Indian Political Thought - by VR Mehta (Manohar)
• India’s Struggle for Independence- by Bipan Chandra (Penguin Random House)
• Indian Government and Politics- by BL 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, Patricia Owens (Oxford University Press)
• The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy- by David M. Malone, C. Raja Mohan, and Srinath Raghavan (Oxford Handbooks
• Atlas – oxford publication