UPSC Political Science and International Relations 2024

UPSC Political Science and International Relations 2024

The UPSC Political Science and International Relations syllabus for 2024 covers key topics including political theory, Indian politics, comparative politics, public administration, and international relations. The paper evaluates analytical thinking, comprehension, and contemporary knowledge of national and global affairs. Thorough preparation of Indian governance, policymaking, global groupings, and IR theories is essential.

You can download the UPSC CSE Political Science and International Relations Optional paper Syllabus from the direct link given below.

UPSC Political Science 2024 Overview

There is a list of optional subjects for mains in which there are 48 subjects, from which candidates can choose according to their choice. Political Science and International Relations is one of the optional subjects for the Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC. The optional paper is conducted for 250 marks. The UPSC CSE optional subject Political Science Syllabus 2024 has two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2.

Optional Political Science and International Relations for UPSC CSE 2024

The UPSC Political Science and International Relations syllabus covers Indian politics, governance, global affairs, IR theories and public administration. Topics overlap with General Studies. Thorough preparation using ample study material and current affairs awareness is key to mastering this theory and fact-based optional subject.

If you opt for Political Science and International Relations optional in UPSC mains, prepare it thoroughly. Go through the UPSC CSE Syllabus and previous years’ Political Science and International Relations papers. Also study relevant Political Science and International Relations books for UPSC preparation.

UPSC CSE Political Science and International Relations 2024 Paper 1

A. Political Theory:

1. Meaning and approaches to political theory.
2. Theories of the state: Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluralist, Post-colonial, and Feminist.
3. Conceptions of justice with a focus on Rawls’ theory and its critiques.
4. Social, political, and economic equality; relationship between equality and freedom; affirmative action.
5. Meaning, theories, and types of rights; concept of human rights.
6. Classical and contemporary theories of democracy; different models of democracy.
7. Concepts of power: hegemony, ideology, and legitimacy.
8. Political ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism, and Feminism.
9. Indian political thought: Dharamshastra, Arthashastra, 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.

B. Indian Government and Politics:

1. Political strategies of India’s freedom struggle: Constitutionalism, mass Satyagraha, Non-cooperation, Civil Disobedience, militant and revolutionary movements, peasant and workers movements.
2. Making of the Indian Constitution: Legacies of British rule, different social and political perspectives.
3. Salient features of the Indian Constitution: Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles, Parliamentary System, Amendment Procedures, Judicial Review, Basic Structure doctrine.
4. Principal organs of the Union and State governments: Executive, Legislature, Supreme Court, High Courts.
5. Grassroots democracy: Panchayati Raj, Municipal Government, significance of 73rd and 74th Amendments, grassroots movements.
6. Statutory institutions/commissions: Election Commission, CAG, Finance Commission, UPSC, National Commissions (SC, ST, Women, Minorities, Backward Classes, Human Rights).
7. Federalism: Constitutional provisions, changing nature of centre-state relations, integrationist tendencies, regional aspirations, inter-state disputes.
8. Planning and Economic development: Nehruvian and Gandhian perspectives, role of planning and public sector, Green Revolution, land reforms, agrarian relations, liberalization, economic reforms.
9. Caste, religion, and ethnicity in Indian politics.
10. Party system: National and regional parties, ideological and social bases, patterns of coalition politics, pressure groups, trends in electoral behavior, changing socio-economic profile of legislators.
11. Social movements: Civil liberties, human rights, women’s movements, environmentalist movements.

UPSC CSE Political Science and International Relations 2024 Paper 2

1. Comparative Political Analysis:

• Nature and major approaches to comparative politics.
• 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, advanced industrial, and developing societies.

3. Politics of Representation and Participation:

• Examination of political parties, pressure groups, and social movements in advanced industrial and developing societies.

4. Globalization:

• Responses from developed and developing societies to globalization.

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.
• Transnational actors and collective security.
• World capitalist economy and globalization.

7. Changing International Political Order:

• Rise of superpowers, bipolarity, arms race, and cold war.
• Non-aligned Movement: Aims and achievements.
• Collapse of the Soviet Union, unipolarity, American hegemony, relevance of non-alignment.

8. Evolution of the International Economic System:

• From Bretton Woods to WTO.
• Socialist economies and the CMEA.
• Third World demand for a new international economic order.
• Globalization of the world economy.

9. United Nations:

• Envisaged role and actual record.
• Specialized UN agencies—aims and functioning.
• Need for UN reforms.

10. Regionalization of World Politics:

• EU, ASEAN, APEC, AARC, NAFTA.

11. Contemporary Global Concerns:

• Democracy, human rights, environment, gender justice, terrorism, nuclear proliferation.

12. India and the World:

• Determinants of Indian foreign policy, institutions of policymaking, continuity, and change.
• India’s contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement, different phases, current role.
• India and South Asia: Regional cooperation, SAARC, South Asia as a Free Trade Area, India’s “Look East” policy, impediments to regional cooperation.
• India and the Global South: Relations with Africa and Latin America, leadership role in demand for NIEO and WTO negotiations.
• India and the Global Centers of Power: Relations with USA, EU, Japan, China, and Russia.
• India and the UN System: Role in UN Peacekeeping, 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 recent crises, growing relations with US and Israel, vision of a new world order.

Candidates should focus on developing structured essay writing and answer formulation skills. Practicing answer writing within the prescribed word limit is key. Current affairs awareness provides an edge. Strong conceptual clarity combined with up-to-date knowledge helps aspirants maximize scores in this theory-intensive optional.

Important Links	Important Links
UPSC CSE 2024 Apply Online	UPSC CSE 2024 Notification
UPSC CSE Eligibility Criteria	UPSC CSE Syllabus
UPSC CSE Exam Pattern	UPSC CSE Selection Process

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