{"id":22,"date":"2025-08-09T15:26:31","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T15:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/?page_id=22"},"modified":"2026-08-16T17:50:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T12:20:21","slug":"psir-notes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/psir-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"PSIR Notes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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PSIR Notes<\/h1>\n

The UPSC syllabus for Political Science & International Relations, opened
\n up point by point. Every topic below is the syllabus’s own wording. Click a
\n topic to open the note.<\/p>\n

\n 170<\/b> topics<\/span>
\n 40<\/b> syllabus points<\/span>
\n 162<\/b> notes open<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

I-A \u00b7 Political Theory and Indian Politics<\/h2>\n

10 syllabus points \u00b7 47 topics<\/p>\n

\n
1<\/span><\/p>\n
Political Theory: meaning and approaches.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Political Theory: meaning and approaches<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
2<\/span><\/p>\n
Theories of state : Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluiralist, post-colonial and Feminist.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Liberal theory of the state<\/a>Neo-liberal theory of the state<\/a>Marxist theory of the state<\/a>Pluralist theory of the state<\/a>Post-colonial theory of the state<\/a>Feminist theory of the state<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
3<\/span><\/p>\n
Justice : Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawl\u2019s theory of justice and its communitarian critiques.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Conceptions of justice<\/a>Rawls\u2019 theory of justice<\/a>Communitarian critiques of Rawls<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
4<\/span><\/p>\n
Equality : Social, political and economic; relationship between equality and freedom; Affirmative action.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Social, political and economic equality<\/a>Relationship between equality and freedom<\/a>Affirmative action<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
5<\/span><\/p>\n
Rights : Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; Concept of Human Rights.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Rights: meaning and theories<\/a>Different kinds of rights<\/a>Concept of Human Rights<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
6<\/span><\/p>\n
Democracy : Classical and contemporary theories; different models of democracy\u2014representative, participatory and deliberative.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Classical and contemporary theories of democracy<\/a>Representative democracy<\/a>Participatory democracy<\/a>Deliberative democracy<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
7<\/span><\/p>\n
Concept of power : hegemony, ideology and legitimacy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Concept of power<\/a>Hegemony<\/a>Ideology<\/a>Legitimacy<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
8<\/span><\/p>\n
Political Ideologies : Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism and Feminism.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Liberalism<\/a>Socialism<\/a>Marxism<\/a>Fascism<\/a>Gandhism<\/a>Feminism<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
9<\/span><\/p>\n
Indian Political Thought: Dharamshastra, Arthashastra and Buddhist Traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M. K. Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, M. N. Roy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Dharamshastra<\/a>Arthashastra<\/a>Buddhist Traditions<\/a>Sir Syed Ahmed Khan<\/a>Sri Aurobindo<\/a>M. K. Gandhi<\/a>B. R. Ambedkar<\/a>M. N. Roy<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
10<\/span><\/p>\n
Western Political Thought : Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx, Gramsci, Hannah Arendt.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Plato<\/a>Aristotle<\/a>Machiavelli<\/a>Hobbes<\/a>Locke<\/a>John S. Mill<\/a>Marx<\/a>Gramsci<\/a>Hannah Arendt<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\n

I-B \u00b7 Indian Government and Politics<\/h2>\n

11 syllabus points \u00b7 57 topics<\/p>\n

\n
1<\/span><\/p>\n
Indian Nationalism : (a) Political Strategies of India\u2019s Freedom Struggle : Constitutionalism to mass Satyagraha, Non-cooperation, Civil Disobedience; Militant and Revolutionary Movements, Peasant and Workers Movements. (b) Perspectives on Indian National Movement; Liberal, Socialist and Marxist; Radical Humanist and Dalit.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Constitutionalism to mass Satyagraha<\/a>Non-cooperation<\/span>Civil Disobedience<\/span>Militant and Revolutionary Movements<\/a>Peasant and Workers Movements<\/a>Liberal perspective on the national movement<\/span>Socialist and Marxist perspectives on the national movement<\/a>Radical Humanist perspective on the national movement<\/a>Dalit perspective on the national movement<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
2<\/span><\/p>\n
Making of the Indian Constitution : Legacies of the British rule; different social and political perspectives.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Legacies of the British rule<\/a>Different social and political perspectives on the Constitution<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
3<\/span><\/p>\n
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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Preamble<\/a>Fundamental Rights and Duties<\/a>Directive Principles<\/a>Parliamentary System<\/a>Amendment Procedures<\/span>Judicial Review and Basic Structure doctrine<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
4<\/span><\/p>\n
(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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Union Executive<\/a>Union Legislature<\/a>Supreme Court<\/a>State Executive<\/a>State Legislature<\/span>High Courts<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
5<\/span><\/p>\n
Grassroots Democracy : Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government; Significance of 73rd and 74th Amendments; Grassroot movements.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Panchayati Raj<\/a>Municipal Government<\/a>73rd and 74th Amendments<\/a>Grassroot movements<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
6<\/span><\/p>\n
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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Election Commission<\/a>Comptroller and Auditor General<\/a>Finance Commission<\/a>Union Public Service Commission<\/a>National Commission for Scheduled Castes<\/a>National Commission for Scheduled Tribes<\/a>National Commission for Women<\/a>National Human Rights Commission<\/a>National Commission for Minorities<\/a>National Backward Classes Commission<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
7<\/span><\/p>\n
Federalism : Constitutional provisions; changing nature of centre-state relations; integrationist tendencies and regional aspirations; inter-state disputes.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Constitutional provisions on federalism<\/a>Changing nature of centre-state relations<\/a>Integrationist tendencies and regional aspirations<\/a>Inter-state disputes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
8<\/span><\/p>\n
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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Nehruvian and Gandhian perspectives<\/a>Role of planning and public sector<\/a>Green Revolution, land reforms and agrarian relations<\/a>Liberalization and economic reforms<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
9<\/span><\/p>\n
Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Caste in Indian politics<\/a>Religion in Indian politics<\/a>Ethnicity in Indian politics<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
10<\/span><\/p>\n
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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
National and regional political parties<\/a>Ideological and social bases of parties<\/a>Patterns of coalition politics<\/a>Pressure groups<\/a>Trends in electoral behaviour<\/a>Changing socio-economic profile of Legislators<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
11<\/span><\/p>\n
Social Movement : Civil liberties and human rights movements; women\u2019s movements; environmentalist movements.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Civil liberties and human rights movements<\/a>Women\u2019s movements<\/a>Environmentalist movements<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\n

II-A \u00b7 Comparative Political Analysis and International Politics<\/h2>\n

11 syllabus points \u00b7 39 topics<\/p>\n

\n
1<\/span><\/p>\n
Comparative Politics : Nature and major approaches; Political economy and political sociology perspectives; Limitations of the comparative method.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Comparative Politics: nature and major approaches<\/a>Political economy and political sociology perspectives<\/a>Limitations of the comparative method<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
2<\/span><\/p>\n
State in Comparative Perspective : Characteristics and changing nature of the State in capitalist and socialist economies, and advanced industrial and developing societies.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The State in capitalist and socialist economies<\/a>The State in advanced industrial and developing societies<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
3<\/span><\/p>\n
Politics of Representation and Participation : Political parties, pressure groups and social movements in advanced industrial and developing societies.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Political parties in comparative perspective<\/a>Pressure groups in comparative perspective<\/a>Social movements in comparative perspective<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
4<\/span><\/p>\n
Globalisation : Responses from developed and developing societies.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Globalisation: responses from developed and developing societies<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
5<\/span><\/p>\n
Approaches to the Study of International Relations : Idealist, Realist, Marxist, Functionalist and Systems theory.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Idealist approach<\/a>Realist approach<\/a>Marxist approach<\/a>Functionalist approach<\/a>Systems theory<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
6<\/span><\/p>\n
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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
National interest, security and power<\/a>Balance of power and deterrence<\/a>Transnational actors and collective security<\/a>World capitalist economy and globalisation<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
7<\/span><\/p>\n
Changing International Political Order : (a) Rise of super powers; 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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Rise of super powers, bipolarity, arms race and cold war<\/a>Non-aligned Movement: aims and achievements<\/a>Collapse of the Soviet Union, unipolarity and American hegemony<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
8<\/span><\/p>\n
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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
From Bretton Woods to WTO<\/a>Socialist economies and the CMEA<\/a>Third World demand for a new international economic order<\/a>Globalisation of the world economy<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
9<\/span><\/p>\n
United Nations : Envisaged role and actual record; Specialized UN agencies\u2014aims and functioning; need for UN reforms.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
United Nations: envisaged role and actual record<\/a>Specialized UN agencies<\/span>Need for UN reforms<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
10<\/span><\/p>\n
Regionalisation of World Politics : EU, ASEAN, APEC, AARC, NAFTA.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
European Union<\/a>ASEAN<\/a>APEC<\/a>SAARC<\/a>NAFTA<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
11<\/span><\/p>\n
Contemporary Global Concerns : Democracy, human rights, environment, gender justice terrorism, nuclear proliferation.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Democracy as a global concern<\/a>Human rights<\/a>Environment<\/a>Gender justice<\/a>Terrorism<\/a>Nuclear proliferation<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\n

II-B \u00b7 India and the World<\/h2>\n

8 syllabus points \u00b7 27 topics<\/p>\n

\n
1<\/span><\/p>\n
Indian Foreign Policy : Determinants of foreign policy; the institutions of policy-making; Continuity and change.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Determinants of foreign policy<\/a>Institutions of policy-making<\/a>Continuity and change in Indian foreign policy<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
2<\/span><\/p>\n
India\u2019s Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement Different phases; Current role.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
India and NAM: different phases<\/a>India and NAM: current role<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
3<\/span><\/p>\n
India and South Asia : (a) Regional Co-operation : SAARC-past performance and future prospects. (b) South Asia as a Free Trade Area. (c) India\u2019s \u201cLook East\u201d policy. (d) Impediments to regional co-operation : River water disputes; illegal cross border migration; Ethnic conflicts and insurgencies; Border disputes.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
India and South Asia \u2014 the neighbours<\/a>SAARC: past performance and future prospects<\/a>South Asia as a Free Trade Area<\/a>India\u2019s \u201cLook East\u201d policy<\/a>River water disputes<\/a>Illegal cross border migration<\/a>Ethnic conflicts and insurgencies<\/a>Border disputes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
4<\/span><\/p>\n
India and the Global South : Relations with Africa and Latin America; Leadership role in the demand for NIEO and WTO negotiations.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
India and Africa<\/a>India and Latin America<\/a>Leadership role in the demand for NIEO and WTO negotiations<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
5<\/span><\/p>\n
India and the Global Centres of Power : USA, EU, Japan, China and Russia.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
India and the USA<\/a>India and the EU<\/a>India and Japan<\/a>India and China<\/a>India and Russia<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
6<\/span><\/p>\n
India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace-keeping; Demand for Permanent Seat in the Security Council.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Role in UN Peace-keeping<\/a>Demand for a Permanent Seat in the Security Council<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
7<\/span><\/p>\n
India and the Nuclear Question : Changing perceptions and policy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
India and the Nuclear Question<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
8<\/span><\/p>\n
Recent developments in Indian Foreign Policy : India\u2019s position on the recent crises in Afghanistan, Iraq and West Asia, growing relations with US and Isreal; Vision of a new world order.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Afghanistan, Iraq and West Asia<\/a>Growing relations with US and Israel<\/a>Vision of a new world order<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\n
Scholars<\/i><\/span>Key concepts<\/i><\/span>Articles & statutes<\/i><\/span>Quotations<\/i><\/span>UPSC questions<\/i><\/span>Dotted topics are not yet written<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Topic-wise PSIR revision notes across the full UPSC optional syllabus \u2014 political theory, Indian government and politics, comparative politics and IR.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-22","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5092,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22\/revisions\/5092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/psir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}