PSIR Optional: Things to Know

Choosing Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) as an optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Examination can be highly beneficial for several reasons. Here is a detailed exploration of its advantages:

1. Overlap with General Studies Papers

Paper I: General Studies I

• Indian Polity: Topics such as the Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public administration, and the rights issues overlap significantly with the PSIR syllabus.
• Modern Indian History: The freedom struggle and post-independence consolidation are integral parts of both PSIR and GS I.

Paper II: General Studies II

• Governance and Polity: There is substantial overlap with the sections on Indian Constitution, political dynamics, and governance.
• International Relations: PSIR provides an in-depth understanding of international affairs, which is directly beneficial for the international relations section of GS II.

2. Dynamic and Current Relevance

• Contemporary Issues: PSIR is a subject closely related to current affairs. Regular study of newspapers and journals helps in both GS papers and the optional paper.
• Policy Analysis: Understanding political theories and international relations theories aids in analyzing and critiquing government policies effectively.

3. Interdisciplinary Approach

• Integration of Various Fields: PSIR integrates political theory, comparative politics, public administration, and international relations, offering a comprehensive view that is beneficial for the aspirant’s overall understanding.
• Enhanced Analytical Skills: The subject requires analysis of political systems, international dynamics, and philosophical arguments, improving the aspirant’s analytical abilities.

4. Scoring Potential

• Structured Syllabus: The PSIR syllabus is well-structured and defined, allowing for focused preparation.
• Availability of Resources: There is a wealth of study material, including standard textbooks, notes from coaching institutes, and online resources.
• Previous Years’ Papers: A consistent pattern in the questions asked over the years helps in targeted preparation and practice.
• Success Rate: PSIR has a success rate of approximately 8%, which is relatively high compared to other optional subjects, indicating its scoring potential.

5. Comprehensive Coverage

• Political Theory and Thought: Covers Western and Indian political thought, providing a solid foundation in understanding diverse political ideologies.
• Comparative Politics: Helps in understanding different political systems and governments worldwide, which is beneficial for a global perspective.
• International Relations: Detailed study of global politics, international organizations, and bilateral relations enhances the candidate’s grasp over world affairs.

6. Essay and Interview Benefits

• Essay Writing: The knowledge gained in PSIR can be directly applied to writing essays, especially on topics related to governance, democracy, international relations, and political philosophies.
• Personality Test (Interview): The understanding of political scenarios and current international issues provides a strong foundation for answering questions related to governance, policies, and global affairs in the interview.

7. Administrative and Bureaucratic Benefits

• Policy Formulation: A deep understanding of political science and international relations aids in formulating and implementing policies effectively.
• Governance Skills: Knowledge of political systems, governance models, and public administration is directly applicable to administrative roles in the civil services.
• Global Perspective: Awareness of international relations and global political dynamics is crucial for roles involving foreign affairs, trade negotiations, and international cooperation.

8. Interest and Background

• Interest Alignment: Many aspirants have a background in political science or international relations from their undergraduate or postgraduate studies, making PSIR a natural choice.
• Engaging Subject: The subject is often found to be interesting and engaging, which helps in sustaining motivation and interest during the long preparation period.

Conclusion

Studying PSIR as an optional subject for the UPSC examination offers a blend of strategic advantages, content overlap, scoring potential, and intellectual enrichment. It is a well-rounded subject that not only aids in the examination but also contributes to a deeper understanding of political and international dynamics, enhancing the overall competence and perspective of an aspirant. The administrative and bureaucratic insights gained through PSIR further prepare candidates for effective governance and policy implementation in their future roles.

• Is the syllabus of PSIR long?

1. 1. 1. Prospect IAS through this document would like to inform all the aspirants that the syllabus of PSIR is not long. Rather it is well presented, explained and interlinked.
      2. Actually, the syllabus of PSIR is explained in detail in the UPSC notification.
      3. But different topics of the paper are related to each other like Gandhian ideology in political theory is related to Gandhi in Indian political thought, and freedom movement in Indian politics or Marxism is related to Marx in western political thought.

• Is PSIR a good option for an aspirant who has no background in the paper?

1. 1. 1. It is one such optional subject which has proved to be beneficial even for those who did not have any background in the paper.
      2. Many candidates feel that PSIR is a better option for those who have a basic understanding of the subject. However, the success statistics show that this paper can be a good option for anyone.

• Is this paper not a scoring subject?

1. 1. 1. It is a very scoring option for UPSC.
      2. But there is a writing skill issue in it.
      3. Actually, to get good marks in the paper, it depends on the writing skill of the aspirant or the presentation of arguments in an effective and efficient manner.
      4. In the PSIR course of Prospect IAS, continuous practice is done to improve the writing skill of the aspirants which is reviewed by the teachers themselves.

• Is there a shortage of books for this paper?

1. 1. 1. There is no shortage of books for the preparation of this paper.
      2. It orients towards study and teaching from authentic sources. As an optional subject, this paper expects you to study based on authentic sources.
      3. The Prospect IAS course is taught on the basis of reading lists, authentic textbooks used in Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University under the guidance of Aditya Sir.
      4. During the course, you have to completely depend only on the study material provided by Prospect IAS.
      5. It is designed by Aditya Sir as per the academic basis and requirements of the exam.

• What should be our approach regarding newspapers?

1. 1. It is a wrong strategy to prepare for this optional paper without studying newspapers daily. While newspapers help you develop understanding of current affairs in your General Studies preparation, they help you develop subject-based thinking from the perspective of political concepts for PSIR. This enables the aspirant to write better answers and increases his chances of getting good marks. Studying with newspapers and magazines also brings dynamism and enthusiasm in the preparation.
      
   2. For example, there are many news articles, editorial pieces and columns related to different topics mentioned in the syllabus like fundamental rights, development questions, war, health, women empowerment, theory and thought etcetera. 
2. It is important to focus on the syllabus during preparation: This does not mean that only the syllabus is being read but more attention should be paid to what to read and what not to read. The words present in the syllabus draw attention to how to read and how much to read any topic and sub-topic. It is important to develop conceptual and critical understanding on each topic or sub-topic. Aditya Sir discusses this topic in the orientation class of PSIR.
3. PSIR also plays a helpful role in the General Studies paper. This paper helps in preparing for Polity, Social Issues, Indian Society, Economic and Social Development, World History, International Relations, Internal Security, Issues related to Administration and Ethics, Ethics etc. 
4. Why is it necessary to develop an understanding of political concepts: In this optional paper, it is necessary to develop an understanding of various concepts such as justice, equality, freedom, rights, democracy etc. In the absence of understanding of these concepts, neither political science can be understood better nor the various issues of General Studies. A better understanding of concepts plays a positive and decisive role in essay writing.
5. Why is it necessary to read and understand the subject and syllabus from the perspective of living life: Many times, despite reading the entire syllabus, aspirants do not feel confident. There can be many reasons for this such as lack of confidence, repeated interruptions in preparation etc. However, while preparing for PSIR, it should be kept in mind that it is a lively subject. Aspirants should keep improving their understanding on the basis of concepts on each issue. This way, you will be able to write a better answer even on a question that you are not able to remember properly.
6. Is there any pattern in this topic: By studying the questions and question papers asked in the past years, it is known that questions are asked from both static and dynamic sections in the paper. Apart from this, UPSC has also asked questions from the same subtopic by making minor changes in some questions.
7. Cover each topic on one page: An important indicator of strong preparation is that you are able to cover a topic or concept on a single page. For example, see the summary after the learning aid at the end of this document.

PAPER- I: POLITICAL THEORY AND INDIAN POLITICS

Political Theory: Part A

1. Political Theory: Meaning and Approaches.
   
2. Theories of state 
   1. Liberal 
   2. Neo-liberal 
   3. Marxist 
   4. Pluralist 
   5. Post-Colonial 
   6. Feminist
3. Justice 
   1. Conceptions of Justice with special reference to Rawl’s theory of justice. 
   2. Its Communitarian Critiques. 
4. Equality 
   1. Social, political, and economic. 
   2. Relationship between equality and freedom. 
   3. Affirmative Action.
5. Rights 
   1. Meaning and Theories. 
   2. Different kinds of rights. 
   3. Concept of Human Rights.
6. Democracy 
   1. Classical and contemporary theories. 
   2. Different models of democracy—Representative, Participatory, Deliberative.
7. Concept of power: Hegemony, Ideology, Legitimacy

Political Theory: Political Ideologies (b)

1. Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism, Feminism.

Political Theory: Political Thought (Part c and d)

PAPER I: INDIAN POLITICS (B): Indian Government and Politics

1. Indian Nationalism 
   1. Political Strategies of India’s Freedom Struggle 
      1. Constitutionalism to mass Satyagraha. 
      2. Non Co-operation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India Movement.
      3. Militant and Revolutionary Movements. 
      4. Peasant and Workers Movements.
   2. Perspectives on Indian National Movement 
      1. Liberal. 
      2. Socialist. 
      3. Marxist. 
      4. Radical Humanist. 
      5. Dalit.
2. Making of the Indian Constitution 
   1. Legacies of the British rule. 
   2. Different social and political perspectives.
3. Salient Features of the Indian Constitution 
   1. The Preamble. 
   2. Fundamental Rights and Duties. 
   3. Directive Principles. 
   4. Parliamentary System and Amendment Procedures. 
   5. Judicial Review and Basic Structure doctrine.
4. Political System
   1. Principal Organs of the Union Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive, Legislature and Supreme Court. 
   2. Principal Organs of the State Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive, Legislature and High Courts.
      
      

1. Grassroots Democracy 
   1. Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government.
   2. Significance of 73rd and 74th Amendments. 
   3. Grassroot movements. 
2. Statutory Institutions/Commissions 
   1. Election Commission. 
   2. Comptroller and Auditor General. 
   3. Finance Commission. 
   4. Union Public Service Commission. 
   5. National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
   6. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. 
   7. National Commission for Women. 
   8. National Human Rights Commission. 
   9. National Commission for Minorities. 
   10. National Backward Classes Commission. 
3. Federalism 
   1. Constitutional provisions. 
   2. Changing nature of centre-state relations.
   3. Integrationist tendencies, and regional aspirations. 
   4. Inter-State disputes.
4. Planning and Economic development 
   1. Nehruvian and Gandhian perspectives. 
   2. Role of planning and public sector. 
   3. Green Revolution 
   4. Land reforms and agrarian relations. 
   5. Liberalization and Economic Reforms.
5. Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics 
6. Party System
   1. National and Regional Political Parties. 
   2. Ideological and Social Bases of Parties. 
   3. Patterns of Coalition Politics. 
   4. Pressure groups. 
   5. Trends in electoral behaviour. 
   6. Changing Socio-Economic Profile of Legislators.
7. Social Movement 
   1. Civil liberties and Human Rights Movements. 
   2. Women’s Movements.
   3. Environmentalist Movements.

PAPER-II: COMPARATIVE POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

PAPER II: PART A: Comparative Political Analysis

1. Comparative Politics 
   1. Nature and major approaches. 
   2. Political economy and Political Sociology Perspectives. 
   3. Limitations of the comparative method.
2. State in Comparative Perspective 
   1. Characteristics and changing nature of the State in capitalist and socialist economies, 
   2. 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.

PAPER II: PART B: International Politics

1. Approaches to the Study of International Relations 
   1. Idealist. 
   2. Realist. 
   3. Marxist. 
   4. Functionalist. 
   5. Systems Theory.
2. Key Concepts in International Relations 
   1. National Interest. 
   2. Security and Power. 
   3. Balance of Power and Deterrence. 
   4. Transnational Actors and Collective Security. 
   5. World Capitalist Economy.  
   6. Globalisation.
3. Changing International Political Order 
   1. Rise of super-powers; Strategic and ideological Bipolarity, arms race and cold war; Nuclear threat;
   2. Non-aligned Movement: Aims and achievements.
   3. Collapse of the Soviet Union; Unipolarity and American hegemony; 
   4. Relevance of non-alignment in the contemporary world
4. Evolution of the International Economic System 
   1. From Bretton woods to WTO. 
   2. Socialist economies and the CMEA (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance). 
   3. Third World demand for new international economic order. 
   4. Globalisation of the world economy
5.  United Nations 
   1. Envisaged Role and Actual Record. 
   2. Specialized UN agencies—aims and functioning. 
   3. Need for UN reforms. 
6. Regionalisation of World Politics
   1. EU 
   2. ASEAN 
   3. APEC 
   4. AARC 
   5. NAFTA 
7. Contemporary Global Concerns: Democracy, Human Rights, Environment, Gender Justice Terrorism, Nuclear Proliferation.

PAPER II: PART C: 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
   1. Regional Co-operation: SAARC-past performance and future prospects. 
   2. South Asia as a Free Trade Area.
   3. India’s “Look East” policy. 
   4. 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; India and the Nuclear Question: Changing perceptions and policy.
7. 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.
8.