The UPSC PSIR 2026: Political Science & International Relations (Optional Paper-I) guide is an essential resource for aspirants preparing for the UPSC Mains Examination. This book focuses entirely on Paper-I (Political Science), which carries 250 marks and covers Political Theory and Indian Politics.

Authored by Ritu Kataria (IIS), this guide provides well-thought-out, expertly solved questions from the past years (2013-2024). It is structured to facilitate systematic and efficient preparation across 21 relevant chapters, ensuring mastery of core topics like Theories of the State, Justice, Democracy, Western and Indian Political Thought, Federalism, Party Systems, and Social Movements.

Key Features:

Targeted Paper Focus: Exclusively covers the syllabus for PSIR Optional Paper-I (Political Theory and Indian Politics) for the UPSC Mains Examination.

Previous Years Solved Questions: Contains expertly solved questions from the last 12 years (2013-2024), providing an accurate understanding of the exam’s demands.

Structured Learning: Solved questions are spread across 21 relevant chapters, each beginning with a summary and a list of Key Topics covered.

Comprehensive Topic Coverage: Addresses critical areas like:

Political theory, meaning, and approaches

Theories of the state (liberal, Marxist, feminist, etc.)

Core concepts (Justice, Equality, Rights, Democracy, Power)

Indian Political Thought and Western Political Thought

Indian Government and Politics (Nationalism, Constitution, Federalism, Social Movements)

UPSC Mains Prep: Designed to enhance answer writing skills and conceptual clarity crucial for securing high marks in the Mains Optional Paper.