Optional Subject Intelligence
Political Science & International Relations
Explore UPSC topper strategies, booklists, and preparation insights for PSIR optional subject.
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Toppers
124.0
Avg Marks
147
Highest Marks
100
Lowest Marks
About Political Science & International Relations
Subject Overview
PSIR (Political Science & International Relations) combines theory with contemporary polity and international affairs — ideal for candidates who enjoy conceptual analysis and current affairs.
Why Political Science & International Relations Is Popular
PSIR is popular due to its overlap with GS papers, conceptual clarity, and a large answer-writing scope across polity and international relations.
Common Booklists
- Laxmikanth — Indian Polity
- A.C. Kapur — Select Essays on Political Thought
- K. Kautilya / Thucydides (select readings) — for IR theory context
- Oxford Handbook chapters (select) — modern IR debates
Preparation Insights
Focus on core theorists and map theory to current events.
Prioritise answer structuring for normative questions.
Use timeline-based revision for IR case studies.
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