Books for Political Science Optional in UPSC CSE

Books for Political Science and International Relations UPSC/Books for UPSC optional political science/Political Science books for IAS.

The Political science optional subject is a General study friendly subject. It is a decent optional subject with around 50-60% syllabus coordinating with the General Studies Paper. It is a very dynamic and constantly evolving subject. Candidates seeking to choose political science, ought to be more aware of the paradigm shift in core area than in the changes in the revised syllabus. In fact, the revision of Political science has paved a way for scoring more marks in this particular optional. The Paper I of political science deal with the Political Theory and Indian Politics. Paper-II deals with Comparative Political Analysis and International Politics.

Vajirao Institute’s has already come up with the UPSC syllabus for Political Science. Now we have compiled important books for Political Science optional for UPSC IAS Exam.

Political Science BOOK LIST - MAINS: PAPER-I BOOKS

Political science and International Relations

Paper 1

Section A: Political Theory

Essential Readings:

  • “An Introduction to Political Theory” by O.P Gauba.7TH EDITION, Mayur Publication

  • “Political Theory: An Introduction” by Rajeev Bhargava and Ashok Acharya, 2nd edition, Pearson.

  • “A History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx” by Subrata Mukherjee and Sushila Ramaswamy.

  • “Western Political Thought: From Socrates to the age of Ideology” by Brian. R. Nelson.

  • IGNOU BOOKLET MPSE-004 Social and Political Thought in Modern India

  • “Modern Indian Political Thought: Text and Context” by Bidyut Chakrabarty and Rajendra Kumar Pandey.

Additional Readings:

  • “Politics” by Andrew Heywood.

  • “Political Theory: An Introduction” by Andrew Heywood.

  • “Key Concepts in Politics” by Andrew Heywood.

  • “Political Ideologies: An Introduction” by Andrew Heywood.

  • “Western Political Thought: From Plato to Marx” by Shefali Jha.

  • “Indian Political Thought: Themes and Thinkers” by M. P. Singh and Himanshu Roy.

Section B: Indian Government and Politics

Essential Readings:

  • “India’s Struggle for Independence” by Bipin Chandra.

  • “Introduction to the Constitution of India” by Dr Durga Das Basu.

  • “Indian Government and Politics” by A.S.Narang, Geetanjali Publication

  • “The Oxford Companion to Politics in India” by Niraja Gopal Jayal and Pratap Bhanu Mehta.

Additional Readings:

  • “Politics in India” by Rajni Kothari.

  • “Our Parliament: An Introduction to Parliament of India” by Subhash C. Kashyap.

  • “Our Constitution: An Introduction to India’s Constitution and Constitutional Law” by Subhash C. Kashyap.

Paper 2

Section A: Comparative Politics and International Relations

Essential Readings:

  • “The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations” by John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens.

  • “Global Politics” by Andrew Heywood.

  • “Theories of Comparative Politics: The Search for a Paradigm Reconsidered” by Ronald H. Chilcote.

  • IGNOU notes on Comparative Politics.

Additional Readings:

  • “Theories of International Relations” by Palgrave publications.

  • “The Oxford Handbook of International Relations” by Christian Reus-Smit and Duncan Snidal.

  • “Understanding International Relations” by Chris Brown and Kirsten Ainley.

  • “Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches” by Georg Sorenson and Robert Jackson.

Section B: India and the World

Essential Readings:

  • Indian Foreign Policy: An Overview by Harsh Pant

  • International Relations- Mcgraw Hill education

  • “IDSA website should be followed for articles.

  • MEA website should be regularly followed for updates and articles.

  • IR editorials should be followed in The Hindu and TheIndian Express.

Additional Readings:

  • The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy” by David M. Malone, C Raja Mohan and Srinath Raghvan.