{"id":26883,"date":"2026-10-21T11:31:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T06:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/?p=26883"},"modified":"2026-10-21T11:31:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T06:01:23","slug":"upsc-psir-optional-syllabus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/upsc-psir-optional-syllabus\/","title":{"rendered":"UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus 2027 for Paper I &#038; II, Booklist"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus 2027 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">covers Political Science and International Relations. It combines political theory, Indian government, comparative politics, international relations and Indian foreign policy. The syllabus is divided into two papers, each carrying 250 marks in the written examination. Understanding the complete syllabus helps candidates organise their preparation, identify important themes, connect theoretical concepts with contemporary developments and practise analytical answer writing. A structured approach to both papers is essential for comprehensive preparation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><b>UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus 2027<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus 2027 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">includes two papers covering political thought, constitutional institutions, political ideologies, international political developments and India's relations with the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UPSC Political Science Optional Paper I focuses on Political Theory and Indian Politics, while Paper II covers Comparative Politics, International Relations and India and the World. Each paper carries 250 marks, making the optional subject worth 500 marks in total. Candidates preparing for UPSC Mains 2027 should cover every syllabus component systematically.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus Full Form is Political Science and International Relations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Optional Syllabus. Candidates can refer to the UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus Pdf for an organised overview of the topics and subtopics prescribed for both papers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><b>UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus 2027 for Paper I<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p><b>UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus 2027 for Paper I <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">examines political theories, ideologies, political thinkers, the Indian Constitution, governance, federalism, political parties and social movements. It is divided into two major sections.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><b>Political Theory and Indian Politics<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This section covers political concepts, competing theories, major thinkers and Indian political institutions. Candidates should understand the central arguments and theoretical perspectives associated with each topic.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Political Theory: meaning and approaches.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Theories of state:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Liberal<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Neo liberal<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Marxist<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pluralist<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Post colonial<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feminist<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"3\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Justice:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Conceptions of justice<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rawls's theory of justice<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Communitarian critiques of Rawls's theory<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"4\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Equality:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Social equality<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Political equality<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Economic equality<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Relationship between equality and freedom<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Affirmative action<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"5\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Rights:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Meaning and theories<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Different kinds of rights<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Concept of Human Rights<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"6\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Democracy:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Classical theories<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Contemporary theories<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Representative democracy<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Participatory democracy<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Deliberative democracy<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"7\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Concept of power:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hegemony<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ideology<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Legitimacy<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"8\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Political Ideologies:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Liberalism<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Socialism<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Marxism<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fascism<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gandhism<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feminism<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"9\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Indian Political Thought:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dharamshastra<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Arthashastra<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Buddhist Traditions<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sir Syed Ahmed Khan<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sri Aurobindo<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">M. K. Gandhi<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">B. R. Ambedkar<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">M. N. Roy<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"10\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Western Political Thought:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Plato<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aristotle<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Machiavelli<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hobbes<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Locke<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">John S. Mill<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Marx<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gramsci<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hannah Arendt<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><strong>Also Check: <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/upsc-geography-optional-syllabus\/\" target=\"_blank\">UPSC Geography Optional Syllabus<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<h3><b>Indian Government and Politics<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This section examines India's freedom struggle, constitutional development, government institutions, democratic decentralisation, federalism, economic development, political parties and social movements.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Indian Nationalism:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) Political Strategies of India's Freedom Struggle<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Constitutionalism<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mass Satyagraha<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Noncooperation<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Civil Disobedience<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Militant and Revolutionary Movements<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Peasant and Workers Movements<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) Perspectives on Indian National Movement<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Liberal<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Socialist<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Marxist<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Radical Humanist<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dalit<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"2\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Making of the Indian Constitution:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Legacies of British rule<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Different social and political perspectives<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"3\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Salient Features of the Indian Constitution:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Preamble<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fundamental Rights and Duties<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Directive Principles<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Parliamentary System<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Amendment Procedures<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Judicial Review<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Basic Structure doctrine<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"4\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (a) Principal Organs of the Union Government:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Envisaged role and actual working of the Legislature<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Envisaged role and actual working of the Supreme Court<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) Principal Organs of the State Government:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Envisaged role and actual working of the Legislature<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Envisaged role and actual working of High Courts<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"5\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Grassroots Democracy:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Panchayati Raj<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Municipal Government<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Significance of the 73rd Amendment<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Significance of the 74th Amendment<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Grassroot movements<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"6\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Statutory Institutions\/Commissions:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Election Commission<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Comptroller and Auditor General<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finance Commission<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Union Public Service Commission<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">National Commission for Scheduled Castes<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">National Commission for Scheduled Tribes<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">National Commission for Women<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">National Human Rights Commission<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">National Commission for Minorities<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">National Backward Classes Commission<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"7\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Federalism:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Constitutional provisions<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Changing nature of centre-state relations<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Integrationist tendencies<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Regional aspirations<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Inter state disputes<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"8\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Planning and Economic Development:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nehruvian perspectives<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gandhian perspectives<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Role of planning and public sector<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Green Revolution<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Land reforms and agrarian relations<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Liberalization and economic reforms<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"9\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Party System:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">National and regional political parties<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ideological and social bases of parties<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Patterns of coalition politics<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pressure groups<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Trends in electoral behaviour<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Changing socio economic profile of Legislators<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"11\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Social Movement:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Civil liberties and human rights movements<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Women's movements<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Environmentalist movements<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><strong>Also Check: <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/upsc-public-administration-optional-syllabus\/\" target=\"_blank\">UPSC Public Administration Optional Syllabus<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<h2><b>UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus 2027 for Paper II<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p><b>UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus 2027 for Paper II<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> focuses on comparative political systems, international relations, global institutions, international economic developments and India's foreign policy. It has two major sections covering theoretical and contemporary dimensions of world politics.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><b>Comparative Politics and International Relations<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This section examines comparative political analysis, international relations theories, globalisation, international political order, economic institutions, regional organisations and global concerns.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Comparative Politics:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nature and major approaches<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Political economy perspectives<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Political sociology perspectives<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Limitations of the comparative method<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"2\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> State in Comparative Perspective:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Characteristics and changing nature of the State in capitalist economies<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Characteristics and changing nature of the State in socialist economies<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">State in advanced industrial societies<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">State in developing societies<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"3\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Politics of Representation and Participation:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Political parties in advanced industrial and developing societies<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pressure groups in advanced industrial and developing societies<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Social movements in advanced industrial and developing societies<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"4\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Globalisation:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Responses from developed societies<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Responses from developing societies<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"5\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Approaches to the Study of International Relations:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idealist<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Realist<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Marxist<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Functionalist<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Systems theory<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"6\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Key Concepts in International Relations:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">National interest<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Security and power<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Balance of power and deterrence<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Transnational actors and collective security<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">World capitalist economy and globalisation<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"7\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Changing International Political Order:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) Rise of superpowers<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Strategic and ideological Bipolarity<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Arms race and Cold War<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nuclear threat<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) Non aligned Movement<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Aims<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Achievements<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) Collapse of the Soviet Union<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unipolarity and American hegemony<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Relevance of non alignment in the contemporary world<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"8\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Evolution of the International Economic System:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">From Bretton Woods to WTO<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Socialist economies and the CMEA (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance)<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Third World demand for a new international economic order<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Globalisation of the world economy<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"9\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> United Nations:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Envisaged role and actual record<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Specialised UN agencies: aims and functioning<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Need for UN reforms<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"10\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Regionalisation of World Politics:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">EU<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ASEAN<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">APEC<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">AARC<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">NAFTA<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"11\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Contemporary Global Concerns:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Democracy<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Human rights<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Environment<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Gender justice<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Terrorism<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nuclear proliferation<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><b>India and the World<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This section focuses on Indian foreign policy, India's international role, regional cooperation, major global powers, multilateral institutions, nuclear policy and contemporary international developments.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Indian Foreign Policy:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Determinants of foreign policy<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Institutions of policy making<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Continuity and change<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"2\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India's Contribution to the Non Alignment Movement:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Different phases<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Current role<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"3\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India and South Asia:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) Regional Co operation- SAARC: past performance and future prospects<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) South Asia as a Free Trade Area.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) India's \"Look East\" policy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) Impediments to regional co-operation<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">River water disputes<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Illegal cross border migration<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ethnic conflicts and insurgencies<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Border disputes<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"4\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India and the Global South:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Relations with Africa and Latin America<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Leadership role in the demand for NIEO<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">WTO negotiations<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"5\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India and the Global Centres of Power:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">USA<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">EU<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Japan<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">China<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Russia<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"6\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India and the UN System:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Role in UN Peace keeping<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Demand for a Permanent Seat in the Security Council<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"7\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India and the Nuclear Question:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Changing perceptions and policy<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<ol start=\"8\">\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Recent Developments in Indian Foreign Policy:<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India's position on recent crises in Afghanistan, Iraq and West Asia<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Growing relations with the US and Israel<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vision of a new world order<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><b>UPSC PSIR Optional Preparation Strategy<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Effective preparation for the UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus requires conceptual clarity, complete syllabus coverage, regular revision and analytical answer writing. Candidates should connect political theories with Indian politics and international developments.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Understand the syllabus: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Divide both papers into sections and track each topic to ensure complete coverage without neglecting smaller syllabus components.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Build conceptual clarity: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Study political thinkers, ideologies, constitutional concepts and international relations theories before moving towards advanced analysis.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Prepare concise notes: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Organise notes topic wise, including definitions, arguments, comparisons and relevant examples for quick revision.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Follow current affairs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Connect contemporary political developments, foreign policy issues and global events with relevant Paper II themes.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Practise answer writing: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Solve previous year questions and develop structured answers with clear arguments, appropriate concepts and balanced conclusions.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Revise and evaluate: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Revise regularly, practise timed tests and assess answers to improve content quality, presentation and time management.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><b>UPSC PSIR Optional Books List 2027<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A focused booklist helps candidates cover the UPSC PSIR Syllabus without collecting excessive resources. The following <\/span><b>UPSC PSIR Optional Books List <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cover political theory, political thought, Indian politics, comparative politics and international relations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx - Subrata Mukherjee and Sushila Ramaswamy<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Western Political Thought - O. P. Gauba<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Political Ideologies - Andrew Heywood<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Political Theory: An Introduction to Political Science - Rajeev Bhargava and Ashok Acharya<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Foundation of Indian Political Thought - V. R. Mehta<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India's Struggle for Independence - Bipan Chandra<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indian Government and Politics - B. L. Fadia<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Oxford Companion to Politics in India - Pratap Bhanu Mehta<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Comparative Politics - J. C. Johari<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Global Politics - Andrew Heywood<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Globalization of World Politics - John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy - David M. Malone, C. Raja Mohan and Srinath Raghavan<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse;width: 88.9776%;height: 147px\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 93.6711%;height: 25px\" colspan=\"2\">Other Related Post of UPSC 2027<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 47.4099%;height: 25px;text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/upsc-2027\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>UPSC 2027<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 46.2612%;height: 25px;text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/upsc-syllabus\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>UPSC Syllabus<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 47.4099%;height: 25px;text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/ias-salary\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>IAS Salary<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 46.2612%;height: 25px;text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/upsc-age-limit\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>UPSC Age Limit<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 47.4099%;height: 25px;text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/upsc-exam-pattern\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>UPSC Exam Pattern<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 46.2612%;height: 25px;text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/upsc-calendar\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>UPSC Calendar<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 47.4099%;height: 22px;text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/upsc-mains\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>UPSC Mains<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 46.2612%;height: 22px;text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/upsc-csat-syllabus\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>UPSC CSAT Syllabus<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 47.4099%;height: 25px;text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/upsc-prelims-syllabus\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>UPSC Prelims Syllabus<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 46.2612%;height: 25px;text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/upsc-books-list\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>UPSC Books List<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Check the UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus 2027 for Paper I and II, including political theory, international relations, booklists and effective preparation tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":26882,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1806],"class_list":{"0":"post-26883","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-cse-exam","8":"tag-upsc-psir-optional-syllabus"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26883"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26883\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26889,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26883\/revisions\/26889"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramias.com\/upsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}