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ClearIAS » UPSC Books Review » Political Science Optional Paper: Books to read for Civil Services Main Exam

Political Science Optional Paper: Books to read for Civil Services Main Exam

Last updated on September 11, 2019 by Clear IAS Team

Political Science booksPolitical Science as an optional paper gained more popularity when Tina Dabi secured All India Rank 1 in UPSC Civil Services Exam 2015 selecting Political Science as her optional subject. In this post, we list useful books and study materials to score high for Political Science optional paper.

Note: Aspirants can click on the links to buy books online at discounted prices.

Books for Political Science: Paper 1

  1. Fifty major political thinkers by Ian Adams and RW Dyson.
  2. An introduction to political theory by O.P Gauba.
  3. Foundations of Indian political thought by VR Mehta (read only the necessary topics ).
  4. A new look at modern Indian history by BL Grover and Alka Mehta.
  5. An introduction to the constitution by DD Basu.
  6. Important Judgments that Transformed India by Alex Andrews George
  7. An Oxford companion to politics in India (some chapters).

Books for Political Science: Paper 2

  1. MPS-004 Comparative Politics: Issues and Trends by Expert Panel of GPH (IGNOU material).
  2. Global politics by Andrew Heywood.
  3. Challenge and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy by Rajiv Sikri
  4. Does the Elephant Dance?: Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy
  5. India’s foreign policy – V P Dutt.
  6. International organisations by spectrum.

Books for extra reading/reference

  1. Working in a Democratic Constitution: A History of the Indian Experience by Austin Granville.
  2. Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation by Austin Granville.
  3. Indian Home Rule (Hind Swaraj) by MK Gandhi.
  4. Makers of modern India by Ramchandra Guha (chapters with respect to BR Ambedkar and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan are good).
  5. Panchayati Raj: Oxford India Short Introductions by Kuldeep Mathur.

Extra tips: Read ‘The Hindu’ for politics as well as IR.  Use the Internet for perspectives on IR. Some sites recommended are MEA, Carnegie endowment, stagecraft and statecraft, etc.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Azlan says

    October 24, 2016 at 1:27 pm

    A better read than V.P Dutt’s India’s foreign policy is perhaps Rajiv Sikri’s one or from a foreigners perspective “Does the elephant dance” by D. Malone

    Reply
    • ClearIAS.com says

      October 24, 2016 at 1:32 pm

      Thanks Azlan for the suggestions. We have updated the post with the names.

  2. Ajay says

    March 24, 2017 at 11:42 pm

    Which book is useful for general studies paper 2

    Reply
  3. Sumitra says

    November 6, 2017 at 10:28 am

    Which are the important chapters from Oxford companion to politics in India?

    Reply
  4. swati Awasthi says

    June 6, 2018 at 11:24 am

    Sir please provide me Political Science optional books &writer’s name in Hindi medium.

    Reply
    • Ansh says

      June 15, 2018 at 2:00 pm

      I also want it.. Pls help me for optional political science book list in hindi

    • Priyanka Garg says

      March 19, 2019 at 5:04 pm

      please hindi medium me provide kra dijiye

  5. Sonali says

    June 28, 2018 at 4:37 pm

    Political science is imp for upsc coaching

    Reply
  6. P k says

    September 21, 2018 at 6:14 pm

    Modern Indian History by B L Grover and Alka “Yagnik”– a Playback Singer😂
    Correct it Please… ALKA MEHTA

    Reply
    • ClearIAS.com says

      January 22, 2019 at 3:30 pm

      Oops…That’s a serious typo…Updated now. Thank you for pointing out.

  7. Bhuvana says

    December 17, 2018 at 6:24 pm

    Is pratiyogita darpan magazine helpful ?

    Reply
  8. Neelam Kumari says

    April 13, 2019 at 10:27 pm

    I am a Hindi medium student. I choose polity and international relations as my upsc optional paper. So you are requested to guide me books.

    Reply
    • Rupam mishra says

      May 2, 2019 at 5:46 am

      Indian polity .by m Laxmikant you can also read in in hindi .it is available.introduction to the constitution by dd basu

    • Ayush says

      October 27, 2020 at 11:07 am

      Ma’am if you got the books and strategy please share

  9. Sarla says

    April 19, 2019 at 5:38 pm

    Kindly tell the chapters to be read from an Oxford companion to politics for paper 1 .

    Reply
  10. Shivendra singh says

    July 13, 2019 at 8:14 pm

    Sir can I take optional zoology if yes please provide me

    Reply
  11. Bhishm says

    December 30, 2019 at 7:17 am

    Yes, why not
    Optional should be on your choice that u easily understand.

    Reply

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