Political 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
- Fifty major political thinkers by Ian Adams and RW Dyson.
- An introduction to political theory by O.P Gauba.
- Foundations of Indian political thought by VR Mehta (read only the necessary topics ).
- A new look at modern Indian history by BL Grover and Alka Mehta.
- An introduction to the constitution by DD Basu.
- An Oxford companion to politics in India (some chapters).
Books for Political Science: Paper 2
- MPS-004 Comparative Politics: Issues and Trends by Expert Panel of GPH (IGNOU material).
- Global politics by Andrew Heywood.
- Challenge and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy by Rajiv Sikri
- Does the Elephant Dance?: Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy
- India’s foreign policy – V P Dutt.
- International organisations by spectrum.
Books for extra reading/reference
- Working in a Democratic Constitution: A History of the Indian Experience by Austin Granville.
- Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation by Austin Granville.
- Indian Home Rule (Hind Swaraj) by MK Gandhi.
- Makers of modern India by Ramchandra Guha (chapters with respect to BR Ambedkar and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan are good).
- 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.
Azlan says
October 24, 2016 at 1:27 pmA 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
ClearIAS.com says
October 24, 2016 at 1:32 pmThanks Azlan for the suggestions. We have updated the post with the names.
Ajay says
March 24, 2017 at 11:42 pmWhich book is useful for general studies paper 2
Sumitra says
November 6, 2017 at 10:28 amWhich are the important chapters from Oxford companion to politics in India?
swati Awasthi says
June 6, 2018 at 11:24 amSir please provide me Political Science optional books &writer’s name in Hindi medium.
Ansh says
June 15, 2018 at 2:00 pmI also want it.. Pls help me for optional political science book list in hindi
Priyanka Garg says
March 19, 2019 at 5:04 pmplease hindi medium me provide kra dijiye
Sonali says
June 28, 2018 at 4:37 pmPolitical science is imp for upsc coaching
P k says
September 21, 2018 at 6:14 pmModern Indian History by B L Grover and Alka “Yagnik”– a Playback Singer😂
Correct it Please… ALKA MEHTA
ClearIAS.com says
January 22, 2019 at 3:30 pmOops…That’s a serious typo…Updated now. Thank you for pointing out.
Bhuvana says
December 17, 2018 at 6:24 pmIs pratiyogita darpan magazine helpful ?
Neelam Kumari says
April 13, 2019 at 10:27 pmI am a Hindi medium student. I choose polity and international relations as my upsc optional paper. So you are requested to guide me books.
Rupam mishra says
May 2, 2019 at 5:46 amIndian polity .by m Laxmikant you can also read in in hindi .it is available.introduction to the constitution by dd basu
Sarla says
April 19, 2019 at 5:38 pmKindly tell the chapters to be read from an Oxford companion to politics for paper 1 .
Shivendra singh says
July 13, 2019 at 8:14 pmSir can I take optional zoology if yes please provide me