Complete UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus

Official UPSC syllabus with every subtopic and microtopic — Sourced and updated directly via Admin Management.

📘 Paper I 8 Topics
📗 Paper II 11 Topics
🏆 500 Total Marks

📥 Download the complete syllabus as a branded PDF — includes study tips, important books & compatibility test link

📘 Paper I  ·  Ecology, Agronomy & Applied Sciences

250 Marks
1
Political Theory and its Relevance
Core
Scope and significance of Political Theory
Decline and revival of Political Theory
Contemporary debates and approaches
2
Theories of the State
Core
Liberal State
Neoliberal State
Welfare State
Marxist State
3
Justice
High Weightage
Liberal theories of Justice
Rawls — A Theory of Justice
Communitarianism
4
Equality
High Weightage
Natural and Social Equality
Types of Equality
5
Rights
High Weightage
Natural Rights
Moral and Legal Rights
Human Rights
6
Democracy
Core
Classical and Contemporary theories of Democracy
Direct and Representative Democracy
Deliberative Democracy
7
Concept of Power, Hegemony, Ideology and Legitimacy
Core
8
Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Neo-liberalism, Marxism, Fascism, Socialism, Feminism
Important
9
Indian Government and Politics
High Weightage
10
Comparative Politics
Core

📗 Paper II  ·  Plant Sciences, Breeding & Technology

250 Marks
1
International Relations: Nature and Development
Core
2
Key Concepts in International Relations
Core
3
Changing Nature of International Order
High Weightage
4
Evolution of International Economic System
Important
5
United Nations and Global Governance
Core
6
Regionalisation of World Politics
Important
7
India and World Affairs
High Weightage
8
India's Neighbourhood Policy
High Weightage
9
India and Global South
Important
10
India and the Nuclear Question
Core

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