Political science & International Relation

Familiarize yourself with the syllabus: First and foremost, you need to understand the syllabus of the PSIR optional. It will give you a clear idea of what topics to cover and how to approach them. The UPSC syllabus for PSIR is comprehensive, covering topics such as Political Theory, Indian Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Public Administration. Teachers like Dr Bijendra Jha or Vikash Gupta Make you verse with syllabus at PlutusIAS.
Gather study materials: You can refer to standard textbooks, reference books, and other study materials to get a good understanding of the subject. Some of the recommended books for PSIR are “An Introduction to Political Theory” by O.P Gauba, “Indian Government and Politics” by B.L Fadia, “International Relations” by V.N Khanna, and “Public Administration” by M. Laxmikanth. You can also get UPSC notes of different coachings from book shops near Karol bagh or Mukherjee Nagar .
Make a study plan: Once you have gathered the study materials, make a study plan that suits your requirements. Allocate time to each topic and set realistic targets. It is essential to have a disciplined approach and consistency in your preparation.
Practice answer writing: Answer writing is a crucial aspect of the UPSC CSE. Practice answer writing regularly, and focus on structuring your answers in a coherent and concise manner. Try to use relevant examples and data to substantiate your arguments. Get your answers checked from best teachers of Political science or mentors for UPSC who can guide you for answer writing.

Revision: Revision is key to retaining information. Revise the topics regularly and make sure you revise the notes that you have prepared. Try to consolidate the information by creating mind maps or diagrams. Video lectures of classes at PlutusIAS can be the most important resource for revision of PSIR paper.
Stay updated: Stay updated with the current events, especially those related to politics and international relations. This will help you in writing better answers and in the interview round.
Seek guidance: You can take guidance from a coaching institute, mentor or seniors who have already cleared the exam with PSIR as their optional subject. They can help you with their experience and provide you with valuable insights.
Test Series: Test series are very important to keep check on your skills and improvement in your knowledge delivery as per requirement of UPSC CSE mains optional paper.

An evaluator of the Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) optional paper of the UPSC Civil Services Exam seeks several qualities in the answers provided by the candidates. Some of the key factors that the evaluator looks for are:
Clarity and coherence: The answer should be written in a clear and coherent manner, with a logical flow of ideas. The answer should be structured and organized, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
Understanding of concepts: The candidate should have a thorough understanding of the concepts related to the topic. The answer should demonstrate that the candidate has a good grasp of the relevant theories, concepts, and models.
Depth of analysis: The answer should demonstrate a deep understanding of the topic and provide a detailed analysis of the issues involved. The candidate should be able to critically evaluate the different perspectives and arguments related to the topic.
Relevance: The answer should be relevant to the question asked. The candidate should ensure that the answer addresses the specific requirements of the question and is not tangential to the topic.
Use of examples: The candidate should use relevant and appropriate examples to support their arguments. The examples should be drawn from real-life situations, current events, or historical incidents.
Use of language: The answer should be written in a clear and concise language, with proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The candidate should avoid using jargon and technical terms that are not relevant to the topic.
Originality: The candidate should provide original and innovative ideas in the answer. The evaluator looks for answers that reflect the candidate’s independent thinking and creativity.

Pros of taking PSIR optional during UPSC CSE exam:
Relevance: Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) is a relevant subject for those aspiring to join the civil services, as it covers topics such as governance, democracy, and international relations, which are directly related to the job of a civil servant.
Scoring potential: PSIR has a reputation for being a high-scoring optional subject in the UPSC CSE exam. With proper preparation and answer writing skills, a candidate can score well in this subject and improve their overall ranking.
Availability of study material: PSIR has a vast pool of study materials available in the form of books, study notes, online resources, and coaching institutes, which makes it easier forcandidates to prepare for this subject.
Interdisciplinary nature: PSIR is an interdisciplinary subject that draws from various fields, including Political Science, Economics, Sociology, and History, which makes it an interesting subject to study and allows candidates to explore different perspectives.

Cons of taking PSIR optional during UPSC CSE exam:
Vast syllabus: PSIR has a vast syllabus, and it requires a lot of time and effort to cover all the topics and sub-topics. This can be overwhelming for some candidates, especially those who have not studied Political Science before.
Changing nature of questions: UPSC has been known to change the nature of questions in the PSIR optional paper, which can be challenging for candidates who have prepared for a particular type of question.
Subjectivity in evaluation: PSIR is a subject that involves a lot of interpretation and analysis, and it is subject to the evaluator’s personal biases and opinions. This can make the evaluation process subjective and unpredictable.
Lack of job relevance: While PSIR is relevant for those aspiring to join the civil services, it may not be as directly relevant to other job profiles. This can be a disadvantage for candidates who may want to explore other job opportunities in the future.

Pradeep Singh – Rank 1 (2019) – Marks in optional paper 1 – 158, Marks in optional paper 2 – 161; B.Tech (Computer Science and Engineering), IIT Delhi.
– Anmol Sher Singh Bedi – Rank 2 (2019) – Marks in optional paper 1 – 150, Marks in optional paper 2 – 167; B.Tech (Electronics and Communication Engineering), BITS Pilani.
– Jeydev CS – Rank 5 (2019) – Marks in optional paper 1 – 137, Marks in optional paper 2 – 165; B.Tech (Electronics and Communication Engineering), NIT Calicut.
– Gunjan Dwivedi – Rank 9 (2019) – Marks in optional paper 1 – 140, Marks in optional paper 2 – 140; B.Tech (Computer Science and Engineering), IIIT Allahabad.
– Shrestha Anupam – Rank 19 (2019) – Marks in optional paper 1 – 136, Marks in optional paper 2 – 150; B.A. (Political Science), Delhi University.
– Vaishali Singh – Rank 8 (2020) – Marks in optional paper 1 – 139, Marks in optional paper 2 – 142; B.Tech (Electronics and Communication Engineering), VIT University.
– Ravi Jain – Rank 9 (2020) – Marks in optional paper 1 – 137, Marks in optional paper 2 – 136; B.Tech (Civil Engineering), IIT Delhi.
– Bhuvaneshwari S – Rank 15 (2020) – Marks in optional paper 1 – 124, Marks in optional paper 2 – 155; B.A. (Political Science), Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University.
– Sanjita Mohapatra – Rank 10 (2021) – Marks in optional paper 1 – 142, Marks in optional paper 2 – 135; B.A. (Political Science), Delhi University.
– Tanuja Bhatt – Rank 25 (2021) – Marks in optional paper 1 – 133, Marks in optional paper 2 – 149; B.A. (Political Science), St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.