Optional Module
Political Science and International Relations.
Why opt PSIR?
Political science and International Relations (PSIR) is one of the most popular optional subjects having high potential for securing maximum marks and get good rank. Following are the reason why one can think of opting for PSIR.
It is an interesting subject – Though the interest is something that is subjective, most of the aspirants finds PSIR as very interesting optional because it is very dynamic in nature. Newspaper reading becomes easier when aspirants are well acquainted with the political background of India and the world. Having interest in a subject is very important because aspirants have to spend lot of time with the optional subject.
It has huge overlap with GS syllabus
- Approximately 65% of the whole UPSC syllabus either directly or indirectly overlaps with that of PSIR syllabus
- Modern Indian history, post-independence history, world history and social issues in GS paper 1 are partly covered in PSIR optional syllabus (Paper 1 - Part B)
- Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations in GS paper 2 are significantly covered by PSIR optional syllabus
- Security and Environment in GS paper 3 are partly covered by PSIR optional syllabus (Paper 1 – Part B)
- Moral Thinkers and Philosophical part in GS paper 4 are significantly covered in PSIR optional syllabus (Paper 1 – Part A)
It helps in essay paper
- Topics on political and international issues are often asked in essays. Now-a-days more philosophical topics are also asked in essays, so those who have studied thinkers and thoughts in PSIR will have some philosophical understanding also, which helps them in essays.
- So, an aspirant who opt PSIR optional will get enough content to write about in related topics in the essay paper.
Helps in Personality test
- It is expected from a bureaucrat that he should possess a basic of political science besides having an acquaintance with politics happening around him both on local and global level. So, UPSC personality test board consistently asks questions that revolves around national and international political issues
- An aspirant can justify in personality test, if he/she gives preference for Indian Foreign Service.
Non-technical nature of subject makes it easy for even non-political science student to opt for PSIR
Easy availability of materials – one who opt for PSIR does not have to spend lot of time in finding and collecting the right source. Since it is one of the popular optional there are abundant materials in the market.