Showing posts with label Political Science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Political Science. Show all posts
ARTICLE - 370
WHY SPECIAL STATUS TO JAMMU KASHMIR ARTICLE - 370
Historical Background (Accession Of J&K in India)
- when J&K became independent from british rule, its rular decided not to join India or Pakistan and thereby remain independent.
- After 2 months Azad Kashmir forces supported by Pak Army attacked border areas (now some of it called PoK) of J&K. So due to lack of its own Army and Weapons the rular decided to join India but signed a full bag of documents with Union of India.
What is Special Status ?
- If all provisions of Union of India doesn't apply to a state then state is said to be has a special status.
- these provision may be different for different states.
- Article 370 gives J&K a special status while Article 371 has special provision for other 10 states which are Assam, Nagaland, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram, Goa, Andra, Arunachal, MH and Gujrat.
What is Union List and Concurrent List ?
- Union Government is not powered to make laws on any subjects and similarly state legislative can't make laws on any subject. hence Our Constitution provided three lists named as Union List, Concurrent List and State List.
- Union list = union gov can make laws on listed subjects without concurrence (nod) of state govts.
- State list = state gov can make laws on listed subjects without concurrence of union govts.
- But there are some subjects on which Union govt can make laws but required nod from state. this list called concurrent list.
So what is Special Status of J&K ?
- because J&K Ruler surrendered only four matters (defence, external affairs, communication and ancilliary) to domination of India. hence Parliament is limited to make laws in Union List and Concurrent List for only those matters which falls under above four.
- all of this required either consultation or concurrence of state govt.
- Also some other provisions as specified by president with consultation or concurrence with J&K can be applied.
- this concludes that although J&K has freedoms from some provision of Indian Constitution but President can extend other articles to state.
How J&K different from other states ?
- Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are not applied to J&K but applied to other states. DPSP = states are required to do some things for the welfare of community.
- President can't declare financial emergency (salaries and allowances reduction etc.) in relation to J&K.
- High Court of J&K can issue writs only for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
- Right to property is still guaranteed in J&K.
- Permanent residents of J&K have some special fundamental rights.
- Although Supreme Court, EC and CAG are applicable to J&K along with all other states.
What was J&K Autonomy Resolution ?
- In a historical move J&K on June 2000 demanded following things from Union:
- not apply Art 356 = President rule
- no role of Election Commission
- no room for All India Services (IAS, IPS, IFS in J&K) etc
Why J&K Autonomy Resolution rejected ?
- but union cabinet rejected it saying that it would back the clock and old conditions will arise again which may harm to democracy. hence neither full nor event a part of this resolution can be accepted.
First in the World
First in the World
First in the World
1. Chairman of Peoples Republic of China Mao-Tse-Tung
2. President of the Chinese Republic
3. President of U.S.A George Washington
4. Chinese Traveller to India Fahein
5. Foreign Invader to India Alexander the Great
6. Person to reach South Pole Amundsen
7. Person to reach North Pole Robert Pearey
8. Person in Space Yuri Gagarin
9. Person on Moon Neil Armstrong
10. Lady to climb Mount Everest Junko Taibei
11. European to visit China Marco Polo
12. Place where atom bomb was dropped Hiroshima
13. Man to walk in Space Alexei Leonov
14. Woman cosmonaut in Space Valentina Tereshkova
15. Woman Prime Minister of a country Mrs. Srimavo Bhandarnaike
16. Woman President of a country Maria Estela Peron
17. Woman to Command a Space Mission Colonel Eileen Collins (U.S.A. )
18. The first residents of International
Space station- Bill Shepherd (USA), Yuri Gidzanko and Sergei Krikalev (Russia )
19. The first blind man to scale Mt. Everest -Erik Weihenmayer (USA , May 25, 2001)
20. The first Muslim woman to become the
Secretary General of Amnesty International lrine Zubeida Khan
21. The first space astronaut to go into space seven times till date - Jerry Ross (U.S.A.)
22. The first South African to become the second space tourist -Mark Shuttleworth
23. The first woman Prime Minister of South Korea -Ms. Chang Sang
24. The first youngest grandmaster of the world in chess -Sergey Karjakin (Ukraine )
25. The first adventurer flying successfully across
the English Channel without aircraft -Felix Baumgartner (July 2003)
26. China 's first man in space Yang Liwei
27. The first Muslim woman to receive Nobel Prize - Shirin Ebadi (Nobel Peace Prize 2003)
28. The woman with the highest individual Test score making a new world record Kiran Baloch (Pakistani cricketer, scoring 242 runs playing women's cricket test against West Indies in Karachi in March, 2004)
29. The first woman of the world to climb Mt. Everest
30. The first woman to cross seven important seas of the world by swimming Bula Chaudhury (India )
31. The first aircraft pilot to round the entire world non-stop by his 2 engine aircraft in 67 hours -Steve Fossett (March 2005)
32. The first woman to be appointed as a Governor of a
province in Afghanistan -Habiba Sorabhi
33. The first woman of the world to swim across five continents - Bula Chaudhury (India ) (April 2005)
34. The first woman athlete to touch 5.0 meter mark in pole vault Ms. Yelena Isinbayeva (Russian, July 2005)
35. The first Hindu Chief Justice of Pakistani Supreme Court - Justice Rana Bhagwan Das Took over on Sept. 2, 2005 as Acting Chief Justice
36. The first duly elected woman President of an African country -Allen Johnson Sirleaf (elected President of Liberia in Nov. 2005)
37. The first woman Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan - Shanshad Akhtar
(Appointed in Dec. 2005)
38. The first woman Chancellor of Germany -Angela Merkel (Took over in Nov. 2005)
39. The first woman President of Chile - Dr. Michelle Bachelet
40. The first woman Prime Minister of Jamaica - Portia Simpson Miller (Feb. 2006)
41. The first woman foreign Secretary of England - Margaret Backett (May 2006)
42. The first double amputee to scale Mt. Everest
Right to Education Act POLITICS SCIENCE
Right to Education Act
· Every child between the ages of 6 to 14 years has the right to free and compulsory education. This is stated as per the 86th Constitution Amendment Act added Article 21A. The right to education act seeks to give effect to this amendment
· The government schools shall provide free education to all the children and the schools will be managed by schoo...l management committees (SMC). Private schools shall admit at least 25% of the children in their schools without any fee.
· The National Commission for Elementary Education shall be constituted to monitor all aspects of elementary education including quality.
Why is the act significant and what does it mean for India
The passing of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 marks a historic moment for the children of India
This Act serves as a building block to ensure that every child has his or her right (as an entitlement) to get a quality elementary education, and that the State, with the help of families and communities, fulfils this obligation.
Few countries in the world have such a national provision to ensure both free and child-centred, child-friendly education.
What is ‘Free and Compulsory Elementary Education’?
All children between the ages of 6 and 14 shall have the right to free and compulsory elementary education at a neighborhood school.
There is no direct (school fees) or indirect cost (uniforms, textbooks, mid-day meals, transportation) to be borne by the child or the parents to obtain elementary education. The government will provide schooling free-of-cost until a child’s elementary education is completed.
Book List for Political Science
Reading List for Political Science
1. The Constitution of India-D.D. Basu
2. An Introduction to Political Theory-O.P. Gauba
3. The Constitution of India-P.M.Bakshi
4. Political Theory-Amal Ray, Mohit Bhattacharya
5. Comparative Politics-Ronald Chilcote
6. Our Parliament-S.C. Kashyap
7. History of Political Thought-Subrata Mukherjee, Susheela Ramaswamy
8. A History of Political Thought-J.P. Suda, Foundations of Indian Political Thought-V.R. Mehta, Modern Political Theory-S.P. Verma
9. Western Political Thought-R.M. Bhagat
10. Andrew Heywood-Politics
11. Andrew Heywood-Political Theory:
12. An IntroductionComparative Politics-J.C. Johari
13. History of Political Thought- George Sabine
14. Politics among Nations-Hans Morgenthau
1. The Constitution of India-D.D. Basu
2. An Introduction to Political Theory-O.P. Gauba
3. The Constitution of India-P.M.Bakshi
4. Political Theory-Amal Ray, Mohit Bhattacharya
5. Comparative Politics-Ronald Chilcote
6. Our Parliament-S.C. Kashyap
7. History of Political Thought-Subrata Mukherjee, Susheela Ramaswamy
8. A History of Political Thought-J.P. Suda, Foundations of Indian Political Thought-V.R. Mehta, Modern Political Theory-S.P. Verma
9. Western Political Thought-R.M. Bhagat
10. Andrew Heywood-Politics
11. Andrew Heywood-Political Theory:
12. An IntroductionComparative Politics-J.C. Johari
13. History of Political Thought- George Sabine
14. Politics among Nations-Hans Morgenthau
A few tips:1. Look up Wikipedia for the latest on world constitutions
2. Combine preparation of Section B of Paper 1 with Indian Polity and History in GS
3. Update your Paper II Section B answers with GS Paper II notes on India and the World and International Organizations
4. Take a look at the Delhi University B.A./M.A. Political Science syllabus/reading lists for references on International Relations
2. Combine preparation of Section B of Paper 1 with Indian Polity and History in GS
3. Update your Paper II Section B answers with GS Paper II notes on India and the World and International Organizations
4. Take a look at the Delhi University B.A./M.A. Political Science syllabus/reading lists for references on International Relations
National Fruit of India - Mango POLITICAL SCIENCE
National Fruit - Mango
A fleshy fruit, eaten ripe or used green for pickles etc., of the tree Mangifera indica, the mango is one of the most important and widely cultivated fruits of the tropical world. Its juicy fruit is a rich source of Vitamins A, C and D. In India there are over100 varieties of mangoes, in different sizes, shapes and colours. Mangoes, have been cultivated in India from time immemorial. The poet Kalidasa sang its praises. Alexander savoured its taste, as did the Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang. Akbar planted 100,000 mango trees in Darbhanga, known as Lakhi Bagh.
National Tree of India - Banyan POLITICAL SCIENCE
National Tree - Banyan
Indian fig tree, Ficus bengalensis, whose branches root themselves like new trees over a large area. The roots then give rise to more trunks and branches. Because of this characteristic and its longevity, this tree is considered immortal and is an integral part of the myths and legends of India. Even today, the banyan tree is the focal point of village life and the village council meets under the shade of this tree.
National Flower of India - Lotus POLITICAL SCIENCE
National Flower - Lotus
The Lotus or waterlily is an aquatic plant of Nymphaea with broad floating leaves and bright fragrant flowers that grow only in shallow waters. The leaves and flowers float and have long stems that contain air spaces. The big attractive flowers have many petals overlapping in a symmetrical pattern. The root functions are carried out by rhizomes that fan out horizontally through the mud below the water. Lotuses, prized for their serene beauty, are delightful to behold as their blossoms open on the surface of a pond. In India the sacred lotus is legendary and much folklore and religious mythology is woven around it
National Bird of India - Peacock POLITICAL SCIENCE
National Bird - Peacock
Male bird of species P. cristatus, is a native of India, with striking plumage and upper tail converts marked with iridescent ocelli, able to expand its tail erect like fan as ostentatious display. Peacocks are related to pheasants.
Found wild in India ( and also domesticated in villages ) they live in jungle lands near water. They were once bred for food but now hunting of peacocks is banned in India. The peahen has no plumage. These birds do not sound as beautiful as they look - they have a harsh call.
National Animal of India - Tiger POLITICAL SCIENCE
National Animal - Tiger
Large Asiatic carnivorous feline quadruped, Panthera Tigris, maneless, of tawny yellow colour with blackish transverse stripes and white belly, proverbial for its power and its magnificence.
There are very few tigers left in the world today. A decade ago the tiger population in India had dwindled to a few hundreds. The Government of India, under its Project Tiger programme, started a massive effort to preserve the tiger population. Today, thanks to Project Tiger, India's population of tigers has considerably increased.
National Flag of India POLITICAL SCIENCE
National Flag
The Indian flag was designed as a symbol of freedom. The late Prime Minister Nehru called it a flag not only of freedom for ourselves, but a symbol of freedom to all people.
The flag is a horizontal tricolour in equal proportion of deep saffron on the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom. The ratio of the width to the length of the flag is two is to three. In the centre of the white band, there is a wheel in navy blue to indicate the Dharma Chakra, the wheel of law in the Sarnath Lion Capital. Its diameter approximates the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes. The saffron stands for courage, sacrifice and the spirit of renunciation; the white, for purity and truth; the green for faith and fertility.
National Emblem of India POLITICAL SCIENCE
National Emblem
The National Emblem of India is a replica of the Lion of Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The Lion Capital was erected in the third century BC by Emperor Ashoka to mark the spot where Buddha first proclaimed his gospel of peace and emancipation to the four quarters of the universe.The National emblem is thus symbolic of contemporary India's reaffirmation of its ancient commitment to world peace and goodwill.
The four lions (one hidden from view) - symbolising power, courage and confidence - rest on a circular abacus. The abacus is girded by four smaller animals - guardians of the four directions: the lion of the north, the elephant of the east, the horse of the south and the bull of the west.The abacus rests on a lotus in full bloom, exemplifying the fountainhead of life and creative inspiration. The motto 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below the emblem in Devanagari script means 'truth alone triumphs'.
SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT INDIA WHICH YOU SHOULD KNOW !
INDIA
| Geography | |
| Location |  |
| Area | 3.3 Million sq. km |
| Telephone Code | +91 |
| Coastline | 7516.6 km encompassing the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. |
| High Point | Kanchenjunga 8,598 m. |
| National Things | |
| National Flag |  The National Flag is the horizontal tricolor of deep saffron (kesaria) at the top, white in the middle, and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. At the center of the white band is a navy blue wheel, which is a representation of the Ashoka Chakra at Sarnath. |
| National Emblem |  The National Emblem of India is derived from the time of the Emperor Ashoka. The emblem is a replica of the Lion of Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The Lion Capital was erected in the third century BC by Emperor Ashoka to mark the spot where Buddha first proclaimed his gospel of peace and emancipation to the four quarters of the universe. |
| National Anthem |  The Jana Gana Mana is the national Anthem of India, composed by Rabindranath Tagore. It was officially adopted by the constituent Aseembly as the Indian national anthem on January 24, 1950. |
| National Song |  Bankim Chandra Chatterji's composed song "Vande Mataram" was adopted as the National Song. It has an equal status with "Jana Gana Mana". It was first sung in the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. |
| National Animal |  Tiger is the National Animal of India. It is symbol of India's wildlife wealth. The magnificent tiger, Panthera tigris, is a striped animal. |
| National Bird |  The Peacock, Pavo cristatus, is the national bird of India. Emblematic of qualities such as beauty grace, pride. |
| National Fruit |  Mango is the national fruit of India. Described as the "Food of the Gods", in the sacred Vedas, the fruit is grown almost in all parts of India. |
| National Flower |  Lotus botanically known as the Nelumbo Nucifera is the national flower of India. |
| National Tree |  Banyan Tree is the National Tree of India. This huge tree towers over its neighbours and has the widest reaching roots of all known trees. |
| National Calender |  The Saka calender is the national calender of India. It is used, alongside the Gregorian calender. |
| National Days. | 26th January (Republic Day) 15th August (Independence Day) 2nd October (Gandhi Jayanti; Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday) |
| Government | |
| Country Name | Republic of India; Bharat Ganrajya |
| Government Type | Sovereign Socialist Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system of Government |
| Capital | New Delhi |
| Official Language | Hindi, English |
| Administrative Division | 28 States and 7 Union Territories. |
| Independence | 15th August 1947 (From the British Colonial Rule) |
| Constitution | The Constitution of India came into force on 26th January 1950. |
| Legislature | Sansad |
| Legal System | The Constitution of India is the fountain source of the legal system in the Country. |
| Executive Branch | The President of India is the Head of the State, while Prime Minister is the Head of the Government, and runs office with the support of Council of Ministers who form the Cabinet Ministry. |
| Legislative Branch | The Indian Legislature comprises of the Lok Sabha (House of the people) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) forming both the Houses of the Parliament. |
| Judicial Branch | The Supreme Court of India is the apex body of the Indian legal system, followed by other High Courts and subordinate Courts. |
Constitution Of India EBOOK
Free Ebook Download! Constitution Of India
Download Free Ebook in Pdf - Constitution Of India in english and hindi medium! Amendment Acts also give here for your reference.
Click on the link given below to start dowload.
Constitution of India in English
http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/coiason29july08.pdf
Constitution of India in Hindi
http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/contents.htm
AMENDMENT ACTS
http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/coifiles/amendment.htm
Powered by Career Quest IAS Academy, Delhi
Source http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/welcome.html. This information is downloaded from the website of Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department)
Click on the link given below to start dowload.
Constitution of India in English
http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/coiason29july08.pdf
Constitution of India in Hindi
http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/contents.htm
AMENDMENT ACTS
http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/coifiles/amendment.htm
Powered by Career Quest IAS Academy, Delhi
Source http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/welcome.html. This information is downloaded from the website of Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department)
SYLLABUS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE FOR UPSC ACCORDING TO NEW PATTERN
POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
PAPER - I
Political Theory and Indian Politics:
1. Political Theory: meaning and approaches.
2. Theories of the State: Liberal, Neoliberal, Marxist, Pluralist, Post-colonial and feminist.
3. Justice: Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawl’s theory of justice and its communitarian
critiques.
4. Equality: Social, political and economic; relationship between equality and freedom; Affirmative action.
5. Rights: Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; concept of Human Rights.
6. Democracy: Classical and contemporary theories; different models of democracy – representative,
participatory and deliberative.
7. Concept of power, hegemony, ideology and legitimacy.
8. Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism and Feminism.
9. Indian Political Thought : Dharamshastra, Arthashastra and Buddhist traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri
Aurobindo, M.K. Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, M.N. Roy.
10. Western Political Thought: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx, Gramsci,
Hannah Arendt.
Indian Government and Politics:
1. Indian Nationalism:
(a) Political Strategies of India’s Freedom Struggle: Constitutionalism to mass Satyagraha, Non-cooperation,
Civil Disobedience; Militant and revolutionary movements, Peasant and workers’ movements.
(b) Perspectives on Indian National Movement: Liberal, Socialist and Marxist; Radical humanist and Dalit.
2. Making of the Indian Constitution: Legacies of the British rule; different social and political perspectives.
3. Salient Features of the Indian Constitution: The Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive
Principles; Parliamentary System and Amendment Procedures; Judicial Review and Basic Structure doctrine.
4. (a) Principal Organs of the Union Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive,
Legislature and Supreme Court.
(b) Principal Organs of the State Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive,
Legislature and High Courts.
5. Grassroots Democracy: Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government; significance of 73rd and 74th
Amendments; Grassroot movements.
6. Statutory Institutions/Commissions: Election Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General, Finance
Commission, Union Public Service Commission, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National
Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Women; National Human Rights Commission,
National Commission for Minorities, National Backward Classes Commission.
7. Federalism: Constitutional provisions; changing nature of centre-state relations; integrationist tendencies and
regional aspirations; inter-state disputes.
8. Planning and Economic Development : Nehruvian and Gandhian perspectives; role of planning and public
sector; Green Revolution, land reforms and agrarian relations; liberalilzation and economic reforms.
9. Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics.
10. Party System: National and regional political parties, ideological and social bases of parties; patterns of
coalition politics; Pressure groups, trends in electoral behaviour; changing socio- economic profile of
Legislators.
11. Social Movements: Civil liberties and human rights movements; women’s movements; environmentalist
movements.
1. Political Theory: meaning and approaches.
2. Theories of the State: Liberal, Neoliberal, Marxist, Pluralist, Post-colonial and feminist.
3. Justice: Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawl’s theory of justice and its communitarian
critiques.
4. Equality: Social, political and economic; relationship between equality and freedom; Affirmative action.
5. Rights: Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; concept of Human Rights.
6. Democracy: Classical and contemporary theories; different models of democracy – representative,
participatory and deliberative.
7. Concept of power, hegemony, ideology and legitimacy.
8. Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism and Feminism.
9. Indian Political Thought : Dharamshastra, Arthashastra and Buddhist traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri
Aurobindo, M.K. Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, M.N. Roy.
10. Western Political Thought: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx, Gramsci,
Hannah Arendt.
Indian Government and Politics:
1. Indian Nationalism:
(a) Political Strategies of India’s Freedom Struggle: Constitutionalism to mass Satyagraha, Non-cooperation,
Civil Disobedience; Militant and revolutionary movements, Peasant and workers’ movements.
(b) Perspectives on Indian National Movement: Liberal, Socialist and Marxist; Radical humanist and Dalit.
2. Making of the Indian Constitution: Legacies of the British rule; different social and political perspectives.
3. Salient Features of the Indian Constitution: The Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive
Principles; Parliamentary System and Amendment Procedures; Judicial Review and Basic Structure doctrine.
4. (a) Principal Organs of the Union Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive,
Legislature and Supreme Court.
(b) Principal Organs of the State Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive,
Legislature and High Courts.
5. Grassroots Democracy: Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government; significance of 73rd and 74th
Amendments; Grassroot movements.
6. Statutory Institutions/Commissions: Election Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General, Finance
Commission, Union Public Service Commission, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National
Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Women; National Human Rights Commission,
National Commission for Minorities, National Backward Classes Commission.
7. Federalism: Constitutional provisions; changing nature of centre-state relations; integrationist tendencies and
regional aspirations; inter-state disputes.
8. Planning and Economic Development : Nehruvian and Gandhian perspectives; role of planning and public
sector; Green Revolution, land reforms and agrarian relations; liberalilzation and economic reforms.
9. Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics.
10. Party System: National and regional political parties, ideological and social bases of parties; patterns of
coalition politics; Pressure groups, trends in electoral behaviour; changing socio- economic profile of
Legislators.
11. Social Movements: Civil liberties and human rights movements; women’s movements; environmentalist
movements.
PAPER – II
Comparative Politics and International Relations
Comparative Political Analysis and International Politics:
1. Comparative Politics: Nature and major approaches; political economy and political sociology perspectives;
limitations of the comparative method.
2. State in comparative perspective: Characteristics and changing nature of the State in capitalist and socialist
economies, and, advanced industrial and developing societies.
3. Politics of Representation and Participation: Political parties, pressure groups and social movements in
advanced industrial and developing societies.
4. Globalisation: Responses from developed and developing societies.
5. Approaches to the Study of International Relations: Idealist, Realist, Marxist, Functionalist and Systems
theory.
6. Key concepts in International Relations: National interest, Security and power; Balance of power and
deterrence; Transnational actors and collective security; World capitalist economy and globalisation.
7. Changing International Political Order:
(a) Rise of super powers; strategic and ideological Bipolarity, arms race and Cold War; nuclear threat;
(b) Non-aligned movement: Aims and achievements;
(c) Collapse of the Soviet Union; Unipolarity and American hegemony; relevance of non-alignment in the
contemporary world.
8. Evolution of the International Economic System: From Brettonwoods to WTO; Socialist economies and the
CMEA (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance); Third World demand for new international economic
order; Globalisation of the world economy.
9. United Nations: Envisaged role and actual record; specialized UN agencies-aims and functioning; need for
UN reforms.
10. Regionalisation of World Politics: EU, ASEAN, APEC, SAARC, NAFTA.
11. Contemporary Global Concerns: Democracy, human rights, environment, gender justice, terrorism, nuclear
proliferation.
India and the World:
1. Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants of foreign policy; institutions of policy-making; continuity and change.
2. India’s Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement: Different phases; current role.
3. India and South Asia:
(a) Regional Co-operation: SAARC – past performance and future prospects.
(b) South Asia as a Free Trade Area.
(c) India’s “Look East” policy.
(d) Impediments to regional co-operation: river water disputes; illegal cross-border migration; ethnic
conflicts and insurgencies; border disputes.
4. India and the Global South: Relations with Africa and Latin America; leadership role in the demand for
NIEO and WTO negotiations.
5. India and the Global Centres of Power: USA, EU, Japan, China and Russia.
6. India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace-keeping; demand for Permanent Seat in the Security Council.
7. India and the Nuclear Question: Changing perceptions and policy.
8. Recent developments in Indian Foreign policy: India’s position on the recent crisis in Afghanistan, Iraq and
West Asia, growing relations with US and Israel; vision of a new world order.
Comparative Political Analysis and International Politics:
1. Comparative Politics: Nature and major approaches; political economy and political sociology perspectives;
limitations of the comparative method.
2. State in comparative perspective: Characteristics and changing nature of the State in capitalist and socialist
economies, and, advanced industrial and developing societies.
3. Politics of Representation and Participation: Political parties, pressure groups and social movements in
advanced industrial and developing societies.
4. Globalisation: Responses from developed and developing societies.
5. Approaches to the Study of International Relations: Idealist, Realist, Marxist, Functionalist and Systems
theory.
6. Key concepts in International Relations: National interest, Security and power; Balance of power and
deterrence; Transnational actors and collective security; World capitalist economy and globalisation.
7. Changing International Political Order:
(a) Rise of super powers; strategic and ideological Bipolarity, arms race and Cold War; nuclear threat;
(b) Non-aligned movement: Aims and achievements;
(c) Collapse of the Soviet Union; Unipolarity and American hegemony; relevance of non-alignment in the
contemporary world.
8. Evolution of the International Economic System: From Brettonwoods to WTO; Socialist economies and the
CMEA (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance); Third World demand for new international economic
order; Globalisation of the world economy.
9. United Nations: Envisaged role and actual record; specialized UN agencies-aims and functioning; need for
UN reforms.
10. Regionalisation of World Politics: EU, ASEAN, APEC, SAARC, NAFTA.
11. Contemporary Global Concerns: Democracy, human rights, environment, gender justice, terrorism, nuclear
proliferation.
India and the World:
1. Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants of foreign policy; institutions of policy-making; continuity and change.
2. India’s Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement: Different phases; current role.
3. India and South Asia:
(a) Regional Co-operation: SAARC – past performance and future prospects.
(b) South Asia as a Free Trade Area.
(c) India’s “Look East” policy.
(d) Impediments to regional co-operation: river water disputes; illegal cross-border migration; ethnic
conflicts and insurgencies; border disputes.
4. India and the Global South: Relations with Africa and Latin America; leadership role in the demand for
NIEO and WTO negotiations.
5. India and the Global Centres of Power: USA, EU, Japan, China and Russia.
6. India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace-keeping; demand for Permanent Seat in the Security Council.
7. India and the Nuclear Question: Changing perceptions and policy.
8. Recent developments in Indian Foreign policy: India’s position on the recent crisis in Afghanistan, Iraq and
West Asia, growing relations with US and Israel; vision of a new world order.
POLITICAL SCIENCE FOR UPSC ASPIRANTS
Meaning of Political Science
Political Science is that part of social science which deals with the foundations of the state
and the principles of the government. According to J W Garner, “Politics begins and ends
with the state.” Similarly, R G Gettel wrote that Politics is the “study of the state in the
past, present and future”. Harold J Laski stated in the same vein that the study of Politics
concerns itself with the life of men and women in relation to organized state. Thus as a
social science, Political Science deals with those aspects of individuals in society which
relate to their activities and organizations devoted to seeking of power, resolution of conflicts
and all these, within an overall framework of the rule and law as laid down by the state.
Changing Meaning of Political Science
The term Politics is derived from the Greek word polis which means city-state. That is
why many commentators, as you saw, rightly define Politics in terms of the state or
government. However, this definition does not exhaust the meaning of Politics. Politics
also deals with power. Harold D. Lasswell and Abraham Kaplan define Political Science
as “the study of shaping and sharing of power”. In a word, Politics deals with both state
and power. However, the power that Political Science deals with is, more often than not,
the legitimate power. Since science is the systematic study of any phenomenon through
observation and experiment, it follows that Political Science studies the state and power in
all their aspects. You will learn more about the state and power later in this lesson.
Political Science deals with both empirical facts and normative issues. Facts are in the
domain of “what is” and value preferences are in the domain of “what should be.” For
example, if somebody says India is a parliamentary democracy, he or she is making a
statement of empirical fact. This is what India today actually is. But if she or he were to
make a statement like the one that India should switch over to presidential form of
democracy, the statement would be a normative one. Political Science is not satisfied with
describing the state of affairs, it wants to change or improve upon them. Empirical statements
are true or false by virtue of what observation shows to be the case. Evaluative statements
are ethical/moral imperatives, which are often said not to be true or false in any sense at
all. Formal statements (such as the propositions of mathematics) are true or false by virtue
of the meanings of their constituent terms alone. Political Philosophy deals with formal
statements. Political Science deals with empirical statements and also evaluates the existing
political institutions, practices and focuses on how to improve them.
Growth of the Discipline of Political Science
Systematic study of Politics started with the Greeks in the fourth century BC. Philosophers
like Plato and Aristotle used it in the most comprehensive sense. Aristotle called Politics a
“master science”. For him, it comprised of not only the institutions of state or government
but also family, property and other social institutions. Politics, for the Greeks, was an allencompassing
activity.
The ancient Greek view about Political Science was mainly ethical. In contrast, the ancient Romans considered the legal aspect of Politics more important for their governance. Individual and the State
During the Middle Ages, Political Science became a branch of religious order of the Church.
Political authority was, then, subordinated to the authority of the Church.
Normally a lay man associates Politics with party politics. But as students of
Political Science, we know that Politics is much larger than that: it is
systematic study of state and power.
As the state grew in size and became more complex, Political Science acquired a realistic
and secular (non-religious) approach. After the Industrial Revolution, the role of the State,
which was limited to maintenance of law and order and providing defence against external
aggression, underwent considerable changes with the emergence of the new economic
system called capitalism.
In the twentieth century, after the Second World War, the ‘behavioural approach’ offered
a new dimension of Political Science. The behavioural movement in American Political
Science in the 1950s and the 1960s placed a lot of emphasis on the ‘science’ part of
Politics. It wanted to model Politics after the methods followed by natural sciences like
Physics, Botany, etc. The behaviouralists built theory inductively from empirical propositions.
Those who follow inductive method would come to the conclusion after study, observation
and experiment. For example, when some behaviouralists saw African-Americans (Blacks)
of the southern United States of America (USA) voted for the Democratic Party of the
United States, they came to the conclusion that the African-Americans do vote for the
Democrats.
This behavioural approach shifted the focus of its study from political institutions and
structures to their functions. It placed stress on political activity and the behaviour of men
and women who control these institutions. It replaced the study of ideas by the study of
facts, evidence and behaviour. It considered political activity manifested in behaviour as
the true subject of Political Science.
A political activity may be in the form of an individual contesting an election. It may be the
activity of a group seeking the adoption of a particular policy in its favour by the government.
As different people pursue different interests, such activities tend to generate disagreement,
competition and conflict. But the distinctive quality of Politics is that it includes physical
coercion or force by the government. It may and usually does involve the persuasive
influence and effort of the government to resolve conflicts through its balanced policy
decisions.
Politics is also viewed as a process whereby individuals, groups or communities seek to
achieve their specific but conflicting goals. Politics, as the process, seeks to allocate
resources (Easton calls it, values) authoritatively.
Politics, as the study of structures, institutions, processes and activities, recognizes the
possibility of the use of power. The Marxist approach, which is derived from the writings
of the nineteenth century German philosopher Karl Marx, views Politics as a study of
irreconcilable conflicts between the two classes ‘haves’ (those who have private property,
or simply the rich) and the ‘have-nots’ (those who do not have any private property, or
simply the poor); in other words, the exploiters and the exploited. The emancipation of the
have-nots will come only through a revolution which would put an end to the institution of
private property, thus changing the class society to the classless society. But Politics, as
against the Marxist view, has another view also, the liberal view, according to which
Political Science is that part of social science which deals with the foundations of the state
and the principles of the government. According to J W Garner, “Politics begins and ends
with the state.” Similarly, R G Gettel wrote that Politics is the “study of the state in the
past, present and future”. Harold J Laski stated in the same vein that the study of Politics
concerns itself with the life of men and women in relation to organized state. Thus as a
social science, Political Science deals with those aspects of individuals in society which
relate to their activities and organizations devoted to seeking of power, resolution of conflicts
and all these, within an overall framework of the rule and law as laid down by the state.
Changing Meaning of Political Science
The term Politics is derived from the Greek word polis which means city-state. That is
why many commentators, as you saw, rightly define Politics in terms of the state or
government. However, this definition does not exhaust the meaning of Politics. Politics
also deals with power. Harold D. Lasswell and Abraham Kaplan define Political Science
as “the study of shaping and sharing of power”. In a word, Politics deals with both state
and power. However, the power that Political Science deals with is, more often than not,
the legitimate power. Since science is the systematic study of any phenomenon through
observation and experiment, it follows that Political Science studies the state and power in
all their aspects. You will learn more about the state and power later in this lesson.
Political Science deals with both empirical facts and normative issues. Facts are in the
domain of “what is” and value preferences are in the domain of “what should be.” For
example, if somebody says India is a parliamentary democracy, he or she is making a
statement of empirical fact. This is what India today actually is. But if she or he were to
make a statement like the one that India should switch over to presidential form of
democracy, the statement would be a normative one. Political Science is not satisfied with
describing the state of affairs, it wants to change or improve upon them. Empirical statements
are true or false by virtue of what observation shows to be the case. Evaluative statements
are ethical/moral imperatives, which are often said not to be true or false in any sense at
all. Formal statements (such as the propositions of mathematics) are true or false by virtue
of the meanings of their constituent terms alone. Political Philosophy deals with formal
statements. Political Science deals with empirical statements and also evaluates the existing
political institutions, practices and focuses on how to improve them.
Growth of the Discipline of Political Science
Systematic study of Politics started with the Greeks in the fourth century BC. Philosophers
like Plato and Aristotle used it in the most comprehensive sense. Aristotle called Politics a
“master science”. For him, it comprised of not only the institutions of state or government
but also family, property and other social institutions. Politics, for the Greeks, was an allencompassing
activity.
The ancient Greek view about Political Science was mainly ethical. In contrast, the ancient Romans considered the legal aspect of Politics more important for their governance. Individual and the State
During the Middle Ages, Political Science became a branch of religious order of the Church.
Political authority was, then, subordinated to the authority of the Church.
Normally a lay man associates Politics with party politics. But as students of
Political Science, we know that Politics is much larger than that: it is
systematic study of state and power.
As the state grew in size and became more complex, Political Science acquired a realistic
and secular (non-religious) approach. After the Industrial Revolution, the role of the State,
which was limited to maintenance of law and order and providing defence against external
aggression, underwent considerable changes with the emergence of the new economic
system called capitalism.
In the twentieth century, after the Second World War, the ‘behavioural approach’ offered
a new dimension of Political Science. The behavioural movement in American Political
Science in the 1950s and the 1960s placed a lot of emphasis on the ‘science’ part of
Politics. It wanted to model Politics after the methods followed by natural sciences like
Physics, Botany, etc. The behaviouralists built theory inductively from empirical propositions.
Those who follow inductive method would come to the conclusion after study, observation
and experiment. For example, when some behaviouralists saw African-Americans (Blacks)
of the southern United States of America (USA) voted for the Democratic Party of the
United States, they came to the conclusion that the African-Americans do vote for the
Democrats.
This behavioural approach shifted the focus of its study from political institutions and
structures to their functions. It placed stress on political activity and the behaviour of men
and women who control these institutions. It replaced the study of ideas by the study of
facts, evidence and behaviour. It considered political activity manifested in behaviour as
the true subject of Political Science.
A political activity may be in the form of an individual contesting an election. It may be the
activity of a group seeking the adoption of a particular policy in its favour by the government.
As different people pursue different interests, such activities tend to generate disagreement,
competition and conflict. But the distinctive quality of Politics is that it includes physical
coercion or force by the government. It may and usually does involve the persuasive
influence and effort of the government to resolve conflicts through its balanced policy
decisions.
Politics is also viewed as a process whereby individuals, groups or communities seek to
achieve their specific but conflicting goals. Politics, as the process, seeks to allocate
resources (Easton calls it, values) authoritatively.
Politics, as the study of structures, institutions, processes and activities, recognizes the
possibility of the use of power. The Marxist approach, which is derived from the writings
of the nineteenth century German philosopher Karl Marx, views Politics as a study of
irreconcilable conflicts between the two classes ‘haves’ (those who have private property,
or simply the rich) and the ‘have-nots’ (those who do not have any private property, or
simply the poor); in other words, the exploiters and the exploited. The emancipation of the
have-nots will come only through a revolution which would put an end to the institution of
private property, thus changing the class society to the classless society. But Politics, as
against the Marxist view, has another view also, the liberal view, according to which
