PSIR Books for UPSC 2025, Political Science & International Relations Optional Booklist
PSIR books for UPSC are essential for mastering the Political Science and International Relations optional subject. Explore the expert-recommended booklist for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 to build strong concepts and enhance your UPSC Mains answer writing.
Deeksha Dixit11 Jul, 2025
Share
PSIR Books for UPSC 2025: Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) is counted among the most popular UPSC optional subjects. The syllabus of PSIR optional papers encompasses a range of topics, from political theory to contemporary world political analysis. Further, this subject requires decent answer-writing practice to score 275+, given the high competition.
An advantage of this optional subject is that it is equally beneficial for UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains GS 2 paper. This is why selecting the right PSIR books for UPSC 2025 is paramount to preparation. Candidates can go through the list of PSIR books for UPSC optional papers here as they begin their journey in the upcoming IAS exam.Political Science and International Relations Books for UPSC 2025
Political Science and International Relations is a broad subject that requires comprehensive coverage of political ideologies, theories, international diplomacy, governance structures, and global affairs. To tackle the diverse questions in the optional paper, candidates must develop a good conceptual understanding of the UPSC PSIR syllabus . However, before diving into in-depth concepts from PSIR books for UPSC CSE, candidates must first go through the basic texts of NCERTs. These books provide a foundational understanding of political science by introducing key concepts, theories, and historical contexts that serve as building blocks for advanced study.| NCERT Political Science Books for UPSC Optional 2025 | |
| Class | Book Title |
| NCERT Class IX & X | Democratic Politics Part I and II |
| NCERT Class XI | Political Theory |
| NCERT Class XI | Indian Constitution at Work |
| NCERT Class XII | Contemporary World Politics |
| NCERT Class XII | Politics in India Since Independence |
PSIR Books for UPSC 2025 Optional Paper I
PSIR Optional Paper 1 mainly revolves around political theory and Indian politics, specifically focusing on the Indian government and politics. Candidates need to cover the fundamentals of political science along with the formation and key features of the Indian Constitution. Here is the list of PSIR books for UPSC Optional Paper 1 that must be supplemented with current issues and case studies:| PSIR Books for UPSC 2025 Optional Paper I | |
| Book Title | Author |
| Introduction to the Constitution of India | Dr. Durga Das Basu |
| An Introduction To Political Theory | O.P Gauba |
| Fifty Major Political Thinkers | Ian Adams And R W Dyson |
| A New Look At Modern Indian History | B.L Grover And Alka Mehta |
| A History Of Political Thought: Plato To Marx | Subrata Mukherjee And Sushila Ramaswamy |
| Foundations Of Indian Political Thought | V. R. Mehta |
| An Oxford Companion To Politics In India | Niraja Gopal Jayal And Pratap Bhanu Mehta |
| Western Political Thought: From Socrates to the Age of Ideology | Brian. R. Nelson |
| Rethinking Public Institutions in India | P.B. Mehta, Devesh Kapur, and Milan Vaishnav |
| Indian Government And Politics | B L Fadia |
Also Read: UPSC Prelims Mock Test 2025
PSIR Books for UPSC 2025 Optional Paper II
The PSIR Optional Paper 2 syllabus deals with comparative political analysis, international politics, and international relations. Aspirants must focus on understanding the dynamics of global politics, the evolution of India’s foreign policy, diplomatic strategies, and geopolitical issues. In this paper, critical thinking skills can be beneficial as the majority of questions are dynamic in nature. Refer to the below PSIR books for UPSC 2025 Optional Paper 2 for the theoretical part:| PSIR Books for UPSC 2025 Optional Paper II | |
| Book Title | Author |
| International Organisations | Spectrum Books Publication |
| International Relations | V N Khanna |
| India’s Foreign Policy | V P Dutt |
| Does The Elephant Dance?: Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy | David M. Malone |
| Challenge And Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy | Rajiv Sikri |
| Global Politics | Andrew Heywood |
| MPS-004 Comparative Politics: Issues And Trends | Expert Panel Of GPH |
| Theoretical Aspects of International Politics | Mahendra Kumar |
PSIR Books for UPSC 2025 Optional by Toppers
Many PSIR toppers, including Tina Dabi and Anirudha Pandey, emphasized referring to selective books to cover theory and make concise topic-wise notes. Candidates can refer to topper-recommended books to develop a solid command of the syllabus. Here is the list of Political Science and International Relations books for UPSC by toppers:| PSIR Books for UPSC 2025 Optional by Toppers | |
| Paper 1 Books | Paper 2 Books |
| Indian Political Thought: Themes and Thinkers by M. P. Singh and Himanshu Roy | IGNOU Political Science and International Relations Booklets |
| An Introduction to Political Theory by O.P Gauba | International Relations by McGraw Hill Education |
| A History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx by Subrata Mukherjee and Sushila Ramaswamy. | Indian Foreign Policy: An Overview by Harsh Pant |
| Modern Indian Political Thought: Text and Context by Bidyut Chakrabarty and Rajendra Kumar Pandey. | The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations by John Baylis, Steve Smith, and Patricia Owens |
| Rethinking Public Institutions in India by P.B. Mehta, Devesh Kapur, and Milan Vaishnav | Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches by Georg Sorenson and Robert Jackson |
How to Cover PSIR Books for UPSC Mains 2025?
While PSIR books are important, preparation cannot solely depend on them. After completing the syllabus, students must practice regularly to score as high marks as possible. Here's a step-by-step guide to effectively cover the PSIR syllabus from books:- Begin with the UPSC PSIR syllabus for both Paper I and Paper II and get a clear roadmap of the topics you need to cover.
- Read NCERT books for Political Science from classes 11th and 12th for a foundational understanding.
- Join the online PSIR optional paper course for holistic preparation and get expert support in your journey.
- Make concise notes summarizing key points, concepts, and examples from PSIR books for UPSC. Organize your notes topic-wise for easy revision later.
- Supplement your study with newspaper articles and current developments from government websites.
- Practice writing answers to previous years' UPSC PSIR mains questions. Pay attention to structuring your answers, providing relevant examples, and demonstrating analytical thinking.
- Regularly revise the topics you have covered from notes to retain information effectively.
| UPSC Related Articles | ||
| UPSC Mains Answer Sheet | Newspaper for UPSC | UPSC Books |
| UPSC Study Material | UPSC Scholarship Test | UPSC Course |
PSIR Books for UPSC 2025 FAQs
What is the booklist for UPSC PSIR optional?
A complete PSIR booklist for the UPSC optional paper is available above to cover the syllabus.
Are NCERTs enough for PSIR optional paper?
No. NCERTs provide basic knowledge only and they must be supplemented with advanced PSIR books for thorough preparation.
Which is the best source to cover the UPSC PSIR optional syllabus?
To cover the UPSC PSIR optional syllabus refer to standard books of writers like O.P Gauba, V.R Mehta, D.D. Basu, etc. as recommended by experts.
How to study IR for UPSC Mains?
To study international relations for UPSC Mains refer to quality books like “India’s Foreign Policy” by V P Dutt and “International Relations” by V N Khanna.
How to prepare PSIR optional from home?
Enroll in the PW UPSC Optional PSIR course to access expert guidance and enriched study material to prepare PSIR optional from home.
Talk to a counsellorHave doubts? Our support team will be happy to assist you!
Check out these Related Articles
Join 15 Million students on the app today!
Live & recorded classes available at easeDashboard for progress trackingMillions of practice questions at your fingertips
Free Learning Resources
PW Books
Notes (Class 10-12)
PW Study Materials
Notes (Class 6-9)
Ncert Solutions
Govt Exams
Class 6th to 12th Online Courses
Govt Job Exams Courses
UPSC Coaching
Defence Exam Coaching
Gate Exam Coaching
Other Exams
Know about Physics Wallah
Physics Wallah is an Indian edtech platform that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students from Class 6th to postgraduate level. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample paper, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers & more such resources to students. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.
We Stand Out because
We provide students with intensive courses with India’s qualified & experienced faculties & mentors. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.
Our Key Focus Areas
Physics Wallah's main focus is to make the learning experience as economical as possible for all students. With our affordable courses like Lakshya, Udaan and Arjuna and many others, we have been able to provide a platform for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formula to giving e-books of eminent authors like RD Sharma, RS Aggarwal and Lakhmir Singh, PW focuses on every single student's need for preparation.
What Makes Us Different
Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others
Copyright © 2025 Physicswallah Limited All rights reserved.