Monday 11 August 2014

Strategy For Preparation Of Political Science

                 Political Science And International Relations 

Why I chose it??

The only reason was i loved reading constitution and International Relations while preparing for my GS. And I think it was good enough reason to choose pol sc. as one of the optional. Though I was unaware of the Political thinkers hurdle I had to face once I started with this optional. The other minor reasons which ultimately proved right were-
1. Helped in GS II (scored a decent 70 without much preparation)
2. Helped in my Essay in First attempt (creation of small states)
3. Helped in my Interview (questions on constitution and IR are very commom)
                
                              Still I got 212 in my optional which despite decent is not a satisfactory score which showed my lack of preparation. so i have tried to include the preparation strategy of two of my friends and fellow rank holders in CSE 2013.. Dr. Aditya Prakash (AIR 79) who secured 208 marks and Nimit Goyal(AIR 164) who secured 225 plus. also i have talked to Shubhra Ranjan mam who has given her valuable tips which i will try to include here.

Time Needed.??

I think a minimum of 3 months are required to finish one reading but that wouldn't be sufficient as you need to revise 2-3 times more to grasp the crux of pol sc specially thinkers part. so it will take time but comparing the magnitude of upsc syllabus it is covering (GS II, ESSAY, INTERVIEW) the time spent is worthy enough.

How To Start

I will suggest one should start from the parts which are interesting. 
Study of Constitution can be your starting point as it also covers your GS. Even if you want to drop this subject at later stage there is no loss if you have started with constitution plus it will make your interest in the subject.
1. Indian Constitution At Work is the NCERT book I started with. Actually this book dragged my interest into Pol. Sc.
2. You may also start with other books like political theory etc.

Books Topicwise??

Paper I

Western Political Thought

1. Subrata Mukherjee or Susheela Ramaswamy or Brian Nelson (as per SHUBHRA mam's advice)
 I read shubhra mam notes for this. My friends too read those notes.
the books which are mentioned can be used for reference if u have time (say you are appearing next year)

Political Theory

OP Gauba And Rajeev Bhargava (SR Advice)
Me and my Friends read Notes And OP Gauba only

Indian Political Thought

VR Mehta (SR= Reference)
We read Notes. This portion is useful for Ethics Paper also.

Indian National Movement

One And Only Bipin Chandra
I also added some material from CHRONICLE issues.

Indian Constitution And Politics

DD Basu by me along with SR notes and also Rao's old notes of my friend.
Nimit and Aditya recommends BL Fadia too.
This is such an Important part as it covers most of GSII.. you can also read and do some value addition from various magazines like ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WEEKLY.

DD Basu or Laxmikanth??
I found DD basu better. But you can follow any book which keeps you interested.

PAPER II

Comparative Politics

IGNOU notes are sufficient for comprehensive study.

Theory of International Politics and World Politics

Global politics by ANDREW HEYWOOD (as suggested by SR mam)
I mainly relied on internet to cover this part along with the notes.
World Focus was another magazine i used to read in between.
Mrunal.org is a good site to follow.

IR and Foreign Policy

1.Chronicle Magazine
2. Mrunal.org Diplomacy section
3. IDSA and MEA sites (less oftenly)
4. The Hindu
5. World Focus
IR is very dynamic plus it includes a large portion og GSII. you have to keep yourself updated with the sources mentioned above and others which you can find


My preparation was based on SR mam's notes and Rao's notes plus
1. NCERT
2. CHRONICLE magazine
3. Mrunal.org
4. DD basu
the books which are mentioned otherwise are suggested by my friends and mam. I will request you to please take these boks as reference books to add variety and quality in your answers but try to follow only one  book for each topic.


How to learn Articles, amendments and schedules??

schedules are easy to learn. just revise them a few times.
you don't have to memorise all the articles and amendments which we tend to do in the beginning. Just read them once and on subsequent readings you can judge yourself that some of them are repeating themselves in every other chapter and those are the ones which you need to remember. I made a separate List of Important amendments and articles and pasted them on my wall. which helped me in remembring them for longer periods.


How to attempt question paper??

1. I tried to follow the same approach as I used in attempting GS papers that is
a. writing a small intro
b. content in short paras according to word limit assigned. larger the word limit larger the paras
c. balanced conclusion
d. underlining important points even making boxes or encircling few imortant words
2. I always tried to attempt more (max 3) ques from section 2 which was bit dynamic in nature. since section 1 was theoretical, the views of examiner could vary. try to write a balanced answer in section 2.

Final Advice

Choosing political science as an optional or for that matter any subject as an optional is just like learning to swim. you may do a lot of analysis and research on them but you cant learn how to swim unless you enter the water. so take it calmly at the start. give your subject enough time and if u work hard enough the subject will give you enough marks.. 

34 comments:

  1. Sir you have mentioned IGNOU material for Comparative Politics. However it doesn't contain many topics like:

    1.limitations of the comparative method
    2.State in comparative perspective, etc..

    Does SR mam notes cover them comprehensively?
    Do you have any idea about cosmos bookhives? How are they ?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I made a separate List of Important amendments and articles and pasted them on my wall. which helped me in remembring them for longer periods.

    Can you post a picture of that here?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sir I want to buy Shubhra ranjan mam political science notes. Can you please tell me the following about the same, if you have time :
    1. From where i can get the notes
    2. how many booklets does it contain + price
    3. how to know whether they are new notes or old ones.
    4. which one to refer - handwritten class notes or printed notes
    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Need notes of mam...where can I get

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    2. please somebody post the answers to the above questions..

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    3. Contact me 9021414175 . i will provide you the shubhra madam notes . my name is abhijeet , upsc aspirant

      Delete
    4. Contact me 9021414175 . i will provide you the shubhra madam notes . my name is abhijeet , upsc aspirant

      Delete
    5. For latest notes of subhra ranjan madam contact 9021414175

      Delete
  4. dear mam how much money did u spend for purchase books for poli science oplional cse exam thank u

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Contact me 9021414175,

      Delete
    2. Contact me 9021414175,

      Delete
  5. For latest notes of subhra ranjan madam contact 9021414175

    ReplyDelete
  6. Subhra ranjan notes 9021414175

    ReplyDelete
  7. Contact 9021414175

    ReplyDelete
  8. Does Subhrar Madam also make video;s of her lecture? How to get those videos??

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  9. POLITICAL SCIENCE
    Unit - I
    (a) Nature and scope of political science, Its relationship with other social sciences.
    (b) Origin of the State - Social Contract Theory and Evolutionary Theory.
    (c) Functions of the State - Leissex Faire and Socialistic. Theories - Welfare State.
    (d) Democracy and Dictatorship.
    (e) Sovereignty - Characteristics and kinds.
    (f) Law - Liberty and Equality.
    Unit - II
    (a) Basic features of the Indian Constitution.
    (b) Indian Parliament - Executive and Judiciary.
    (c) Governor and Chief Minister of an Indian State.
    (d) Present Local Self Government in Assam.
    (e) Union Public Service Commission and State Public Service Commission.
    Unit - III
    Constitutions of U.K. and U.S.A.
    Unit - IV
    The Organs of the U.N.




    For this syllabus(ASSAM CIVIL SERVICES Preliminary) which books should I read? Please recommend ?

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  10. Did anyone get shubhra mom's notes from the no. Mentioned? And do you charge for notes?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi ..for shubra ranjan mam notes .. i bought from jawahar book depo opposite to JNU Campus...

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    2. Hello brother pls reply me how much cost anil.talkme@gmail.gmail.com

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  11. How much cost of the notes please reply soon

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  12. How much cost of the notes please reply soon

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  13. How much cost of the notes please reply soon

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  14. Hello guys.. I am extremely sorry for replying so so late.. I hope my post will answer most of your questions..
    I will suggest you should visit the rajendra nagar market of DELHI yourself. There you can buy xerox of political science notes of various institutes including that of Shubra's mam.. At much cheaper rates.. You can pick choose and buy.. One can also meet shubra mam who sits in vajiram normally and I am sure if you have any self doubts about the subject, u can take an appointment, give my reference and clear tour doubts from her..
    All the best and again sorry for replying late.
    And also I neither know nor endorse this guy nemadeabhijeet who has spammed my blog with his contact.. If anyone has talked to him or contacted him do share his/her experience..

    Thanks and best wishes
    Himanshu

    ReplyDelete
  15. https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0BwvzIvOzzX8Sa2RoNEg3YzBFMEE

    Subhra Ma'am Notes

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  16. should i start reading magazine from now or year in which i will appear in upsc. i am in first year of graduation. shiuld i make notes from newspaper from now

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  17. should i start reading magazine from now or year in which i will appear in upsc. i am in first year of graduation. shiuld i make notes from newspaper from now

    ReplyDelete
  18. should i start reading magazine from now or year in which i will appear in upsc. i am in first year of graduation. shiuld i make notes from newspaper from now

    ReplyDelete
  19. Keep updated with General Knowledge and current events which will improve your writing skill in IAS Coaching Exams. It may sound easy but it requires serious preparation and due importance must be given to this subject.

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  20. please suggest study material in hindi for political science

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  21. Informative blog, really helpful information you have shared. It is really UPSC aspirants who are studying at UPSC Classes in Amravati.Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete