UGC NET Syllabus for Political Science Paper-II (UGC Prescribed)

Last Modified: 08 Nov 2024

Aspiring for a teaching career at the university level in India? University Grants Commission’s National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is the way to move ahead. The exam is conducted for 81 subjects (one subject (Sindhi) added from December 2018 session exam). This article covers the syllabus for one of the most popular subjects of UGC NET – Political Science.

Many Political Science post-graduate students aspire to crack UGC NET Exam for Junior Research Fellowship and/or for the post of Assistant Professor in an Indian University/college. If you are also a UGC NET aspirant, go through the article for UGC NET Syllabus for Political Science.

UGC has eliminated Paper III with effect from July 2018 exam. The syllabi for all the subjects have been updated w.e.f July 2019 session. Here is the complete syllabus for Paper-II as prescribed by the University Grants Commission.

Paper-1 is common for all subjects. It includes questions on research and teaching aptitude. Download the syllabus for UGC NET Paper-I.

UGC NET Syllabus For Political Science (Paper-II)

Unit 1: Political Theory

Concepts

Liberty, Equality, Justice, Rights, Democracy, Power, Citizenship

Political Traditions

  • Liberalism
  • Conservatism
  • Socialism
  • Marxism
  • Feminism
  • Ecologism
  • Multiculturalism
  • Postmodernism

Unit 2: Political Thought

Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, Mary Wollstonecraft, John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, Gramsci, Hannah Arendt, Frantz Fanon, Mao Zedong, John Rawls

Unit 3: Indian Political Thought

Dharamshastra, Kautilya, Aggannasutta, Barani, Kabir, Pandita Ramabai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Swami Vivekanand, Rabindranath Tagore, M.K Gandhi, Sri Aurobindo, Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, Muhammad Iqbal, M.N.Roy, V D Savarkar, Dr. B.R.Ambedkar, J L Nehru, Ram Manohar Lohia, Jaya Prakash Narayan, Deendayal Upadhyaya

Unit 4: Comparative Political Analysis

Approaches: Institutional, Political Culture, Political Economy and New Institutionalism; Comparative Methods

Colonialism and decolonization: forms of colonialism, anti-colonial struggles and decolonization Nationalism: European and non-European

State theory: Debate over the nature of the state in capitalist and socialist societies; post-colonial state; welfare state; globalization and nations-states

Political regimes: democratic (Electoral, Liberal, Majoritarian and Participatory) and non-democratic regimes (Patrimonialism, Bureaucratic authoritarianism, Military dictatorship, Totalitarianism, and fascist)

Constitutions and Constitutionalism: forms of constitutions, rule of law, judicial independence and liberal constitutionalism; emergency powers and the crisis of constitutionalism. Democratisation: democratic transition and consolidation

Development: Underdevelopment, Dependency, Modernization, World Systems Theory, development and democracy

Structures of Power: Ruling class, power elites, democratic elitism

Actor and Processes: Electoral Systems, Political Parties and Party System, Interest groups, Social movements, new social movements, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and civil society campaigns; Revolutions.

Unit 5: International Relations

Approaches to the study of International Relations: Idealism, Realism, Structural Marxism, Neoliberalism, Neorealism, Social Constructivism, Critical International Theory, Feminism, Postmodernism

Concepts: State, state system and non-state actors, Power, Sovereignty, Security: traditional and non-traditional

Conflict and Peace: Changing Nature of Warfare; Weapons of mass destruction; deterrence; conflict resolution, conflict transformation

United Nations: Aims, Objectives, Structure and Evaluation of the Working of UN; Peace and Development perspectives; Humanitarian intervention. International law; International Criminal Court

Political Economy of IR; Globalisation; Global governance and Bretton Woods system, North-South Dialogue, WTO, G-20, BRICS

Regional Organisations: European Union, African Union, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ASEAN

Contemporary Challenges: International terrorism, Climate change and Environmental Concerns, Human Rights, Migration and Refugees; Poverty and Development; Role of Religion, Culture and Identity Politics

Unit 6: India’s Foreign Policy

Perspectives on India’s Foreign Policy: India’s Identity as postcolonial, development, rising power and as emerging political economy

Continuity and change in India’s Foreign Policy: Principles and determinants; Non-Alignment movement: historical background and relevance of Non Aligned Movement; India’s Nuclear Policy

India’s relations with major powers: USA, USSR/Russia, People’s Republic of China

India’s Engagement with the multipolar world: India’s relations with European Union, BRICS, ASEAN, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, African Union, Southern African Development Community, Gulf Cooperation Council

India’s relations with the neighbourhood: SAARC, Gujaral doctrine, Look East/ Act East, Look West

India’s Negotiation Strategies in International Regimes: The United Nations, World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Contemporary challenges: maritime security, energy security, environmental security, migrants and refugees, water resources, international terrorism, cyber security

Unit 7: Political Institutions in India

Making of the Indian Constitution: Colonialism heritage and the contribution of Indian National Movement to the making of the Indian Constitution

Constituent Assembly: Composition, Ideological Moorings, Constitutional Debates

Philosophy of the Constitution: Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles

Constitutionalism in India: Democracy, Social Change, National Unity, Checks and Balances, Basic Structure Debate, Constitutional Amendments

Union Executive: President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

Union Parliament: Structure, Role and Functioning, Parliamentary Committees

Judiciary: Supreme Court, High Court, Judicial Review, Judicial Activism, Judicial Reform.

Executive and Legislature in the States: Governor, Chief Minister, State Legislature

Federalism in India: Strong Centre Framework, Asymmetrical Federal Provisions and Adaption, Role of Intergovernmental Coordination Mechanisms, Inter-State Council, Emerging Trends.

Electoral Process and Election Commission of India: Conduct of Elections, Rules, Electoral Reforms

Local Government Institutions: Functioning and reforms

Constitutional and Statutory Bodies: Comptroller and Auditor General, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Human Rights, National Commission for Women, National Commission for Minorities.

UGC NET Exam Previous Years Solved Papers

  • UGC NET Paper 2 Solved Papers - 44 Subjects (E-Book) Download
  • CTET Paper I & Paper II Previous Year Solved Papers (2011 - 2016) (E-Book) Download
  • UGC NET 14 Years Previous Solved Papers + 6000 MCQ Combo (E-Book) Download
  • UGC NET Paper 1- 6000 MCQ (E-book) Download
  • UGC NET Paper 1- 14 Year Solved Paper (E-book) Download

Unit 8: Political Processes in India

State, Economy and Development: Nature of Indian State, Development Planning model, New Economic Policy, Growth and Human Development

Process of globalisation: social and economic implications

Identity Politics: Religion, Tribe, Caste, Region, Language

Social Movements: Dalit, Tribal, Women, Farmers, labour

Civil Society Groups: Non-Party Social Formations, Non-Governmental Organisations, Social Action Groups

Regionalisation of Indian Politics: Reorganisation of Indian States, States as Political and Economic Units, Sub-State Regions, Regional disparities, Demand for the New States

Gender and Politics in India: Issues of Equality and Representation

Ideology and Social basis of Political Parties: National Parties, State Parties

Electoral Politics: Participation, Contestation, Representation, Emerging trends

Unit 9: Public Administration

Public Administration: meaning and evolution; public and private administration Approaches: System Theory, Decision Making, Ecological Approach

Public administration theories and concepts: Scientific Management Theory, Rational Choice theory, New Public Administration, Development Administration, Comparative Public Administration, New Public Management, changing nature of Public Administration in the era of liberalisation and Globalisation

Theories and Principles of Organization: Scientific Management Theory, Bureaucratic Theory, Human Relations Theory

Managing the organization: Theories of leadership and motivation

Organisational Communication: Theories and Principles, Chester Bernard Principles of Communication, Information Management in the organization

Managing Conflict in the Organization: Mary Parker Follett

Management by Objectives- Peter Drucker

Unit 10: Governance and Public Policy in India

Governance, good governance and democratic governance, role of state, civil society and individuals

Accountability and Control: Institutional mechanism for checks and balances, legislative control over executive, administrative and budgetary control, control through parliamentary committees, judicial control over legislature and executive, administrative culture, corruption and administrative reforms

Institutional mechanisms for good governance: Right to Information, Consumer Protection Act, Citizen Charter; Grievance redress system: Ombudsman, Lokpal, Lokayukta

Grassroots Governance: Panchayati Raj Institutions and their functioning

Planning and Development: Decentralised planning, planning for development, sustainable development, participatory development, e-governance; NITI Aayog

Public policy as an instrument of socio-economic development: public policies with special reference to housing, health, drinking water, food security, MNREGA, NHRM, RTE

Monitoring and evaluation of public policy; mechanisms of making governance process accountable: jansunwai, social audit.

Also Read: UGC NET Syllabus For Philosophy Paper II

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