by The UPSC Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) Optional Paper 2025 is one of the most popular optional subjects chosen by aspirants in the Civil Services Examination. Known for its strong overlap with GS Papers and essay topics, PSIR remains a scoring and strategic choice for candidates aiming for the IAS, IPS, IFS, and other Group A services. UPSC Aspirants can download the UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2025 PDF of Paper 1 & 2 from the link provided below.
UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2025 Overview
UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2025 is widely considered the most dynamic subject as it covers Indian Polity, Governance, Political Theories, and International Relations. Its relevance to current affairs makes it highly useful for both Prelims and Mains.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Subject Name | Political Science & International Relations (PSIR) |
| Papers | Paper I & Paper II |
| Total Marks | 500 (250 each) |
| Nature of Questions | Analytical, Current Affairs-based, Conceptual |
| Overlap | GS Paper II, Essay, Part of GS Paper IV |
| Popular Among | Both Humanities & Science/Engineering background aspirants |
UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2025 Download PDF
Aspirants can access official UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2025 in PDF format from the UPSC portal. Practicing past year papers is key to mastering answer writing and understanding examiner expectations.
📄 Download UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 1 2025 Click Here
📄 Download UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2 2025 Click Here
Steps to Download UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2025
The detailed steps to download UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2025 have been shared below.
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Visit the official UPSC website – upsc.gov.in.
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Go to the Examinations section.
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Click on Previous Year Question Papers.
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Select Political Science & International Relations (PSIR).
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Download Paper 1 and Paper 2 PDFs.
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Save them for regular practice.
UPSC PSIR Optional Paper Exam Pattern 2025
The UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2025 has two descriptive papers, each carrying 250 marks, totaling 500 marks.
| Paper | Topics Covered | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Political Theory, Indian Political Thought, Indian Government & Politics | 250 | 3 Hours |
| Paper II | Comparative Politics, International Relations, Global Issues | 250 | 3 Hours |
| Total | – | 500 | – |
UPSC PSIR Optional Success Rate 2025
PSIR is one of the most opted and successful optionals in UPSC. Many toppers, including IFS and IAS officers, have secured top ranks with this subject.
| Year | No. of Candidates Appeared | Recommended | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,481 | 148 | 10% |
| 2021 | 1,540 | 172 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 1,596 | 183 | 11.5% |
| 2023 | 1,612 | 190 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 1,580 | 185 | 11.7% |
How to Increase Chances of Success in UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2025?
To maximize marks in UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2025, aspirants should follow a strategic approach:
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Master the basics – NCERTs on Political Science are essential before advanced texts.
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Link with current affairs – Relate theory and IR topics with contemporary issues.
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Use thinkers & theories – Quote scholars like Plato, Hobbes, Marx, Gandhi in answers.
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Structure answers properly – Write introduction, body (theory + examples), and conclusion.
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Practice writing daily – Attempt past year papers under timed conditions.
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Integrate GS prep – Use GS II and Essay materials to strengthen PSIR preparation.
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Revise multiple times – Ensure key theories, IR case studies, and constitutional debates are fresh before mains.
UPSC PSIR Optional Paper Booklist 2025
A well-planned UPSC PSIR Optional Paper Booklist 2025 helps in structured preparation which has been tabulated below.
| Section | Recommended Books |
|---|---|
| Political Theory | OP Gauba – Political Theory, Andrew Heywood – Political Theory |
| Indian Political Thought | V.R. Mehta, Rajeev Bhargava’s Indian Political Thought |
| Indian Government & Politics | Laxmikanth (Polity), Subhash Kashyap’s Our Constitution, B.L. Fadia |
| Comparative Politics | Rod Hague – Comparative Government and Politics |
| International Relations | Andrew Heywood – Global Politics, V.N. Khanna, Pavneet Singh |
| Current Affairs | The Hindu, Indian Express, Rajya Sabha TV debates, IDSA articles |
UPSC PSIR Optional Paper Syllabus 2025
The PSIR syllabus is divided into two papers (Paper I & II). Paper I focuses on Political Theory and Indian Politics, while Paper II deals with Comparative Politics and International Relations.
| Paper | Sections | Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Political Theory & Indian Politics | |
| Political Theory | Meaning & approaches, State theories, Justice, Equality, Rights, Democracy, Power, Hegemony, Legitimacy | |
| Indian Political Thought | Kautilya, Manu, Buddha, Gandhi, Aurobindo, Nehru, M.N. Roy | |
| Indian Government & Politics | Indian Constitution, Fundamental Rights & Duties, Directive Principles, Union & State Government, Parliament & Judiciary, Federalism, Political Parties, Elections, Social Movements | |
| Paper II | Comparative Politics & International Relations | |
| Comparative Politics | Approaches, Political Culture, Political Development, Political Economy, Globalisation, State in Comparative Perspective | |
| International Relations | Theories (Realism, Liberalism, Marxism, Feminism), Cold War, Non-Alignment, Globalisation, International Organisations (UN, WTO, IMF, World Bank), Regional Groupings (EU, ASEAN, SAARC), Global Issues (Climate Change, Terrorism, Human Rights) | |
| India & the World | India’s Foreign Policy, India & Neighbours, India & Major Powers (USA, Russia, China, EU), India in UN, India’s role in Global South, Nuclear Policy, Diaspora |
Toppers with PSIR Optional in UPSC
Every year, many toppers choose PSIR as their optional because of its high success rate.
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Junaid Ahmad (AIR 3, 2018) – chose PSIR for its GS overlap.
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Ria Dabi (AIR 15, 2020) – credited PSIR for strong answer writing.
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Abhilash Mishra (AIR 5, 2017) – highlighted PSIR’s current affairs connection.
Is Choosing PSIR Optional a Right Decision?
Choosing PSIR as an optional depends on your background and interest.
Advantages:
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Huge overlap with GS II, Essay, and parts of GS IV.
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Helps in interview preparation, especially for IFS aspirants.
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Rich content availability – books, coaching notes, and test series.
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Scoring subject with consistent topper success stories.
Challenges:
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Requires wide reading, including dynamic current affairs.
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Competition is high as many aspirants opt for it.
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Answer writing must be balanced, analytical, and not opinionated.
Verdict: If you are comfortable with reading and analyzing political concepts, PSIR is among the best optionals for UPSC 2025.
UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2025 FAQs
Q1. Who should choose PSIR optional in UPSC?
Candidates interested in politics, governance, and international relations should go for it.
Q2. How much time is needed to prepare PSIR optional?
Around 5–6 months of focused study is sufficient with integrated GS preparation.
Q3. Can science/engineering background aspirants choose PSIR?
Yes, many non-humanities students have cleared UPSC with PSIR optional.
Q4. Is PSIR optional scoring in UPSC?
Yes, PSIR has a success rate of 10–12%, higher than many optionals.
Q5. Do I need coaching for PSIR optional?
Not mandatory, but coaching/test series may help in answer writing practice.
