Institute For Humanities

Course Features

1. Comprehensive Study Material

Receive meticulously curated and updated postal correspondence notes, crafted to reflect the latest examination trends and academic developments. The Correspondence notes will be sent by courier to the address provided by the student. The tracking ID will be provided through email within 3-5 days of the order so that you can trace your order. Please ensure that you fill your postal address correctly while subscribing to the course.

2. 40-Week Structured Programme

Commencing on June 1st, this carefully sequenced programme ensures continuous academic engagement and conceptual depth.

40 Doubt solving sessions via Zoom - Once/Week
Engage in expert-led discussions conducted in a thematic and cyclical manner, allowing for reinforcement and flexibility in preparation.

The cycle is structured as follows:

- Week 1: Political Theory, Thought and Ideology
- Week 2: Indian Government and Politics
- Week 3: International Relations
- Week 4: Comparative Politics
- Week 5: Indian Foreign Policy

This cycle will repeat eight times, offering eight dedicated sessions for each theme, ensuring thorough coverage and the opportunity to raise subject-specific doubts aligned with your preparation schedule.

40 Answer Evaluations with model answer - One Question/ Week
One high-quality question every week to develop answer-writing skills.
Note: Answers will be evaluated only if submitted within 30 days of date of upload of question.
Each evaluated submission includes detailed feedback and model answers to enhance conceptual clarity and writing structure.

3. Explainer Video Series by Shubhra Ma’am

Receive recorded videos for each topic in the syllabus, offering structured and detailed conceptual guidance. This includes:

Syllabus Breakdown – Navigate the syllabus strategically
Notes Mapping – Master the usage of study materials
Exam-Centric Orientation – Analyse PYQs to sharpen your focus

4. Current Affairs update on portal: For next three years you will receive International Relations updated notes in PDF format.

Course Fee

₹9,999 (Inclusive of all components)

Old Student Discount: 25% off.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How are the study materials delivered?
The Correspondence notes will be sent by courier to the address provided by the student. The tracking ID will be provided through email within 3-5 days of the order so that you can trace your order. Please ensure that you fill your postal address correctly while subscribing to the course.

Can i collect notes from the centre?
Yes you can collect from the Delhi centre.

When does the 40-week structured program start and how long does it run?
The course begins on June 1st and continues for 40 weeks, offering structured weekly engagement and steady academic progression.

What is the structure of the Zoom sessions?
Zoom sessions follow a 5-week thematic cycle repeated over 8 cycles:

Week 1: Political Theory, Thought and Ideology
Week 2: Indian Government and Politics
Week 3: International Relations
Week 4: Comparative Politics
Week 5: Indian Foreign Policy

This ensures 8 sessions per theme, allowing students to align doubt resolution with their current focus area.

Will Zoom sessions be available for later viewing?
Yes, all sessions are recorded and accessible for revision or for those unable to attend the live classes.

How do weekly evaluations work?
Each week, one question is provided for answer writing.
Note: Answers must be submitted within the same week to be evaluated.
Submissions are reviewed thoroughly, and feedback is provided along with a model answer to improve quality and approach.

What is included in the Explainer Video Series?
You will receive recorded videos for every topic in the syllabus, personally designed by Shubhra Ma’am, covering concept explanations, syllabus breakdowns, notes usage, and PYQ analysis.

Is academic support available for doubts and queries?
Yes, academic support is available through periodic doubt-clearing zoom sessions and dedicated communication channels for enrolled students.

What is the course fee and are there any discounts?
The full course fee is ₹9,999.
Students who have previously enrolled in any PSIR Foundation Course/ PSIR Test series at Shubhra Ranjan IAS study are eligible for a 25% discount.

Paper 1 Part A

Political Theory: Meaning and Approaches.
Theories of state: Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluralist, Post-colonial, and Feminist.
Justice: Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawl’s theory of justice and its communitarian critiques.
Equality: Social, political, and economic; the relationship between equality and freedom; Affirmative action.
Rights: Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; Concept of Human Rights.
Democracy: Classical and contemporary theories; different models of democracy—representative, participatory and deliberative.
Concept of power: hegemony, ideology, and legitimacy.
Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism, and Feminism.
Indian Political Thought: Dharmashastra, Arthashastra, and Buddhist Traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M. K. Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, M. N. Roy.
Western Political Thought: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx, Gramsci, Hannah Arendt.

10 Chapters

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Paper 1 Part B

1. Indian Government and Politics

(a) Political Strategies of India’s Freedom Struggle: Constitutionalism to mass Satyagraha, Noncooperation, 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

7. Commission for Women; National Human Rights Commission, National Commission for Minorities, National Backward Classes Commission.

8. Federalism: Constitutional provisions; changing nature of center-state relations; integrationist tendencies and regional aspirations; inter-state disputes.

9. Planning and Economic Development: Nehruvian and Gandhian perspectives; Role of planning and public sector; Green Revolution, land reforms and agrarian relations; liberalization and economic reforms.

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 behavior; changing socio-economic profile of Legislators.

11. Social Movement: Civil liberties and human rights movements; women’s movements; environmentalist movements.

11 Chapters

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Paper 2 Part A

Comparative Politics: Nature and major approaches; Political economy and political sociology perspectives; Limitations of the comparative method.
State in Comparative Perspective: Characteristics and changing nature of the State in capitalist and socialist economies, and advanced industrial and developing societies.
Politics of Representation and Participation: Political parties, pressure groups and social movements in advanced industrial and developing societies.
Globalisation: Responses from developed and developing societies.
Approaches to the Study of International Relations: Idealist, Realist, Marxist, Functionalist and Systems theory.
Key Concepts in International Relations: National interest, security and power; Balance of power and deterrence; Transational actors and collective security; World capitalist economy and globalisation.
Changing International Political Order:
(a) Rise of superpowers; 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.
Evolution of the International Economic System: From Bretton woods 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.
United Nations: Envisaged role and actual record; Specialized UN agencies—aims and functioning; the need for UN reforms.
Regionalisation of World Politics: EU, ASEAN, APEC, AARC, NAFTA.
Contemporary Global Concerns: Democracy, human rights, environment, gender justice terrorism, nuclear proliferation.

11 Chapters

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Paper 2 Part B

Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants of foreign policy; the institutions of policy-making; continuity and change.
India’s Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement Different phases; current role.
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.
India and the Global South: Relations with Africa and Latin America; Leadership role in the demand for NIEO and WTO negotiations.
India and the Global Centres of Power: USA, EU, Japan, China and Russia.
India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace-keeping; Demand for Permanent Seat in the Security Council.
India and the Nuclear Question: Changing perceptions and policy.
Recent developments in Indian Foreign Policy: India’s position on the recent crises in Afghanistan, Iraq, and West Asia, growing relations with US and Israel; Vision of a new world order.