PSIR Optional Books

Click Link for PSIR optional syllabus

Booklist

Shubhra Ranjan Ma’am class notes
Shubhra Ranjan Ma’am Crash Course notes (Go for the class notes not the printed material)
O P Gauba — Very selective reading for topics like Equality, Rights etc. for better understanding
Indian Government and Politics — BL Fadia, Kuldeep Fadia — very selectively
Youtube channels for understanding — Philosophy tube, The School of Life
Pax Indica — Shashi Tharoor (read earlier, did not make notes, you can also read David Malone or Rajiv Sikri)
Toppers answer copies — incorporated new points, examples etc. in my notes
I also used the points from GS 2 sources and vice versa interchangeably

Current Affairs

The importance of current affairs in Political Science and International Relations (PSIR), which is an optional subject for UPSC civil services exam. Current affairs are very important for PSIR optional because:

The syllabus of PSIR is very dynamic and covers various aspects of national and global politics, such as Indian Constitution, political theory, comparative politics, international organizations, security issues, foreign policy, etc. These topics are constantly evolving and influenced by the current events and developments around the world. Therefore, one needs to keep abreast of the latest news and analysis to enrich one’s answers with relevant examples, facts, and perspective

The Hindu, Indian Express editorials — watch out for important analysts like Rajamohan, Shyam Saran, Christophe Jaffrelot, Suhas Palashikar etc.
ORF (Observer Research Foundation) — selective articles almost daily
Other sources (very selectively)— had kept their Facebook pages on top of my FB feed — CPR (Centre for Policy Research), The Diplomat, RSTV Big Picture and India’s World
Book Reviews
Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister (EAM), Foreign Secretary speeches — you can read the text or watch videos (I liked watching EAM videos since it also helped at the Interview stage)

Extra readings

The New World Disorder and the Indian imperative

The Indian Way : Strategies for an Uncertain World — S. Jaishankar — Since this book is written by the EAM, it gives insights into mindset of the Government and can be used very effectively in the way forward/ conclusions