Paper 2 · Political Science · Code 02
UGC NET Paper 2 — Political Science (02)
Political Science (subject code 02) is the subject paper (Paper 2) for candidates in this subject. It carries 100 questions for 200 marks (+2 per correct answer, no negative marking), attempted together with Paper 1 in the single 180-minute combined session. The syllabus below is the verified official syllabus, organised unit-wise; chapters and practice questions appear as they are published, and nothing is marked complete before it exists.
100 questions
200 marks · +2 per correct · No negative marking · Paper 2 within the 180-min combined session
10 units · 54 topics
Full syllabus below, with topic summaries
40 practice questions · 54 premium chapters
Easy 10 · Medium 20 · Hard 10 — all original practice; verified PYQs live separately in the PYQ Library
Syllabus
Complete syllabus — all units and topics
Topic summaries are the unit study material already published on NETSaathi. Weightage badges are platform estimates from past-question frequency — they are not NTA guarantees.
Unit 1: Political Theory
राजनीतिक सिद्धांत · 4 bank questions · 2 premium chapters- Political theory concepts — Concepts: liberty, equality, justice, rights, democracy, power, citizenship.High weightage
- Political traditions — Political traditions: liberalism, conservatism, socialism, Marxism, feminism, ecologism, multiculturalism, postmodernism.High weightage
Political theory concepts → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Political traditions → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Unit 2: Political Thought
राजनीतिक चिंतन · 4 bank questions · 1 premium chapters- Western political thinkers — Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, Mary Wollstonecraft, John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, Gramsci, Hannah Arendt, Frantz Fanon, Mao Zedong, John Rawls.High weightage
Western political thinkers → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Unit 3: Indian Political Thought
भारतीय राजनीतिक चिंतन · 4 bank questions · 1 premium chapters- Indian political thinkers and traditions — 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.High weightage
Indian political thinkers and traditions → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Unit 4: Comparative Political Analysis
तुलनात्मक राजनीतिक विश्लेषण · 4 bank questions · 7 premium chapters- Approaches and comparative methods — Approaches: institutional, political culture, political economy and new institutionalism; comparative methods.Medium
- Colonialism, decolonization and nationalism — Colonialism and decolonization: forms of colonialism, anti-colonial struggles and decolonization; nationalism: European and non-European.Medium
- State theory — State theory: debate over the nature of state in capitalist and socialist societies; post-colonial state; welfare state; globalization and nation-states.High weightage
- Political regimes — Political regimes: democratic (electoral, liberal, majoritarian and participatory) and non-democratic regimes (patrimonialism, bureaucratic authoritarianism, military dictatorship, totalitarianism and fascist).Medium
- Constitutions and constitutionalism — Constitutions and constitutionalism: forms of constitutions, rule of law, judicial independence and liberal constitutionalism; emergency powers and crisis of constitutionalism.High weightage
- Democratisation and development — Democratisation: democratic transition and consolidation; development: underdevelopment, dependency, modernization, world systems theory, development and democracy.Medium
- Structures of power, actors and processes — 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, NGOs and civil society campaigns; revolutions.Medium
Approaches and comparative methods → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Colonialism, decolonization and nationalism → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
State theory → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Political regimes → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Constitutions and constitutionalism → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Democratisation and development → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Structures of power, actors and processes → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Unit 5: International Relations
अंतर्राष्ट्रीय संबंध · 4 bank questions · 7 premium chapters- Approaches to international relations — Approaches to the study of international relations: idealism, realism, structural Marxism, neoliberalism, neorealism, social constructivism, critical international theory, feminism, postmodernism.High weightage
- IR concepts: state, power, sovereignty, security — Concepts: state, state system and non-state actors, power, sovereignty, security: traditional and non-traditional.High weightage
- Conflict and peace — Conflict and peace: changing nature of warfare, weapons of mass destruction, deterrence, conflict resolution, conflict transformation.Medium
- United Nations and international law — United Nations: aims, objectives, structure and evaluation of the working of UN; peace and development perspectives; humanitarian intervention; international law; International Criminal Court.High weightage
- Political economy of IR and globalisation — Political economy of IR; globalisation; global governance and Bretton Woods system, North-South dialogue, WTO, G-20, BRICS.Medium
- Regional organisations — Regional organisations: European Union, African Union, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ASEAN.Medium
- Contemporary challenges in IR — Contemporary challenges: international terrorism, climate change and environmental concerns, human rights, migration and refugees; poverty and development; role of religion, culture and identity politics.Medium
Approaches to international relations → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
IR concepts: state, power, sovereignty, security → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Conflict and peace → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
United Nations and international law → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Political economy of IR and globalisation → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Regional organisations → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Contemporary challenges in IR → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Unit 6: India’s Foreign Policy
भारत की विदेश नीति · 4 bank questions · 7 premium chapters- Perspectives on India’s foreign policy — Perspectives on India’s foreign policy: India’s identity as postcolonial, development, rising power and as emerging political economy.High weightage
- Continuity, change, non-alignment, nuclear policy — Continuity and change in India’s foreign policy: principles and determinants; Non-Alignment movement: historical background and relevance; India’s nuclear policy.High weightage
- India’s relations with major powers — India’s relations with major powers: USA, USSR/Russia, People’s Republic of China.High weightage
- India’s engagement with a multipolar world — India’s engagement with multipolar world: relations with European Union, BRICS, ASEAN, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, African Union, Southern African Development Community, Gulf Cooperation Council.Medium
- India’s relations with its neighbourhood — India’s relations with neighbourhood: SAARC, Gujaral doctrine, Look East/Act East, Look West.High weightage
- India’s negotiation strategies in international regimes — India’s negotiation strategies in international regimes: the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.Medium
- Contemporary challenges for India’s foreign policy — Contemporary challenges: maritime security, energy security, environmental security, migrants and refugees, water resources, international terrorism, cyber security.Medium
Perspectives on India's foreign policy → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Continuity, change, non-alignment, nuclear policy → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
India's relations with major powers → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
India's engagement with a multipolar world → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
India's relations with its neighbourhood → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
India's negotiation strategies in international regimes → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Contemporary challenges for India's foreign policy → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Unit 7: Political Institutions in India
भारत में राजनीतिक संस्थाएँ · 4 bank questions · 8 premium chapters- Making of the Indian Constitution — Making of the Indian Constitution: colonial heritage and the contribution of the Indian National Movement; Constituent Assembly: composition, ideological moorings, constitutional debates.High weightage
- Philosophy of the Constitution — Philosophy of the Constitution: Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles.High weightage
- Constitutionalism in India — Constitutionalism in India: democracy, social change, national unity, checks and balances, basic structure debate, constitutional amendments.Medium
- Union executive, Parliament and judiciary — 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.High weightage
- States and federalism in India — Executive and legislature in the states: Governor, Chief Minister, State Legislature; federalism in India: strong centre framework, asymmetrical federal provisions and adaptation, role of intergovernmental coordination mechanisms, Inter-State Council, emerging trends.High weightage
- Electoral process and Election Commission — Electoral process and Election Commission of India: conduct of elections, rules, electoral reforms.Medium
- Local government institutions — Local government institutions: functioning and reforms.Medium
- Constitutional and statutory bodies — 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.Medium
Making of the Indian Constitution → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Philosophy of the Constitution → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Constitutionalism in India → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Union executive, Parliament and judiciary → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
States and federalism in India → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Electoral process and Election Commission → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Local government institutions → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Constitutional and statutory bodies → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Unit 8: Political Processes in India
भारत में राजनीतिक प्रक्रियाएँ · 4 bank questions · 7 premium chapters- State, economy and development — State, economy and development: nature of Indian state, development planning model, new economic policy, growth and human development.Medium
- Process of globalisation — Process of globalisation: social and economic implications.Medium
- Identity politics — Identity politics: religion, tribe, caste, region, language.High weightage
- Social movements and civil society groups — Social movements: Dalit, tribal, women, farmers, labour; civil society groups: non-party social formations, NGOs, social action groups.Medium
- Regionalisation of Indian politics — Regionalisation of Indian politics: reorganisation of Indian states, states as political and economic units, sub-state regions, regional disparities, demand for new states.Medium
- Gender and politics in India — Gender and politics in India: issues of equality and representation.Medium
- Parties and electoral politics — Ideology and social basis of political parties: national parties, state parties; electoral politics: participation, contestation, representation, emerging trends.High weightage
State, economy and development → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Process of globalisation → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Identity politics → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Social movements and civil society groups → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Regionalisation of Indian politics → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Gender and politics in India → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Parties and electoral politics → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Unit 9: Public Administration
लोक प्रशासन · 4 bank questions · 7 premium chapters- Public administration: meaning and evolution — Public administration: meaning and evolution; public and private administration.Medium
- Approaches to public administration — Approaches: system theory, decision making, ecological approach.Medium
- Public administration theories and concepts — 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.High weightage
- Theories and principles of organisation — Theories and principles of organisation: scientific management theory, bureaucratic theory, human relations theory.High weightage
- Managing the organisation: leadership and motivation — Managing the organisation: theories of leadership and motivation.Medium
- Organisational communication and information — Organisational communication: theories and principles, Chester Barnard principles of communication, information management in the organisation.Medium
- Managing conflict and management by objectives — Managing conflict in the organisation: Mary Parker Follett; management by objectives: Peter Drucker.Medium
Public administration: meaning and evolution → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Approaches to public administration → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Public administration theories and concepts → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Theories and principles of organisation → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Managing the organisation: leadership and motivation → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Organisational communication and information → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Managing conflict and management by objectives → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Unit 10: Governance and Public Policy in India
भारत में शासन और लोक नीति · 4 bank questions · 7 premium chapters- Governance and good governance — Governance, good governance and democratic governance, role of state, civil society and individuals.High weightage
- Accountability and control — 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.Medium
- Institutional mechanisms for good governance — Institutional mechanisms for good governance: Right to Information, Consumer Protection Act, Citizen Charter; grievance redress system: Ombudsman, Lokpal, Lokayukta.High weightage
- Grassroots governance — Grassroots governance: Panchayati Raj Institutions and their functioning.Medium
- Planning and development — Planning and development: decentralised planning, planning for development, sustainable development, participatory development, e-governance; NITI Aayog.Medium
- Public policy as socio-economic development — Public policy as an instrument of socio-economic development: public policies with special reference to housing, health, drinking water, food security, MNREGA, NHRM, RTE.High weightage
- Monitoring and evaluation of public policy — Monitoring and evaluation of public policy; mechanisms of making governance process accountable: jansunwai, social audit.Medium
Governance and good governance → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Accountability and control → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Institutional mechanisms for good governance → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Grassroots governance → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Planning and development → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Public policy as socio-economic development → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Monitoring and evaluation of public policy → premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min
Study material
Free sample material
Indian political thinkers and traditions
Premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min · Unit 3
Read free previewApproaches and comparative methods
Premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min · Unit 4
Read free previewColonialism, decolonization and nationalism
Premium chapter · free preview · ~12 min · Unit 4
Read free previewPremium detailed material — preview
Premium chapters are published for this subject: 54 topic chapters, each with a free preview; the full chapter, diagrams, worked problems and practice questions unlock with Premium.
Political Science Test Series — ₹499 ₹999 · Unlocks all premium chapters (Political Science) for 365 days
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Sample MCQs from the real bank
These are original practice questions with original explanations — not official NTA questions. The full bank for this subject holds 40 questions.
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Unit-wise tests
Full mock — not published yet
A 100-question full mock needs a much larger bank than the 40 questions published for this subject today, so no full mock is linked here. Unit tests above are available wherever bank questions exist. The combined 150-question mock covers Paper 1 + CS only.
Premium question bank — preview
Premium will add difficulty-wise sets, numerical and analytical sets where the syllabus needs them, and full detailed solutions for every question. The 40 questions above are the free bank available today; premium sets are not published yet, so nothing here is locked that you already need.
Previous year questions
PYQ section
Verified official PYQs — see the live count
A question is only listed as an official PYQ when its original paper and final answer key have been verified. The PYQ Library shows the live published count and the papers themselves — open it to see what is verified for this subject. Until then, nothing here is presented as an official NTA paper, and no year or session is attached to any practice question. NetSaathi is not affiliated with NTA/UGC.
Open PYQ pageStrategy
Preparation strategy for this subject
- Start with the high-weightage topics — Political theory concepts, Political traditions, Western political thinkers, Indian political thinkers and traditions, State theory — and finish their chapter previews first.
- Read one unit, then test it the same day: each unit page ends with its own unit test, so gaps show up while the material is fresh.
- Use the unit-wise result report: after every test, revise the units where accuracy is lowest before starting a new unit.
- Attempt every question in mocks: there is no negative marking, so an unattempted question is a guaranteed zero.
- Finish with unit tests: take every available unit test under timed conditions; full mocks for this subject arrive once the bank is large enough for a 100-question paper.
Revision
Important topics & revision resources
Important topics (high weightage)
- Unit 1: Political theory concepts
- Unit 1: Political traditions
- Unit 2: Western political thinkers
- Unit 3: Indian political thinkers and traditions
- Unit 4: State theory
- Unit 4: Constitutions and constitutionalism
- Unit 5: Approaches to international relations
- Unit 5: IR concepts: state, power, sovereignty, security
- Unit 5: United Nations and international law
- Unit 6: Perspectives on India’s foreign policy
- Unit 6: Continuity, change, non-alignment, nuclear policy
- Unit 6: India’s relations with major powers
- Unit 6: India’s relations with its neighbourhood
- Unit 7: Making of the Indian Constitution
- Unit 7: Philosophy of the Constitution
- Unit 7: Union executive, Parliament and judiciary
- Unit 7: States and federalism in India
- Unit 8: Identity politics
- Unit 8: Parties and electoral politics
- Unit 9: Public administration theories and concepts
- Unit 9: Theories and principles of organisation
- Unit 10: Governance and good governance
- Unit 10: Institutional mechanisms for good governance
- Unit 10: Public policy as socio-economic development
Revision resources
- Premium chapters (54) → free previews; full chapters unlock with Premium.
- Study planner → plan revision around the exam countdown.