Self-Study

I understand it. It’s okay that you don’t want my notes. Here’s a complete guide for you to follow for your preparation for PSIR optional ⬇️

Essentials

1. Please get yourself up to the syllabus first.
2. Get the question bank here
3. Subscribe to the Telegram Channel for updates

Current Affairs Sources for PSIR

Although there is a huge source like Ocean from where one has to dig to get those but there are some notable sources as well which will be enough.  Though, I’ll be soon reposting all the relevant current affairs here so to make sure to keep you guys in sync with the happenings without getting into useless jargon. My suggestion will be to follow my blog by subscribing it the way you like it — via email or feeders — whatever way you like, no restrictions in it.

Still, if some of you feel like it’s better to DIY here also then fine. All these legitimate sources were/are provided by Shubra Mam. Since I used to spend an extra 15 minutes with her at the end of every class so she disclosed a few more to few of us. I’m sharing those also here.

Sources for IR —

1. MEA — Distinguished Lectures — Visit me
2. MEA — Distinguished Lectures Details — Visit me
3. The Diplomat
4. Observer Research Foundation (ORF)
5. Project-Syndicate.org
6. Indian Express
7. The Hindu
8. Rajya Sabha Debates (RSTV) — Youtube
9. World Panorama (RSTV) — Youtube
10. Foreign Policy — Visit me
11. Hindustan Times
12. WorldFocus — Visit me

These many sources are must for comprehensive and extensive coverage of IR. The IR Module provided by me contains a lot detailed version of all. It will provide you with the required insights on how to prepare, what to leave, what to catch from so many articles and opinions of experts. If you can then please proceed by all your means.

Last but not the least, Subscribe to this blog and you will be kept updated with relevant materials.

#Must Read Books 

(Only if you decide to DIY i.e., Do It Your Way — I’ve compiled these works along with Mam’s notes — You’ve the choice 😎)

I’ve read all the books that are being listed below. I hope you can understand how extensively I’ve prepared the notes. Nothing can be and have been left in my notes yet I maintained the simplicity. Nevertheless, I’ll encourage Kindle e-books whenever it’s available. Why?

Benefits of Kindle Edition --

• Cheap (quite cheaper than physical copy)
• Readily available (in delivery as well as with you on your device)
• Available across all platforms — Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Chrome
• Weightless and thus a psychological effect on our mind — easy to read any book
• In built-dictionary and many exciting features
• Easy note-making — even you can export them to a PDF for printing (10% rule applicable)
• NO strain on your eyes — Almost everything can be changed in Kindle — from the font size to the background so that you can hook up to any book even when in your bed 😎. Protect your eyes from ‘straining PDFs’.
• All your books will have the automatic updatable feature — means as soon as you make a purchase of kindle e-book, each of its successive versions will be free for you.

My recommendation is 100 % for it. I hardly have any physical books in my cupboard now. Everything is on my Kindle and iOS Books app.

NOTE — None of the books required to be read from cover to cover. Nevertheless, I can’t help here because it depends upon your own understanding of the subject to selectively read According to your requirement.

Book List

1. The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy
2. Brian Nelson's Western Political Thought
3. Crossing the Rubicon: The shaping of India’s New Foreign Policy
4. Modi’s World: Expanding India’s Sphere of Influence
5. Modi and the World:(Re) Constructing Indian Foreign Policy
6. Andrew Heywood’s Globalization of World Politics
7. Andrew Heywood’s Political Ideologies
8. Andrew Heywood’s Politics
9. Andrew Heywood’s Global Politics
10. Does the Elephant Dance?
11. An Introduction to Political Theory by Rajiv Gauba
12. Andrew Heywood’s Key Concepts in Politics & IR
13. Shashi Tharoor’s Pax Indica
14. India’s Struggle for Independence
15. India since Independence
16. India After Gandhi
17. Challenge and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy
18. A History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx
19. Rajeev Bhargava’s Political Theory
20. The Oxford Companion to Politics in India
21. Pratap Bhanu Mehta’s Burden of Democracy
22. VN Khanna’s IR

Thank you

All the Best