High School · Grade XII

Political ScienceSyllabus Of Grade XII - PS1216

The Grade XII Political Science syllabus is divided into two compulsory parts - Part A: Contemporary World Politics and Part B: Politics in India Since Independence. Each unit carries separate marks and together they form a 3-hour examination of 100 marks.

Overall focus: Cold War and post-Cold War world order, alternative centres of power, regional and global institutions, security and globalisation, as well as India's nation-building, party system, economic planning, external relations, popular movements and recent political developments.

Part A (World Politics): 50 MarksPart B (Indian Politics): 50 MarksTime: 3 Hours · All units are compulsory.

Instructions: The syllabus is organised into nine units in Part A and nine units in Part B. The marks distribution for each unit is indicated in the summary table below, followed by detailed unit-wise content.

Summary of Units - Part A & Part B (Total: 100 Marks)

Part / Unit	Area Covered	Marks	Read More
Unit 1 Part A - Contemporary World Politics	Cold War Era	7	Read more
Unit 2 Part A - Contemporary World Politics	The End of Bipolarity	4	Read more
Unit 3 Part A - Contemporary World Politics	US Hegemony in World Politics	3	Read more
Unit 4 Part A - Contemporary World Politics	Alternative Centres of Power	8	Read more
Unit 5 Part A - Contemporary World Politics	Contemporary South Asia	8	Read more
Unit 6 Part A - Contemporary World Politics	International Organizations	5	Read more
Unit 7 Part A - Contemporary World Politics	Security in Contemporary World	5	Read more
Unit 8 Part A - Contemporary World Politics	Globalization	5	Read more
Unit 9 Part A - Contemporary World Politics	Environment and Natural Resources	5	Read more
Unit 1 Part B - Politics in India Since Independence	Challenges of Nation-Building	8	Read more
Unit 2 Part B - Politics in India Since Independence	Era of One-Party Dominance	4	Read more
Unit 3 Part B - Politics in India Since Independence	Politics of Planned Development	4	Read more
Unit 4 Part B - Politics in India Since Independence	India's External Relations	6	Read more
Unit 5 Part B - Politics in India Since Independence	Challenges to the Congress System	6	Read more
Unit 6 Part B - Politics in India Since Independence	Crisis of the Democratic Order	6	Read more
Unit 7 Part B - Politics in India Since Independence	Rise of Popular Movements	5	Read more
Unit 8 Part B - Politics in India Since Independence	Regional Aspirations	5	Read more
Unit 9 Part B - Politics in India Since Independence	Recent Developments in Indian Politics	6	Read more
Time: 3 Hours (Written Examination)		Total Marks	100

Part A - Contemporary World Politics (50 Marks)

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 1

Unit 1 · Cold War Era (07 Marks)

7 Marks

Formation of two rival power blocs after the Second World War and key arenas of the Cold War.
Non-Aligned Movement as a challenge to bipolarity and the search for a new international economic order.
India's approach and role during the Cold War period.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 2

Unit 2 · The End of Bipolarity (04 Marks)

4 Marks

Emergence of new entities in world politics: Russia, Balkan states and Central Asian states.
Introduction of democratic politics and capitalism in post-communist regimes.
India's relations with Russia and other post-communist countries.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 3

Unit 3 · US Hegemony in World Politics (03 Marks)

3 Marks

Growth of unilateralism: Afghanistan, First Gulf War, response to 9/11 and the Iraq war.
US dominance in military, economic and ideological fields and the nature of challenges to it.
India's changing relationship and renegotiation of ties with the United States.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 4

Unit 4 · Alternative Centres of Power (08 Marks)

8 Marks

Rise of China as a major economic power in the post-Mao era.
Creation and expansion of the European Union and the role of ASEAN.
India's changing relations with China against the backdrop of these new centres of power.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 5

Unit 5 · Contemporary South Asia in the Post-Cold War Era (08 Marks)

8 Marks

Democratisation and its reversals in Pakistan and Nepal.
Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka and its regional impact.
Impact of economic globalisation on South Asian states.
Conflicts and peace efforts within South Asia and India's relations with neighbouring countries.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 6

Unit 6 · International Organizations (05 Marks)

5 Marks

Restructuring of the United Nations and debates on its future.
India's position and aspirations in a restructured UN system.
Rise of new international economic institutions and non-governmental organisations.
Issues of democracy and accountability in new global governance institutions.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 7

Unit 7 · Security in Contemporary World (05 Marks)

5 Marks

Traditional concerns of security and debates on disarmament.
Non-traditional or human security issues such as global poverty, health and education.
Questions of human rights, migration and their link with security.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 8

Unit 8 · Globalization (05 Marks)

5 Marks

Economic, cultural and political dimensions of globalisation.
Debates on the nature and consequences of globalisation and anti-globalisation movements.
India as a key arena of globalisation and of struggles around it.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 9

Unit 9 · Environment and Natural Resources (05 Marks)

5 Marks

Environmental movements and evolution of global environmental norms.
Conflicts over traditional and common property resources.
Rights of indigenous peoples and India's position in global environmental debates.

Part B - Politics in India Since Independence (50 Marks)

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 1

Unit 1 · Challenges of Nation-Building (08 Marks)

8 Marks

Nehru's approach to nation-building in the early years after Independence.
Legacy of Partition: displacement, refugee resettlement and the Kashmir question.
Organisation and reorganisation of states and political conflicts over language.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 2

Unit 2 · Era of One-Party Dominance (04 Marks)

4 Marks

First three general elections and the nature of Congress dominance at the national level.
Uneven pattern of Congress dominance across different states.
Coalitional character of the Congress and the rise of major opposition parties.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 3

Unit 3 · Politics of Planned Development (04 Marks)

4 Marks

Five Year Plans and expansion of the state sector in the economy.
Emergence of new economic interests and political debates around planning.
Phase of famine, suspension of Five Year Plans and the Green Revolution with its political impact.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 4

Unit 4 · India's External Relations (06 Marks)

6 Marks

Foundations of India's foreign policy under Nehru.
Key conflicts: Sino-Indian war of 1962 and Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971.
India's nuclear programme and shifts in alliances in world politics.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 5

Unit 5 · Challenges to the Congress System (06 Marks)

6 Marks

Political succession after Nehru and new leadership challenges.
Rise of non-Congress parties and the electoral upset of 1967.
Congress split, reorganisation and victory in 1971 with the ‘Garibi Hatao' politics.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 6

Unit 6 · Crisis of the Democratic Order (06 Marks)

6 Marks

Search for a ‘committed' bureaucracy and judiciary.
Nav Nirman movement in Gujarat and the Bihar movement.
Emergency: context, constitutional and extra-constitutional measures.
Resistance to Emergency, 1977 elections and the formation of the Janata Party.
Rise of civil liberties organisations.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 7

Unit 7 · Rise of Popular Movements (05 Marks)

5 Marks

Farmers' movements and their demands.
Women's movement and struggles for equality.
Movements of environment and development-affected people.
Implementation of Mandal Commission recommendations and its political aftermath.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 8

Unit 8 · Regional Aspirations (05 Marks)

5 Marks

Growth of regional parties and regional political assertions.
Punjab crisis and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.
Kashmir issue and challenges in the North-Eastern region.

Grade XII · Political Science · Unit 9

Unit 9 · Recent Developments in Indian Politics (06 Marks)

6 Marks

Participatory upsurge of the 1990s and expansion of democratic participation.
Rise of the Janata Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Growing role of regional parties and coalition politics - UF and NDA governments.
Elections 2004 and formation of the UPA government.

Referred Books

Contemporary World Politics - Class XII, Published by NCERT.
Political Science - II, Class XII, Published by NCERT.