High School · Grade XI

Political ScienceSubject Code: PS1116

The Grade XI Political Science syllabus is divided into two compulsory parts - Part A: Indian Constitution at Work and Part B: Political Theory. Each unit carries separate marks and together they form a 3-hour examination of 100 marks.

Total Marks: 100Time: 3 HoursAll units in Part A and Part B are compulsory.

Instructions: This syllabus is divided into two parts - Part A and Part B. Separate marks are given with each unit as indicated in the table below. Learners must attempt all units in both parts.

Overall focus: understanding the structure and working of the Indian Constitution, and exploring core ideas in political theory such as rights, justice, equality, freedom, citizenship, nationalism, secularism, peace and development.

Part	Unit	Area Covered	Marks	Read More
Part A - Indian Constitution at Work	Unit 1	Philosophy of the Constitution	6	Read more
Part A - Indian Constitution at Work	Unit 2	Rights in the Indian Constitution	6	Read more
Part A - Indian Constitution at Work	Unit 3	Election and Representation	5	Read more
Part A - Indian Constitution at Work	Unit 4	Executive	5	Read more
Part A - Indian Constitution at Work	Unit 5	Legislature	5	Read more
Part A - Indian Constitution at Work	Unit 6	Judiciary	5	Read more
Part A - Indian Constitution at Work	Unit 7	Federalism	5	Read more
Part A - Indian Constitution at Work	Unit 8	Local Governments	5	Read more
Part A - Indian Constitution at Work	Unit 9	Constitution as a Living Document	8	Read more
Part B - Political Theory	Unit 1	Political Theory: An Introduction	5	Read more
Part B - Political Theory	Unit 2	Freedom	5	Read more
Part B - Political Theory	Unit 3	Equality	5	Read more
Part B - Political Theory	Unit 4	Social Justice	5	Read more
Part B - Political Theory	Unit 5	Rights	5	Read more
Part B - Political Theory	Unit 6	Citizenship	5	Read more
Part B - Political Theory	Unit 7	Nationalism	5	Read more
Part B - Political Theory	Unit 8	Secularism	5	Read more
Part B - Political Theory	Unit 9	Peace	5	Read more
Part B - Political Theory	Unit 10	Development	5	Read more
Time: 3 Hours			Total Marks	100

Grade XI · Political Science · Part A - Indian Constitution at Work · Unit 1

Unit 1 · Philosophy of the Constitution (06 Marks)

6 Marks

The making of the Constitution.
The Constituent Assembly.
Procedural achievements of the Constituent Assembly.
Philosophy of the Constitution.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part A - Indian Constitution at Work · Unit 2

Unit 2 · Rights in the Indian Constitution (06 Marks)

6 Marks

The importance of Rights.
Fundamental Rights in the Indian Constitution.
Directive Principles of State Policy.
Relationship between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part A - Indian Constitution at Work · Unit 3

Unit 3 · Election and Representation (05 Marks)

5 Marks

Elections and democracy.
Election system in India.
Reservation of constituencies.
Free and fair elections.
Electoral reforms.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part A - Indian Constitution at Work · Unit 4

Unit 4 · Executive (05 Marks)

5 Marks

What is an Executive?
Different types of Executive.
Parliamentary Executive in India.
Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
Permanent Executive - Bureaucracy.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part A - Indian Constitution at Work · Unit 5

Unit 5 · Legislature (05 Marks)

5 Marks

Why do we need a Parliament?
Two Houses of Parliament.
Functions and powers of the Parliament.
Legislative functions and control over the Executive.
Parliamentary committees.
Self-regulation of Parliament.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part A - Indian Constitution at Work · Unit 6

Unit 6 · Judiciary (05 Marks)

5 Marks

Why do we need an independent Judiciary?
Structure of the Judiciary.
Judicial activism.
Judiciary and Rights.
Judiciary and Parliament.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part A - Indian Constitution at Work · Unit 7

Unit 7 · Federalism (05 Marks)

5 Marks

What is Federalism?
Federalism in the Indian Constitution.
Federalism with a strong Central Government.
Conflicts in India’s federal system.
Special provisions in the Indian Constitution.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part A - Indian Constitution at Work · Unit 8

Unit 8 · Local Governments (05 Marks)

5 Marks

Why do we need Local Governments?
Growth of Local Government in India.
73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.
Implementation of the 73rd and 74th Amendments.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part A - Indian Constitution at Work · Unit 9

Unit 9 · Constitution as a Living Document (08 Marks)

8 Marks

Are Constitutions static?
The procedure to amend the Constitution.
Why there have been so many amendments.
Basic Structure and evolution of the Constitution.
Constitution as a living document.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part B - Political Theory · Unit 1

Unit 1 · Political Theory: An Introduction (05 Marks)

5 Marks

What is Politics?
What do we study in Political Theory?
Putting Political Theory to practice.
Why should we study Political Theory?

Grade XI · Political Science · Part B - Political Theory · Unit 2

Unit 2 · Freedom (05 Marks)

5 Marks

The ideal of Freedom.
What is Freedom?
Why do we need constraints?
Harm principle.
Negative and positive liberty.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part B - Political Theory · Unit 3

Unit 3 · Equality (05 Marks)

5 Marks

Significance of Equality.
What is Equality?
Various dimensions of Equality.
How can we promote Equality?

Grade XI · Political Science · Part B - Political Theory · Unit 4

Unit 4 · Social Justice (05 Marks)

5 Marks

What is Justice?
Just distribution.
Justice as fairness.
Pursuing social justice.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part B - Political Theory · Unit 5

Unit 5 · Rights (05 Marks)

5 Marks

What are Rights?
Where do Rights come from?
Legal rights and the State.
Kinds of rights.
Rights and responsibilities.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part B - Political Theory · Unit 6

Unit 6 · Citizenship (05 Marks)

5 Marks

What is citizenship?
Citizen and Nation.
Universal citizenship.
Global citizenship.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part B - Political Theory · Unit 7

Unit 7 · Nationalism (05 Marks)

5 Marks

Nations and nationalism.
National self-determination.
Nationalism and pluralism.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part B - Political Theory · Unit 8

Unit 8 · Secularism (05 Marks)

5 Marks

What is Secularism?
What is a Secular State?
The Western and the Indian approaches to secularism.
Criticisms and rationale of Indian secularism.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part B - Political Theory · Unit 9

Unit 9 · Peace (05 Marks)

5 Marks

What is peace?
Can violence ever promote peace?
Peace and the State.
Different approaches to the pursuit of peace.
Contemporary challenges to peace.

Grade XI · Political Science · Part B - Political Theory · Unit 10

Unit 10 · Development (05 Marks)

5 Marks

What is development?
Criticism of the dominant development model.
Alternative conceptions of development.

Prescribed Books

Indian Constitution at Work, Class XI, Published by NCERT
Political Theory, Class XI, Published by NCERT