CUET Political Science Syllabus 2026

Want to crack CUET Political Science like a pro? Start with the right syllabus! The National Testing Agency (NTA) releases the CUET Political Science syllabus in a simple PDF format. It covers all the key topics that often appear in the exam, such as Politics in India, Contemporary World Politics, and the Rise of Social Movements. This syllabus helps you understand what to focus on and how to plan your study time smartly. You can download the official syllabus PDF from nta.ac.in or cuet.samarth.ac.in. In this article, you’ll also find topic-wise weightage based on previous year papers to help you prepare better and score higher in CUET UG 2026.

CUET Political Science Syllabus 2026

The CUET UG Political Science syllabus covers key topics like the Indian Constitution, Political Theory, Rights and Duties, Democracy, Political Parties, International Relations, and India’s Foreign Policy. It helps students understand how the government works, how policies are made, and how India connects with the world. 

Most students find the subject interesting with the right guidance, syllabus, and PYQs. After studying Political Science in CUET, students can pursue courses like B.A. in Political Science, B.A. (Hons) in Public Administration, B.A. in International Relations, or Law (LLB). These courses open career paths in civil services, politics, journalism, public policy, teaching, and more. It's a great subject for those curious about society, law, and governance.

CUET UG Political Science Unit-Wise Syllabus

The CUET UG Political Science syllabus is mainly split into two broad units that make learning easier for students. The first unit focuses on understanding political theories, ideologies, and the functioning of government systems in India and across the world. The second unit deals with real-life applications, including Indian politics, international relations, and important political events. Together, these two parts give students a complete view of politics, from basic concepts to practical knowledge, helping them prepare effectively for the CUET UG exam.

Unit 1: Politics in India Since Independence

• The era of One-Party Dominance
• Nation-Building and Its Problems
• Politics of Planned Development
• India’s External Relations
• Challenge to and Restoration of Congress System
• Crisis of the Constitutional Order
• Regional Aspirations and Conflicts
• Rise of New Social Movements
• Democratic Upsurge and Coalition Politics
• Recent Issues and Challenges

Unit 2: Contemporary World Politics

• Cold War Era in World Politics
• Disintegration of the ‘Second World’ and the Collapse of Bipolarity
• US Dominance in World Politics
• Alternative Centres of Economic and Political Power
• South Asia in the Post-Cold War Era
• International Organisations in a Unipolar World
• Security in the Contemporary World
• Environment and Natural Resources in Global Politics
• Globalization and Its Critics

Topic-Wise CUET UG Political Science Syllabus 

Political Science is a widely chosen subject in CUET UG, offered by many top universities. It falls under Section II of the exam, which tests domain-specific knowledge. The syllabus includes interesting topics like Politics in India Since Independence and Contemporary World Politics. The CUET 2026 Political Science exam will be held in May and conducted in online mode. Students will have to answer 50 questions within 60 minutes. To score well, it's important to go through each topic carefully and stay updated with the syllabus. Check the table below for a clear overview of the exam pattern.

Unit 1: Politics in India Since Independence

The era of One-Party Dominance

• The first three general elections
• Nature of Congress dominance at the national level, uneven dominance at the state level
• Coalitional nature  of Congress
• Major opposition parties

Nation-Building and Its Problems

• Nehru’s approach to nation-building, in terms of Legacy of partition, the challenge of ‘refugee’ resettlement, the Kashmir problem
• Organization and reorganisation of states
• Political conflicts over language

Politics of Planned Development

• Five-year plans
• Expansion of the state sector
• Rise of new economic interests
• Famine and suspension of the five-year plans
• The green revolution and

India’s External Relations

• Nehru’s foreign policy
• Sino-Indian War of 1962
• Indo-Pak war of 1965 and 1971
• India’s nuclear programme
• shifting alliances in world

Challenge to and Restoration of Congress System

• Political succession after Nehru
• Non-Congressism and electoral upset of 1967
• Congress split and reconstitution
• Congress’ victory in 1971
• Politics of ‘garibi hat

Crisis of the Constitutional Order

• Search for ‘committed’ bureaucracy and judiciary.
• Navnirman movement in Gujarat
• Bihar movement
• Emergency: context, constitutional and extra-constitutional dimensions, resistance to emergency.
• 1977 elections and the formation of the Janata Party
• Rise of civil liberties organisations.

Regional Aspirations and Conflicts

• Rise of regional parties
• Punjab crisis and anti-sikh riots of 1984
• The Kashmir situation
• Challenges and responses in the North East

Rise of New Social Movements

• Farmers’ movements
• Women’s movement
• Environment
• Development-affected people’s movements
• Implementation of Mandal Commission report and its aftermath

Democratic Upsurge and Coalition Politics

• Participatory upsurge in the 1990s
• Rise of the JD and the BJP
• The increasing role of regional parties and coalition politics
• UF and NDA governments
• Elections 2004 and UPA government.

Recent Issues and Challenges

• Challenges of and responses to globalisation
• New economic policy and its opposition
• Rise of OBCs in North Indian politics
• Dalit politics in the electoral and non-electoral arena
• Challenge of communalism
• Ayodhya dispute
• Gujarat riots

Unit 2: Contemporary World Politics

Cold War Era in World Politics

• Emergence of two power blocs after the second world war
• Arenas of the cold war
• Challenges to Bipolarity
• Non-Aligned Movement
• the quest for a new international economic order
• India and the cold war

Disintegration of the ‘Second World’ and the Collapse of Bipolarity

• 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

US Dominance in World Politics

• Growth of unilateralism: Afghanistan
• First Gulf War
• Response to 9/11 and Attack on Iraq
• Dominance and challenge to the US in economy  and ideology
• India’s renegotiation of its relationship with the USA

Alternative Centres of Economic and Political Power

• Rise of China as an economic power in post- Mao era
• Creation, and expansion of European Union, ASEAN.
• India’s Changing Relations with China

South Asia in the Post-Cold War Era

• Democratization and its reversals in Pakistan and Nepal
• Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka
• Impact of economic globalisation on the region
• Conflicts and efforts for peace in South Asia
• India’s relations with its neighbours

International Organisations in a Unipolar World

• Restructuring and the future of the UN
• India’s position in the restructured UN
• Rise of new international actors
• new international economic organisations, NGOs.
• Accountability & democracy of new institutions of global governance?

Security in the Contemporary World

• Traditional concerns of security and politics of disarmament
• Non-traditional or human security: global poverty, health, and education.
• Issues of human rights and migration

Environment and Natural Resources in Global Politics

• Environment movement and evolution of global environmental norms
• Conflicts over traditional and common property resources
• Rights of indigenous people
• India’s stand-in global environmental debates

Globalisation and Its Critics

• Economic, cultural and political manifestations.
• Debates on the nature of consequences of globalisation
• Anti-globalization movements
• India as an arena of globalisation and struggles against it.

CUET UG Political Science Syllabus: Chapter-wise Weightage

Knowing the chapter-wise weightage for CUET UG Political Science helps students focus on high-scoring topics and plan their studies smartly. It highlights which chapters are more important based on past trends, making preparation easier and more effective. Students aiming for top scores must check the detailed weightage to prioritise their revision. You can find the complete chapter-wise weightage in the table below for better clarity and strategy.

CUET UG Political Science Preparation Tips

• Begin by choosing the best offline or CUET UG Online Coaching with the best mentors. 
• A clear understanding of the syllabus, including chapters like Politics in India Since Independence and Contemporary World Politics, is a must.
• Along with the CUET Preparation Books, students must stick to Class 12 NCERT Political Science books—they cover 90% of the exam content.
• Make short notes for each chapter and focus on key themes, policies, movements, and political ideologies.
• Solve previous year questions to understand the pattern, weightage, and frequently asked topics.
• Attempt regular CUET Mock Test to improve time management, accuracy, and confidence.
• Stay updated with basic political developments to relate concepts better, especially in global politics.
• Remember names of political thinkers, treaties, movements, and important dates.