UPPSC Political Science Assistant Professor Syllabus, Eligibility – GDC Examination 2025

If you are preparing for the UPPSC Assistant Professor (Political Science) recruitment for Government Degree Colleges (GDC), knowing the detailed syllabus is the first step toward success. The UPPSC Political Science syllabus is designed to test a candidate’s understanding of political theory, thinkers, comparative politics, Indian constitution, international relations, and public administration.

UPPSC Political Science Assistant Professor Syllabus for 2025

Unit 1: Political Theory

• Concepts – Liberty, Equality, Justice, Rights, Democracy, Power, Authority and Influence, Citizenship.

• Theories of Sovereignty – Monastic, Pluralistic.

• State – Theories of Origin, Nature and Functions.

• Political Ideologies – Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism, Feminism, Ecologism, Multiculturalism, Postmodernism.

Unit 2: Political Thinkers

• Western Thinkers – Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Bentham, J.S. Mill, Hegel, T.H. Green, Karl Marx, Gramsci, John Rawls, Robert Nozick.

• Indian Thinkers – Manu, Kautilya, Tilak, Jyotiba Phule, Vivekananda, Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Jayaprakash Narayan, Deendayal Upadhyaya, V.D. Savarkar, M.N. Roy.

Unit 3: Comparative Politics

• Approaches – Traditional, Behavioural, Post-Behavioural, Political Economy.

• Concepts of Political System – Classification of Political Systems, British & American Models, Dictatorship, Totalitarianism, Modernization, Political Culture.

• Constitution & Constitutionalism – Rule of Law, Judicial Independence, Crisis of Constitutionalism.

• Development & Democracy – Underdevelopment, Dependency Theory, World Systems Theory.

• Structure of Power – Ruling Class, Power Elites, Democratic Elitism.

• Political Participation – Electoral System, Party System, Political Parties, Pressure Groups, Social Movements, New Social Movements, NGOs, Civil Society, Revolution.

Unit 4: Indian National Movement, Constitution & Political Process

• National Movement, Constitutional Development, Making of the Indian Constitution.

• Indian Constitution – Preamble, Basic Features, Basic Structure, Fundamental Rights & Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy.

• Constitution as an Instrument of Socio-Economic Change – Amendments and Review.

• Union & State Executive and Legislature.

• Indian Judiciary – Supreme Court, High Court, Lower Courts, Judicial Review, Judicial Activism, Judicial Reforms.

• Elections & Electoral Reforms.

• Political Parties – National & Regional, Defection.

• Constitutional & Statutory Bodies – Election Commission, Finance Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), National Commissions (SC, ST, OBC, Women, Human Rights), NITI Aayog, Inter-State Council, National Development Council.

• Issues in Indian Politics – Regionalism, Casteism, Linguism, Minority Rights, Identity Politics, Naxalism, Peasant Movements, Reservation, Coalition Politics.

Unit 5: International Politics & Relations

• Approaches to IR – Idealism, Realism, Neoliberalism, Neorealism, Social Constructivism, Critical Theory, Feminism, Postmodernism.

• Key Concepts – Power, National Interest, National Security (Traditional & Non-Traditional).

• Conflict & Peace – Changing Nature of Warfare, NATO, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Deterrence, Conflict Resolution & Transformation.

• United Nations (UN) – Aims, Objectives, Structure, Evaluation, Peace & Development Perspectives, Humanitarian Intervention.

• Political Economy of IR – Globalization, Global Governance, Bretton Woods System, North-South Dialogue, South-South Dialogue, WTO, G20, BRICS, QUAD, SCO, ASEAN, European Union.

• Indian Foreign Policy – Principles, Evolution, Recent Developments, Relations with Neighbours, India’s Emerging Role Globally.

• Foreign Policies of Major Powers – USA, Russia, China.

• Contemporary Challenges – International Terrorism, Climate Change, Human Rights, Migration & Refugee Crisis, Poverty & Development.

Unit 6: Public Administration

• Meaning & Evolution – Public vs. Private Administration.

• Approaches – Systems Theory, Decision-Making, Ecological Approach.

• Public Administration Theories – Scientific Management, Rational Choice, New Public Administration, Development Administration.

• Organization Principles – Scientific Organization, Hierarchy, Unity of Command.

• Governance – Good Governance, Role of State, Civil Society, Individuals.

• Accountability & Control – Legislative, Administrative, Budgetary, Judicial Control, Parliamentary Committees, Administrative Culture, Corruption, Administrative Reforms.

• Mechanisms for Good Governance – RTI, Consumer Protection Act, Citizen’s Charter, Grievance Redressal Systems, Ombudsman (Lokpal & Lokayukta).

General Studies (Common for All Subjects)

Apart from the subject syllabus, candidates must prepare for General Studies, which is common for every subject in the UPPSC GDC Assistant Professor Examination.

• General Science

• Current Events of National and International Importance

• History of India (Including Indian National Movement)

• Indian Polity & Economy

• Geography – Indian & World

• Mental Ability & Statistical Analysis
  (Special reference to Uttar Pradesh is expected)

UPPSC Political Science Assistant Professor Eligibility 2025

Option A: Master’s Degree + NET/SET/SLET

A Master’s degree with 55% marks (or equivalent grade) in Political Science or a relevant/allied subject from an Indian University, OR an equivalent degree from an accredited foreign university.

Additionally, candidates must have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by UGC/CSIR or an equivalent accredited test like SLET/SET.

Candidates with a Ph.D. Degree as per UGC Regulations (2009/2016 & amendments) are exempt from NET/SLET/SET, provided they fulfill the following conditions (for Ph.D. registered before July 11, 2009):

• Ph.D. awarded in regular mode.

• Thesis evaluated by at least two external examiners.

• Open Ph.D. viva voce conducted.

• At least two research papers published from Ph.D. work (one in a refereed journal).

• At least two papers presented in UGC/ICSSR/CSIR-sponsored seminars/conferences.

Certification must be provided by the Registrar/Dean (Academic Affairs) of the awarding University.

Note: NET/SLET/SET exemption applies to subjects where these tests are not conducted.

Option B: Ph.D. from Top 500 Foreign Universities

A Ph.D. degree from a foreign university/institution ranked among the top 500 in global rankings by:

• • QS (Quacquarelli Symonds)

  • Times Higher Education (THE)

  • Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) by Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Conclusion

The UPPSC Political Science Assistant Professor syllabus covers theory, thinkers, comparative politics, constitutional developments, international relations, and public administration in detail. A thorough understanding of each unit, along with current affairs and recent political developments, is essential for cracking the GDC examination.