Strategy JNUEE POLM IRAM PISM UoH

Jawaharlal Nehru University
Entrance Examination M.A. in Political Science (JNUEE-POLM)
Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 1

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
• Centre for Political Studies

• 1. Ph.D. in Political Studies
• 2. M.Phil. in Political Studies
• 3. M.A. in Political Science
• [ Note – Fair enough, let us, first accept that there is nothing like perfect – ideal strategy as
such so mold it according to your place in preparation cycle & your own unique personality
needs.
Last year I was struggling with many issues, I was having my CSE Preliminary Exam on 4th Oct &
Followed by IRAM & PISM on 6th Oct & POLM 8th Oct. So just got one day each to revise all stuff &
still managed to score CBT – 80 (IRAM), 78(PISM) & 77 (POLM). My first preference was POLM & I
got it. Also I have cleared Entrance Exam for University of Hyderabad & Savitribai Phule Pune
University. So be calm & trust your capabilities. You can crack It.]

(c) M.A. in Political Science
• As a degree in Political Science, the M.A. programme of the Centre focuses on the study of
Political Theory/ Ideas, Comparative Politics/International Relations, and Indian Politics
and Public Policy. The programme is designed to - a) enhance theoretical understanding
and develop methodological skills in these three branches of Political Science; (b) relate
political processes with social structures and ideas; and (c) interpret institutions, policies
and processes in a historical perspective. The Centre places special emphasis on the study
of political developments in India and promotes theoretically informed analysis of social
and political reality.
• The M.A. programme consists of 16 courses, which are taught over four semesters. Of
these 10 are compulsory and the remaining six are optional courses. Of the six optional
courses, at least four should be chosen from a wide range of optional courses offered by
the Centre and two may be from outside the Centre in the two years M.A. programme.
• All compulsory courses offered by the students are lecture-based courses. However, they
require students to write tutorials/term papers. In each case, fifty percent of the grade
depends on the student’s performance in midterm assignments and the remaining fifty
percent is awarded on the basis of their performance in the end semester examination.
• For more details about the Centre, visit the JNU website : https://www.jnu.ac.in/sss/cps
Eligibility for POLM
50%

SYLLABUS FOR JNU ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
– M.A. in Political Science POLM
The pattern of JNUEE 2020-21 will be based on Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) through Computer Based Test (CBT)
Candidates are expected to be familiar with the content of a standard B.A. course in Political
Science. Applicants will be tested from areas given below:
Unit I
• a) Social and Political Thought of Modern India
• b) Western Political Thought
• c) Concepts and Approaches in Political Theory
Unit II
• d) Constitution and Political Institutions of India
• e) State and Politics in India
• f) Political Processes and Public Policies in India
Unit III
• g) Comparative Government and Politics
• h) International Relations
Applicants will be require to show familiarity with each Unit.

Approach: The exam is “MCQ” type. Thus, enormous emphasis should be given on:
proper reading of the question asked, conceptual and factual clarity, strong focus on
“who said what” in textual reading, and clarity on “terminologies”.
Common thread underlying the approach for this exam running across all sections can be captured
by these pointers:
• Understanding important debates around the key concepts in the discipline of Political Science,
like Justice, liberty, Equality, etc.
• Identifying thinkers associated with various approaches in political science, apart from looking at
the essential characteristics of the respective approaches.
• Memorizing the name of certain key texts and their authors .
• Understanding and remembering certain provisions of the Indian constitution, their origins,
significant dates and timelines wrt the drafting of the constitution and certain landmark verdicts
delivered by the Indian judiciary.
• Identifying peculiar concepts associated with certain thinkers and theorists
• Tracing certain quotations and ideas to their respective authors, thus familiarizing oneself with
the respective vocabularies of major thinkers, like Aristotle, Mill, Ambedkar etc, vis a vis Western and
Indian Political Thought.
POSSIBLE References (POLM + PISM)
Unit I
• a) Social and Political Thought of Modern India
- Bidyut Chakrabarty & Rajendra Pandey – Modern Indian Political Thought – Sage Publication
- IGNOU Study material
• b) Western Political Thought
- Mukherjee & Ramaswami – A History of Political Thought Plato to Marx – PHI Learning
- IGNOU Study material
• c) Concepts and Approaches in Political Theory
- O.P. Gauba – An Introduction to Political Theory
- Rajeev Bhargava and Ashok Acharya - Political Theory An Introduction
Chapters to read: State, Power, Citizenship, Rights, Equality, Liberty,Gender, Justice (special focus on
Rawls and the critics of Rawls), Liberalism, Marxism, Feminism

Some previous year questions on Unit 1
• Aristotle’s theory of the origin of the state is basically (2020) :

(A)Divine Theory
(B)Force Theory
(C)Social contract theory
(D)Historical theory (Correct Answer)

Possible References (POLM + PISM)
Unit II
• d) Constitution and Political Institutions of India
- D.D. Basu – Introduction to the Constitution of India
- M. Laxmikant – Indian Polity
• e) State and Politics in India

- Pratap Mehta & Niraja Jayal – The Oxford Companion to Politics in India
(Chapters to read: State, Parliament, Federalism, Supreme Court, Election Commission, Secularism, Social Justice, Social Movements, Women’s
Movement.)
- NCERTs of Political Science
• f) Political Processes and Public Policies in India

• - Atul Kohli, The Success of Indian Democracy
• Pranab Bardhan, The Political Economy of Development
• Chapters to read: Read on your own discretion. I would suggest go through Introduction once. And read Book Review if possible.
Read summary of both the books.
• (Note- Again, this is an important area. Focus on how scholars like Partha Chatterjee, Sudipta Kaviraj, Rajni Kothari, Dipesh
Chakrabarty, Sunil Khilnani and so on have used certain terminologies to understand Indian Politics, For instance, Partha
Chatterjee’s concept of “Political Society”)

Possible References
Unit III
• g) Comparative Government and Politics
- J.C. Johri – Comparative Politics
(Chapters to read: Introduction, Major Approaches, Political Communication, Political Development, Political Economy, Pressure groups,
Political Culture, Parties and Party System)
• h) International Relations ( Also for PISM & IRAM – As stated earlier, I got just one day to revise all stuff. These sources are more than
enough. )
- Andrew Heywood –Global Politics

- Baylis and Smith, Eighth Edition, The Globalization of World Politics (I was not gone through it but many students suggested it.)
- IGNOU study material & Previous Year NET Question Papers & Wikipedia/Britannica for major events in World History/IR &
Organisations.
Chapters to read: Introduction, Realism, Neo Realism, Liberalism, Neo-liberalism, Social Constructivism, Chapter 24-29 .
Also, an overview of majo
r regional and inter-governmental organizations, disarmament treaties,conventions & major events in world history. ( You can use
Wikipedia.org & Britannica source)

Public administration
• Reference –
• M. Laxmikant – Public Administration & Governance
Be selective to just concepts, approaches & theories.

Approach: The exam is “MCQ” type. Thus, enormous emphasis should be given on:
proper reading of the question asked, conceptual and factual clarity, strong focus on
“who said what” in textual reading, and clarity on “terminologies”.
Common thread underlying the approach for this exam running across all sections can be captured by these
pointers:
• Understanding important debates around the key concepts in the discipline of Political Science, like
Justice, liberty, Equality, etc.
• Identifying thinkers associated with various approaches in political science, apart from looking at the
essential characteristics of the respective approaches.
• Memorizing the name of certain key texts and their authors .
• Understanding and remembering certain provisions of the Indian constitution, their origins, significant
dates and timelines wrt the drafting of the constitution and certain landmark verdicts delivered by the Indian
judiciary.
• Identifying peculiar concepts associated with certain thinkers and theorists
• Tracing certain quotations and ideas to their respective authors, thus familiarizing oneself with the
respective vocabularies of major thinkers, like Aristotle, Mill, Ambedkar etc, vis a vis Western and Indian
Political Thought.

Given that the pattern of the exam is MCQ based, so practicing as
many questions as one can, will not only add to the knowledge-base
but also help in better answering the questions as well as time
management.
• Previous Years Question Papers of Entrance Examinations

Of JNU/UoH/DU/Jamia & NET/SET

Political Science & International Relations
To assist you in your preparation we have created a telegram channel & group.
JNU EE - POLM/IRAM/PISM
DU / UoH / Jamia / BHU & Other universities.
- All Previous Year Question Papers with Answer Keys of Entrances.
- NET / SET Previous Year Question Papers with Answer Keys ( Political Science & International
Relations & Area Studies)
- All Reference Books & IGNOU study material in PDF format.
👉( All material👆👆 has already been shared on channel so search for it in ‘file section or in search
bar above’ appropriately)👍
- share to your friends those who are preparing for such. Also feel free to contact me if you are
facing any issues regarding preparation & otherwise – 9970406849 /souravpatil886@gmail.com
Regards,
@jnueepolmirampism / https://t.me/jnueepolmirampism

All the Best & Thank You…

Strategy JNUEE POLM IRAM PISM UoH

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Strategy JNUEE POLM IRAM PISM UoH

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Jawaharlal Nehru University

Entrance Examination M.A. in Political Science (JNUEE-POLM)

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 1

• Centre for Political Studies

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 2

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 4

Applicants will be require to show familiarity with each Unit.

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 5

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 7

• Aristotle’s theory of the origin of the state is basically (2020) :

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 8

• e) State and Politics in India

• f) Political Processes and Public Policies in India

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 21

- Andrew Heywood –Global Politics

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 30

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 36

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 39

• Previous Years Question Papers of Entrance Examinations

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 40

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 41

Sourav Patil ( POLM,CPS-JNU) 42

You might also like