Polity

Why read it

Read it first if Polity is new to you; it makes the Class 11 book easier.

Chapters (open on phones)

1. Ch 1 · Power-sharing 12 pages · 1.9 MB
2. Ch 2 · Federalism 16 pages · 2.7 MB 1 Prelims question · Test yourself →
3. Ch 3 · Gender, Religion and Caste 17 pages · 2.4 MB
4. Ch 4 · Political Parties 17 pages · 3.6 MB
5. Ch 5 · Outcomes of Democracy 12 pages · 2.2 MB

NCERT's original ZIP (file names in code) · 13 MB · Saves as jess4dd.zip

UPSC Prelims 2016–2026

1 question could be answered from this book

2026 answers follow UPSC's provisional answer key.

Where it helps

• Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance
• GS II: federal structure, devolution of powers

Why read it

More Prelims questions can be answered from this NCERT than from any other book on this list. Read it before any standard Polity book.

Skim or skip: Don't skip the opening pages: the Preamble and the lists of Fundamental Rights and Duties printed there answered 2 questions.

Chapters (open on phones)

1. Opening pages 2 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
2. Ch 1 · Constitution: Why and How? 25 pages · 2.9 MB 3 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
3. Ch 2 · Rights in the Indian Constitution 25 pages · 3.0 MB 7 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
4. Ch 3 · Election and Representation 27 pages · 3.2 MB 2 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
5. Ch 4 · Executive 22 pages · 2.9 MB 5 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
6. Ch 5 · Legislature 24 pages · 3.1 MB 5 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
7. Ch 6 · Judiciary 26 pages · 3.1 MB 3 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
8. Ch 7 · Federalism 26 pages · 3.6 MB 2 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
9. Ch 8 · Local Governments 20 pages · 2.7 MB 1 Prelims question · Test yourself →
10. Ch 9 · Constitution as a Living Document 24 pages · 2.6 MB 4 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
11. Ch 10 · The Philosophy of the Constitution 23 pages · 2.5 MB 2 Prelims questions · Test yourself →

NCERT's original ZIP (file names in code) · 29 MB · Saves as keps2dd.zip

UPSC Prelims 2016–2026

32 questions could be answered from this book

2026 answers follow UPSC's provisional answer key.

Where it helps

• Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance
• GS II: Indian Constitution — historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments
• GS II: Parliament and State legislatures
• GS II: Executive and the Judiciary

Why read it

The NCERT for 'post-independence consolidation', a GS I topic. It gives context more than Prelims answers.

Chapters (open on phones)

1. Ch 1 · Challenges of Nation Building 24 pages · 8.6 MB
2. Ch 2 · Era of One-party Dominance 18 pages · 4.0 MB 1 Prelims question · Test yourself →
3. Ch 3 · Politics of Planned Development 10 pages · 2.6 MB 1 Prelims question · Test yourself →
4. Ch 4 · India's External Relations 18 pages · 5.4 MB
5. Ch 5 · Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System 20 pages · 4.6 MB
6. Ch 6 · The Crisis of Democratic Order 20 pages · 5.5 MB 1 Prelims question · Test yourself →
7. Ch 7 · Regional Aspirations 24 pages · 6.0 MB 2 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
8. Ch 8 · Recent Developments in Indian Politics 25 pages · 6.0 MB

NCERT's original ZIP (file names in code) · 41 MB · Saves as leps2dd.zip

UPSC Prelims 2016–2026

4 questions could be answered from this book

2026 answers follow UPSC's provisional answer key.

Where it helps

• Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance
• GS I: Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country

Why read it

Gives you the concepts and vocabulary for Mains answers and the Essay; its Prelims questions came from the freedom, equality and rights chapters.

Chapters (open on phones)

1. Ch 1 · Political Theory: An Introduction 16 pages · 1.8 MB
2. Ch 2 · Freedom 14 pages · 2.1 MB 1 Prelims question · Test yourself →
3. Ch 3 · Equality 22 pages · 2.9 MB 2 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
4. Ch 4 · Social Justice 14 pages · 2.0 MB
5. Ch 5 · Rights 12 pages · 1.8 MB 2 Prelims questions · Test yourself →
6. Ch 6 · Citizenship 18 pages · 2.6 MB
7. Ch 7 · Nationalism 14 pages · 2.7 MB
8. Ch 8 · Secularism 18 pages · 2.3 MB

NCERT's original ZIP (file names in code) · 18 MB · Saves as keps1dd.zip

UPSC Prelims 2016–2026

4 questions could be answered from this book · 1 Environment or Science question could be answered from this book

2026 answers follow UPSC's provisional answer key.

Where it helps

• Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance
• GS I: communalism, regionalism & secularism

Why read it

Background for GS II international relations; Prelims rarely draws on it directly.

Chapters (open on phones)

1. Ch 1 · The End of Bipolarity 14 pages · 1.5 MB
2. Ch 2 · Contemporary Centres of Power 14 pages · 1.9 MB
3. Ch 3 · Contemporary South Asia 16 pages · 1.9 MB
4. Ch 4 · International Organisations 18 pages · 2.0 MB 1 Prelims question · Test yourself →
5. Ch 5 · Security in the Contemporary World 18 pages · 2.3 MB
6. Ch 6 · Environment and Natural Resources 18 pages · 3.2 MB 1 Prelims question · Test yourself →
7. Ch 7 · Globalisation 16 pages · 29 MB

NCERT's original ZIP (file names in code) · 42 MB · Saves as leps1dd.zip

UPSC Prelims 2016–2026

1 question could be answered from this book · 1 Environment or Science question could be answered from this book

2026 answers follow UPSC's provisional answer key.

Where it helps

• GS II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora
• GS II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings