Are books or notes better for PSIR optional?

Neither replaces the other. Books once, for understanding and vocabulary; notes continuously, for retrieval and currency. The candidates who struggle are usually the ones revising books in the last two months, because a book cannot be revised in the time available.

Can I clear PSIR with notes alone?

You can score respectably and you will hit a ceiling. Notes give you the position but rarely the reasoning behind it, and a twisted question exposes that instantly. Read at least the four core Paper 1 books properly; use notes for everything else.

How many books are actually needed?

Eight to ten owned, three to four read cover to cover, the rest used chapter-wise. Beyond about twelve books you are adding hours without adding marks.

Is Laxmikanth enough for Paper 1B?

No. It is a strong reference for constitutional provisions and a weak base for the optional, because Paper 1B asks what is contested about an institution rather than what it does. Keep it on the shelf for lookups and read a political science text for the arguments.

Should I read books in Hindi or English?

Write the paper in whichever language you think in. For reading, the English texts are more current and more numerous, and translated editions of the standard political theory books are widely available. If you are writing in Hindi, invest early in fixing your terminology, because the technical vocabulary is where marks leak.

Do I need separate books for Paper 2B?

One baseline book, then maintained notes. Buying a second foreign-policy book usually buys you a second account of the same decade. What you actually need is the last twelve months, and no book supplies that.

When should I stop adding books?

The moment your first full reading is done. After that, every hour belongs to answer writing and revision. If a genuine gap appears later, fill it with a chapter, not a book.

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Day: September 5, 2026

PSIR Optional

Best Books and Notes for Political Science (PSIR) Optional: An Honest Guide
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PSIR Optional

How Much Time Does PSIR Optional Take, and How Much Does It Overlap With GS?
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Best Books and Notes for Political Science (PSIR) Optional: An Honest Guide

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