As deduced from the previous year's pattern, political science and public administration subjects are highly preferred by UPSC candidates. Both subjects, Political Science and Public Administration comprise relatively easy concepts that overlap with general studies papers and therefore have high takers. 

But if you cannot decide which subject to choose among the subjects, stick to the end of the article as we share details on both subjects.

Political Science & International Relations

Syllabus

Paper 1; Section A

Political Theory and Indian Politics

1. Concept of power

2. Democracy

3. Equality

4. Indian Political Thought

5. Justice

6. Political theory meaning and approaches

7. Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism, and Feminism

8. Rights: Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; the concept of Human Rights

9. Theories of the state: Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluralist, Post-colonial and feminist

10. Western Political Thought: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx, Gramsci, Hannah Arend

Section B

Indian Government and Politics

1. Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics

2. Federalism

3. Indian Nationalism

4. Grassroots Democracy: Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government; the significance of 73rd and 74th Amendments; Grassroot movements

5. Making of the Indian Constitution: Legacies of the British rule; different social and political perspectives

6. Party System

7. Perspectives on Indian National Movement: Liberal, Socialist and Marxist; Radical humanist and Dalit

8. Planning and Economic Development 

9. Political Strategies of India's Freedom struggle: constitutionalism to mass Satyagraha, Non-cooperation, Civil Disobedience; militant and revolutionary movements, Peasant and workers' movements

10. Principal Organs of the Union Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive, Legislature and Supreme Court

11. Principal Organs of the State Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive, Legislature and High Courts

12. Salient Features of the Indian Constitution

13. Statutory Institutions/Commissions

14. Social Movements: Civil liberties and human rights movements; women's movements; environmentalist movements

Paper 2

Comparative Analysis and International Politics

1. Approaches to the Study of International Relations: Idealist, Realist, Marxist, Functionalist and Systems theory

2. Changing International Political Order

3. Comparative Politics

4. Contemporary Global Concerns

5. Evolution of the International Economic System

6. Globalisation: Responses from developed and developing societies

7. Key concepts in International Relations

8. Politics of Representation and Participation

9. Regionalisation of World Politics: EU, ASEAN, APEC, SAARC, NAFTA

10. State in comparative perspective: Characteristics and changing nature of the State in capitalist and socialist economies, and advanced industrial and developing societies

11. United Nations: Envisaged role and actual record; specialised UN agencies-aims and functioning; the need for UN reforms

Paper 3

India and the World

1. India and South Asia

2. India and the Global South

3. India and the Global Centers of Power: USA, EU, Japan, China and Russia

4. India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace-keeping; demand for Permanent Seat in the Security Council

5. India's Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement: Different phases; current role

6. Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants of foreign policy; institutions of policy-making; continuity and change

7. India and the Nuclear Question: Changing perceptions and policy

8. Recent developments in Indian Foreign policy

Pros

1. Syllabus overlap with general studies paper, especially economy, world affairs, modern India, and international political economy

2. The syllabus is relatively smaller and could be finished within time due to overlap

3. Questions can be deduced and are more balanced.

4. Aids in the preparation of current affairs

5. Studying this subject can be beneficial in the Interview round as well.

Cons

1. Excellent writing skills are required 

2. Political ideologies can be difficult to comprehend.

Public Administration

Syllabus

Paper 1

1. Introduction

2. Accountability and control

3. Administrative Behavior: Process and techniques of decision-making; Communication; Morale; Motivation Theories – content, process, and contemporary; Theories of Leadership: Traditional and Modern

4. Administrative Thought

5. Administrative Law: Meaning, scope, and significance; Dicey on Administrative law; Delegated legislation; Administrative Tribunals

6. Comparative Public Administration

7. Development Dynamics

8. Financial Administration: Monetary and fiscal policies;  Public borrowings and public debt Budgets  - types and forms;  Budgetary process;  Financial accountability; Accounts and audit

9. Organisations

10. Personnel Administration

11. Public Policy

12. Techniques of Administrative Improvement: Organization and methods, Work study and work management; e-governance and information technology; Management aid tools like network analysis, MIS, PERT, CPM

Paper 2

Indian Administration

1. Administrative Reforms since Independence

2. Civil Services

3. District Administration since Independence

4. Evolution of Indian Administration

5. Financial Management

6. Philosophical and Constitutional framework of government: Salient features and value premises; Constitutionalism; Political culture; Bureaucracy and democracy; Bureaucracy and development

7. Public Sector Undertakings: Public sector in modern India; Forms of Public Sector Undertakings; Problems of autonomy, accountability, and control; Impact of liberalization and privatization

8. Plans and Priorities

9. State Government and Administration

10. Union Government and Administration

11. Law and Order Administration

12. Significant issues in Indian Administration

13. Rural Development: Institutions and agencies since independence; Rural development programs:  foci and strategies; Decentralization and Panchayati Raj; 73rd Constitutional amendment

14. Urban Local Government

Pros

1. The syllabus is easy to comprehend

2. Good study material is available both online and offline

3. Questions are straightforward

4. The syllabus overlap with the general studies paper

5. Studying this subject will prove beneficial while writing essay questions and during the Interview round.

6. This subject has the highest success rate and benefits future administrators.

Cons

1. Some candidates may find the subject a bit theoretical, and the syllabus can be quite vast.

2. Prepare the subject well, as most candidates opt for this optional subject

3. The paper can be quite dynamic, and the questions can be difficult to comprehend.

Now there you go; hopefully, the article was able to showcase the differences between public administration and political science & international relations as optional subjects. 

While choosing the optional subject, go through the syllabus, check whether it benefits you in the long run for UPSC preparation and gauge whether you will be excited to prepare the subject. Once you have your questions answered, take the final decision.