The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducted the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025 Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) Paper-I for candidates who opted for the subject as their optional. This paper mainly focuses on political theories, Indian political thought, comparative politics and the functioning of the Indian Constitution. Candidates who appeared this year, as well as those preparing for future attempts, can now download the official question paper in PDF format for practice and analysis.
The subject not only helps in the optional paper but also strengthens the understanding required for General Studies, Essay and Personality Test. Every year, aspirants look for the latest trend in questions, weightage of topics and current ideological relevance in the paper. Having access to the original question paper helps them understand how UPSC links theoretical political concepts with practical governance and international relations. With competition increasing each year, analysing the 2025 PSIR Paper-I will support smarter preparation and strategic topic selection in upcoming examinations.
Overview of PSIR Paper-I
PSIR Paper-I evaluates a candidate’s understanding of political theory, political ideologies, Indian political thought and comparative political systems. This paper requires conceptual clarity along with examples and real-life application.
Major Areas Covered
- Political Theory and Approaches
- Concepts such as Equality, Liberty, Rights and Justice
- Democracy, Marxism, Socialism, Feminism and Liberalism
- Indian Political Thinkers including Gandhi, Kautilya, Ambedkar and Nehru
- Comparative Politics and Political Institutions
- Party Systems, Electoral Politics and Constitutional Trends
Why PSIR Question Paper Matters for Aspirants
Studying the official UPSC question paper helps aspirants:
- Understand the exact pattern and difficulty level
- Identify recurring themes and favourite areas of UPSC
- Learn how theoretical concepts are asked in applied form
- Plan answer-writing based on examiner expectations
- Improve strategy for optional preparation
Many candidates also use previous year question papers to build answer-writing habits with examples from recent political developments.
Tips to Use the Question Paper Effectively
- Practice writing answers within the time limit
- Use thinkers and scholars in explanations
- Connect topics with Indian and global current affairs
- Follow a structured introduction-body-conclusion format
- Quote constitutional articles and case laws when applicable
How to Download PSIR Paper-I PDF
To download the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025 PSIR Paper-I, follow these steps:
- Visit the official UPSC website – www.upsc.gov.in
- Click on Examinations and open the Previous Question Papers section
- Search for Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025 – Political Science and International Relation Paper – I
- Click to download the PDF file and save it for future reference
N.B: If you want to download the question paper without any difficulty, you can easily download it by Click here.


















