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How Saksham Bhatia Scored High in PSIR

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How I Improved My PSIR Score from 246 to 263 and Secured AIR 83 in UPSC CSE 2024

By Saksham Bhatia, AIR 83

Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) is often considered one of the most rewarding optional subjects in UPSC preparation. At the same time, it is also a subject where many aspirants struggle to improve their scores despite studying extensively.

In my case, I was able to improve my PSIR marks from 246 in 2023 to 263 in 2024. That improvement did not come from dramatically increasing study hours or reading dozens of new books. Instead, it came from:

  • Better resource management

  • Stronger conceptual clarity

  • PYQ-focused preparation

  • Analytical answer writing

  • Continuous value addition

1. Choosing PSIR and Building Genuine Interest

Originally, I came from a science background and had initially chosen Geography as my optional subject. However, over time I realized that I was far more interested in Political Science and International Relations.

The subject aligned naturally with my academic interests, especially because I later pursued a Master’s degree in Politics with International Relations in Delhi.

One thing I strongly believe is this:

You cannot sustain long-term UPSC preparation in an optional subject unless you genuinely enjoy studying it.

PSIR is not a subject that can be mastered through superficial reading. It requires repeated revision, curiosity about current affairs, and continuous intellectual engagement.

2. Limiting Resources for Static Portions

One major mistake aspirants make is using too many sources for the static sections of PSIR.

For Paper 1A and Paper 2A, I kept my resources extremely limited. I relied almost entirely on Shubhra Ranjan’s notes and revised them multiple times.

I deliberately avoided:

  • Reading multiple standard textbooks

  • Continuously switching sources

  • Collecting excessive material

Repeated revision of limited resources proved far more effective than endlessly expanding sources.

3. Diversifying Sources for Dynamic Areas

While static sections can be handled through limited notes, the dynamic parts of the syllabus require constant upgrading.

For areas like:

  • Paper 1B (Indian Government and Politics)

  • Paper 2B (International Relations)

I felt standard coaching notes alone were insufficient because they often lacked updated examples, debates, and contemporary developments.

To strengthen these portions, I incorporated:

  • Newspaper editorials

  • Journals

  • Reports and articles from Observer Research Foundation

This value addition helped my answers become more contemporary, analytical, and relevant.

4. Mastering Interlinkages Was the Real Difference

One of the most important reasons behind my score improvement was learning how to interlink different parts of the syllabus.

Initially, many aspirants—including me—tend to study PSIR in isolated compartments:

  • Thinkers separately

  • Indian politics separately

  • International Relations separately

But high-scoring answers require integration.

For example:

  • Plato or Aristotle can be linked with modern governance debates

  • Political theory concepts can explain Indian policy issues

  • Classical theories can be connected with contemporary geopolitics

Once you begin connecting Paper 1A concepts with Paper 1B and Paper 2B, your answers automatically become richer and more analytical.

However, this skill develops gradually through:

  • Repeated revision

  • Deep conceptual understanding

  • Consistent answer writing practice

5. PYQs Completely Changed My Preparation

One of the biggest mistakes I made earlier was not practicing Previous Year Questions (PYQs) seriously enough.

In PSIR, PYQs are extremely important because:

  • Core theories repeat frequently

  • Themes recur regularly

  • Question framing patterns remain similar

After every topic I completed, I started solving related PYQs immediately. Even when I did not have enough time to write full answers, I would at least brainstorm:

  • Introduction

  • Main arguments

  • Thinkers to include

  • Conclusion

Then I compared my approach with model answers available online to identify gaps in my understanding.

This exercise significantly improved my ability to understand the actual demand of UPSC questions.

6. Learning from Toppers’ Notes and Copies

Toppers’ material played a major role in my preparation, especially for upgrading dynamic content.

I referred to the notes of successful candidates like:

  • Utkarsh Dwivedi

  • Arvind Shah

These notes helped me enrich my content beyond standard coaching material.

I also relied heavily on toppers’ answer copies for self-evaluation.

I personally felt that many commercial test series evaluations were inconsistent because of the extremely high volume of students. So instead of depending entirely on coaching feedback, I compared my answers with toppers’ copies to understand:

  • Structure

  • Flow

  • Content depth

  • Analytical presentation

  • Use of examples

This helped me improve my own answer quality considerably.

7. My Biggest Shift: From Descriptive to Analytical Writing

Initially, answer writing was one of my biggest fears.

Like many aspirants, I used to believe that PSIR answers should simply contain multiple scholars and quotations. But gradually I realized that this approach alone does not fetch high marks.

For example, while writing about Realism, many candidates simply write:

  • Morgenthau said this

  • Kenneth Waltz said that

…and then end the answer.

That is not enough.

A strong PSIR answer should first demonstrate:

  • Your own understanding of the concept

  • How the theory operates in real-world situations

  • Its contemporary relevance

  • Its limitations and criticisms

Only after building your own argument should you use scholars to support and validate your analysis.

This shift from descriptive writing to argument-based analytical writing was one of the biggest improvements in my preparation.

8. Focus on the Core Demand of the Question

One lesson I learned repeatedly was this:

Never lose sight of what the question is actually asking.

Many aspirants write everything they know about a topic instead of answering the specific demand of the question.

A high-scoring answer should:

  • Address the exact requirement

  • Stay relevant throughout

  • Integrate theory and examples naturally

  • Maintain conceptual clarity

Scholar quotations should support your arguments, not replace them.

9. My Approach to Mock Tests and Evaluation

I did not write an extremely high number of mock tests. In fact, I wrote only around five or six serious mock tests before my successful attempt.

Instead of quantity, I focused more on:

  • Careful evaluation

  • Identifying recurring mistakes

  • Improving answer structure

  • Strengthening weak topics

I found peer review particularly useful. Discussing answers with serious aspirants and friends who shared a similar preparation mindset often gave me better feedback than generic coaching evaluations.

10. PSIR Preparation Is a Continuous Process

One important thing aspirants should understand is that PSIR preparation never truly stops.

I read my foundational notes five to six times over nearly 1–1.5 years before making my own consolidated short notes. Whenever I struggled with difficult concepts, I used YouTube explainer videos to simplify them.

Even during my Mains attempts in 2023 and 2024, I was continuously:

  • Updating notes

  • Adding current affairs

  • Improving examples

  • Refining value addition material

PSIR is a living subject. Continuous updation is part of the preparation process itself.

Final Advice to PSIR Aspirants

If I had to summarize my PSIR preparation journey in one sentence, it would be this:

PSIR rewards conceptual understanding, intelligent interlinkages, and analytical presentation far more than superficial memorization.

To improve your score:

  • Limit static resources

  • Continuously update dynamic portions

  • Practice PYQs seriously

  • Develop interlinkages across papers

  • Write analytical answers

  • Revise consistently

Most importantly, focus on building your own understanding of political concepts instead of depending entirely on scholar quotations or coaching material. Once your conceptual clarity improves, your answers naturally become more mature, balanced, and high-scoring.