NCERT Books for Class 12 Political Science
Best NCERT Books for Class 12 Political Science - Download Free PDF
The NCERT Books for Class 12 Political Science are divided into two parts: Contemporary World Politics and Politics in India Since Independence. These textbooks are the single most important resource for CBSE board exam preparation, as nearly every question in the paper is directly traceable to a line or concept in these books. Students often make the critical mistake of skipping the "exercises" and "boxes" within each chapter - but CBSE frequently frames questions from exactly those sections. The books cover global topics like the end of the Cold War, the rise of the European Union, and UN reforms, alongside Indian politics chapters on the Emergency, regional aspirations, and coalition governments. On EduRev, you can access the complete set of NCERT Class 12 Political Science textbook PDFs chapter by chapter, making it easy to read, annotate, and revise on any device without carrying the physical book.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 1 The End of Bipolarity
This chapter examines the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and its far-reaching consequences for world politics. It explains how the bipolar Cold War order gave way to a unipolar moment dominated by the United States. Students often confuse "disintegration" with "dissolution" - the chapter carefully distinguishes between the internal fragmentation of the USSR and the formal end of the Soviet state. It also covers shock therapy, the emergence of CIS, and how newly independent states struggled with economic and political transitions.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 2 Contemporary Centres of Power
This chapter focuses on the emergence of new power centres - particularly the European Union, ASEAN, and China - in the post-Cold War world. It analyses the EU's unique model of integration, which combines economic cooperation with elements of political union, making it distinct from any other regional body. Students are often caught off guard by questions comparing ASEAN's "ASEAN Way" (non-interference, consensus) with the EU's supranational approach. China's economic rise and its implications for Asian geopolitics are also covered in depth.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 3 Contemporary South Asia
This chapter surveys the political landscape of South Asia - covering democratic transitions in Nepal and Bangladesh, ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, military rule in Pakistan, and the unique monarchy-to-democracy shift in Bhutan. A common student error is treating South Asia as politically uniform; the chapter highlights sharp contrasts in regime types. It also examines India's bilateral relationships with each neighbour and the role of SAARC, noting why the organisation has struggled to replicate ASEAN's success due to the India-Pakistan rivalry.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 International Organisations
This chapter analyses the structure, functions, and limitations of the United Nations and calls for its reform - particularly the expansion of the Security Council. Students frequently mix up the powers of the General Assembly (one nation, one vote) with those of the Security Council (veto power held by five permanent members). The chapter also discusses India's long-standing bid for a permanent seat and the debate around making the UN more representative of today's geopolitical realities rather than the 1945 post-war order.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 5 Security in the Contemporary World
This chapter broadens the definition of security beyond military threats to include human security, economic security, and environmental security. It distinguishes between "traditional" notions of security (state vs. state conflict) and "non-traditional" threats like terrorism, pandemics, and climate change. A point students frequently overlook is the concept of "cooperative security" - the idea that states must work together rather than compete to address shared threats. The chapter also covers arms control agreements and their relevance in a post-Cold War setting.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 6 Environment and Natural Resources
This chapter explores global environmental politics, focusing on debates between the developed and developing worlds over who bears responsibility for climate change. It examines landmark agreements like the Rio Earth Summit (1992) and the Kyoto Protocol, and the tension between economic development and environmental protection - a conflict particularly relevant for countries like India and China. Students often miss the distinction between "common but differentiated responsibilities," a key principle that forms the backbone of international environmental negotiations and is a frequent exam question.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 7 Globalisation
This chapter examines globalisation as an economic, cultural, and political phenomenon and evaluates its uneven benefits and costs. It critically assesses whether globalisation empowers developing nations or deepens inequality between the Global North and South. A nuanced point the chapter makes - and one students often simplify - is that globalisation is not a monolithic force; it can be resisted, shaped, or redirected by state policy. The role of multinational corporations and the debate around cultural homogenisation versus cultural exchange are also discussed.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 8 Challenges of Nation Building
This chapter covers the immense challenges India faced immediately after independence in 1947 - managing Partition, integrating over 550 princely states, and deciding the country's political and economic direction. The integration of Hyderabad (through police action in 1948) and Junagadh are highlighted as critical case studies. Students commonly confuse the "reorganisation of states" based on language (1956) with the original post-independence territorial integration - these are two distinct processes covered separately in the chapter.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 9 Era of One-Party Dominance
This chapter analyses why the Indian National Congress dominated Indian electoral politics from 1952 to the late 1960s despite functioning within a multi-party democratic system. It introduces the concept of the "Congress system" - a broad, ideologically inclusive coalition that absorbed diverse social groups. A key insight students miss is that Congress's dominance was not due to a lack of opposition, but its ability to function as a "party of consensus." The chapter also covers the first three general elections and the role of the Socialist Party and Jan Sangh as early opposition forces.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 10 Politics of Planned Development
This chapter examines India's adoption of economic planning through the Planning Commission and the First Five Year Plan (1951-56). It discusses the ideological debates between those who favoured rapid industrialisation (like P.C. Mahalanobis) and those who prioritised agriculture and rural welfare. The chapter also covers the Bombay Plan proposed by leading industrialists and the Gandhian model - showing that India's development path was contested from the very beginning, a nuance often lost in exam answers that treat planning as a straightforward government decision.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 11 India's External Relations
This chapter traces India's foreign policy from independence, focusing on Nehru's vision of Non-Alignment, the Panchsheel principles, and the Bandung Conference (1955). It covers the 1962 war with China, the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, and the signing of the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation in 1971. Students often incorrectly label Non-Alignment as "neutrality" - the chapter explicitly clarifies that Non-Alignment meant independent decision-making, not passive disengagement from global affairs.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 12 Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System
This chapter covers the political turbulence of the late 1960s and early 1970s - the Congress split of 1969, Indira Gandhi's populist "Garibi Hatao" campaign, and her landslide victory in the 1971 elections. It analyses how Indira Gandhi restructured the Congress party by centralising power and weakening internal democracy, a shift with lasting consequences for Indian politics. The chapter also discusses the formation of the Grand Alliance against Congress in 1971 and why it failed to dislodge her government despite ideological unity.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 13 The Crisis of Democratic Order
This chapter deals with the declaration of the Emergency in June 1975 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi - one of the most controversial moments in Indian democratic history. It explains the Allahabad High Court judgment that unseated her, the JP Movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan, and the suspension of fundamental rights during the Emergency. Students often underestimate the significance of the Shah Commission (1977), which documented Emergency-era excesses. The chapter also covers the 1977 elections that brought the Janata Party to power, ending Congress's unbroken rule.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 14 Regional Aspirations
This chapter examines how demands for regional autonomy and statehood have shaped Indian federalism - from the Punjab crisis and Khalistan movement to demands in the Northeast and the peaceful resolution of the Mizoram issue through the 1986 Mizo Accord. Students often confuse "regionalism" with "separatism" - the chapter draws a clear line between legitimate demands for cultural and administrative autonomy and movements that challenge India's territorial integrity. Jammu & Kashmir's special status under Article 370 is also discussed as a unique federal arrangement.
Textbook for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 15 Recent Developments in Indian Politics
This chapter covers Indian politics from the 1980s to the early 2000s - the rise of the BJP, the decline of Congress, the Mandal Commission controversy, the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, and the era of coalition governments. It explains why no single party could win a parliamentary majority for nearly two decades after 1989, forcing parties to build pre- and post-election alliances. Students frequently overlook the significance of the 1989 elections as the turning point that decisively ended single-party dominance in India.
Best NCERT Class 12 Political Science Textbook PDF - Complete Guide for CBSE Board Exams
For CBSE Class 12 board exams, Political Science is one of the highest-scoring subjects - but only if students read the NCERT textbooks carefully rather than relying solely on guides. Examiners are specifically trained to reward answers that reflect the NCERT's own language and framing. For instance, the NCERT's precise definition of "hegemony" in the context of US power is frequently tested verbatim. On EduRev, the complete Class 12 Political Science NCERT PDF for both books is available chapter-wise, allowing students to focus on specific chapters during revision rather than scrolling through entire books.
How to Use NCERT Class 12 Political Science Books Effectively for CBSE Preparation
Reading the NCERT is necessary but not sufficient - students must actively engage with the text by mapping timelines, comparing political events across chapters, and answering the in-text questions. A practical approach is to read the chapter once for comprehension, then revisit it specifically to note all bold terms and boxed content, as these are high-probability exam targets. For chapters like "The Emergency" and "End of Bipolarity," creating a cause-and-effect chart significantly improves retention. EduRev provides the full chapter-wise NCERT Class 12 Political Science textbook to support exactly this kind of structured, active reading.
FAQs on NCERT Books for Class 12 Political Science
| 1. What are the main topics covered in NCERT Class 12 Political Science books? |  |
| 2. How do I understand the difference between unitary and federal systems in Class 12 Political Science? | |
| 3. What's the best way to remember the Indian electoral process for my board exams? | |
| 4. Why does India's Constitution emphasise secularism and what does it mean exactly? | |
| 5. How should I prepare the local government chapter for CBSE Class 12 Political Science exams? | |
