THE OXFORD COMPANION TO POLITICS IN INDIA| PSIR Optional | UGC NET JRF

About the Book

The Oxford Companion to Politics in India is regarded as one of the most authoritative reference books on Indian politics. Rather than being a conventional textbook, it is an edited volume containing 38 scholarly essays written by leading political scientists. It provides analytical and research-based coverage of India's political institutions, political processes, public policy, social movements, political economy, and foreign policy.

Major Themes Covered

• Constitutionalism and the Indian State
• Parliament and Executive
• Federalism and Centre–State Relations
• Judiciary and Election Commission
• Political Parties and Party System
• Caste, Class, Gender and Identity Politics
• Nationalism and Secularism
• Representation and Social Justice
• Political Leadership and Political Culture
• Social Movements and Civil Society
• Political Economy and Economic Reforms
• Governance and Public Policy
• Employment Guarantee and Welfare Politics
• India's Foreign Policy and Defence Policy
• Evolution of Political Science in India

Why This Book is Highly Recommended

• Written by internationally recognized scholars.
• Covers both theoretical and empirical aspects of Indian politics.
• Provides multiple perspectives on complex political issues.
• Excellent source of academic references, case studies, and analytical arguments.
• Useful for enriching answers with contemporary scholarship.

Best Suited For

• UPSC Civil Services (PSIR Optional) – especially Paper II (Indian Government and Politics)
• UGC NET/JRF Political Science
• MA Political Science
• MPhil/PhD coursework and research
• University faculty and researchers

Strengths

• Deep analytical coverage rather than descriptive content.
• Ideal for developing high-quality mains answers.
• Excellent bibliography for further reading.
• Covers institutions, political processes, policy, and society in one volume.

Limitations

• Not designed for beginners.
• Some chapters assume prior knowledge of Indian politics.
• Better used as a reference book than as the first book to study the subject.