WBCHSE Class 11 Syllabus for Political Science

SYLLABUS POLITICAL SCIENCE (POLS) Class - XI Full Marks 100 Theory Marks – 80+20 (Project) 1. Political Science : The Subject and its Evolution Evolution of Political Science as a discipline — Meaning of Politics — Definition and Subject matter of Political Science 2. State Definition and characteristics of State — State and other Associations — Theories of the origin of State (Divine Origin Theory, Force Theory, Social Contract Theory, Evolutionary Theory) 3. Nationality, Nation and State Nationality: Definition and factors behind its emergence – The Right to Self Determination – Nationalism and internationalism – Meaning and Relationship – Tagore’s Concept of Nationalism 4. Fundamental concepts of Modern Politics a) i) Law: Meaning, Sources and classification (National Law/ Municipal Law and International Law) ii) Liberty: Definition and safeguards iii) Equality and Justice – meaning and relationship b) i) Democracy – meaning and forms (Direct and Representative) ii) Dictatorship – meaning and forms (party dictatorship, military dictatorship, individual dictatorship) 5. Citizenship Definition, acquisition and loss of citizenship (with special reference to India) 6. Constitution a) Definition and modern classification of constitution (Rigid, Flexible, Written and Unwritten) 267

SYLLABUS b) Framing of India’s constitution – a brief outline – The Philosophy of Constitution – Preamble – Salient features of the constitution 7. Forms of Government a) Unitary and Federal – Definition, basic features and difference between the two – Nature of Indian federalism b) Presidential and Parliamentary – Definition, features and difference between the two – Nature of parliamentary government in India 8. Fundamental Rights and Duties a) Rights – meaning and types (civil, social, political and economic) – Distinction between rights and human rights – U.N. Declaration of Human Rights b) Fundamental Rights and Duties of an Indian Citizen – Directive Principles of State Policy – significance and distinction between fundamental rights and directive principles – Fundamental Duties of Indian citizens 9. Political Party and Pressure Groups Definition of Political Party – Meaning of National and Regional Party – Meaning of Pressure Group – Difference between Political Party and Pressure Group – Basic features of party system in India 10. Universal Adult Franchise Meaning – Universal Adult Franchise in India – Its success and limitations – Election Commission – Election Commission of India – composition and functions 11. Project (some suggested areas) 20 Marks Some suggested topics on which projects can be carried out a) Level of political awareness of i) Your neighbourhood ii) Your friend (not having political science as subjects) b) Success and problems of the application of universal adult franchise (local area study) c) Right to education and actual implementation – problem of drop-out (area of survey should be your village/ward etc.) 268