CHSE Odisha Elective Political Science study plan

Define political science and distinguish it from adjacent fields (political theory, public administration, international relations) using your own one-sentence definitions

List and explain the core concepts of state, sovereignty, government, nation, and nationality, and give one Indian example of each

Compare the major approaches to the discipline (normative, behavioural, post-behavioural, systems) in a three-column table

Identify and correct any gaps in your understanding of the nature and scope of the subject before moving on

Outline the origin and evolution of political theory from Greek to contemporary thought without copying textbook phrasing

Explain the social contract tradition through Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, contrasting their views on the state of nature and the purpose of government

Evaluate utilitarianism and Marxian theory as critiques of liberal political thought

Practise writing a 150-word comparative answer on two thinkers under time pressure

Distinguish liberty, equality, justice, and rights, and explain how each is interpreted by liberal and socialist traditions

Analyse the debates around positive and negative liberty and apply them to one contemporary Indian example

Explain the relationship between law, liberty, and the state, and describe the rule of law as a safeguard

Summarise Rawlsian justice and its critics in your own words

Classify the major forms of government (democracy, monarchy, oligarchy, dictatorship) with defining criteria rather than examples alone

Explain the merits and defects of parliamentary and presidential systems and relate them to the Indian and US models

Describe the structure and functions of the three organs of government and the principle of separation of powers

Compare federal and unitary systems and explain the features of Indian federalism

Trace the evolution of the Indian Constitution from the Constituent Assembly to the present, naming key dates accurately

Explain the Preamble and its significance, and list the Fundamental Rights and Duties with their constitutional articles

Describe the Directive Principles of State Policy and analyse the balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles

Outline the amendment procedure and the basic structure doctrine

Map the powers and functions of the President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, and Parliament

Explain the composition and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Courts, including judicial review and writ jurisdiction

Describe the role of the Election Commission and analyse electoral reforms and the anti-defection provisions

Explain centre-state relations and the role of the Governor in Indian federal practice

Explain the meaning, types, and agents of political socialisation and political culture

Compare the major political ideologies (liberalism, socialism, fascism, nationalism, feminism) on state, economy, and individual

Describe the party system in India and evaluate the role of pressure groups and public opinion

Outline the major international organisations and India's foreign policy priorities

Revise all units through active recall rather than re-reading, using your own question list

Attempt two full-length timed papers and mark them against the syllabus weightage

Diagnose and re-drill your three weakest areas identified from the mock papers

Compile a one-page rapid-revision sheet of dates, articles, and thinkers