ISC YEAR 2027

INDIAN SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

EXAMINATION

POLITICAL SCIENCE
(852)
February 2025
____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

MISSION STATEMENT

The Council for the Indian School Certificate

Examinations is committed to serving the nation's
children, through high quality educational
endeavours, empowering them to contribute towards
a humane, just and pluralistic society, promoting
introspective living, by creating exciting learning
opportunities, with a commitment to excellence.

ETHOS OF CISCE

Trust and fair play.

Minimum monitoring.
Allowing schools to evolve their own niche.
Catering to the needs of the children.
Giving freedom to experiment with new ideas
and practices.
Diversity and plurality - the basic strength for
evolution of ideas.
Schools to motivate pupils towards the
cultivation of:
Excellence - The Indian and Global
experience.
Values - Spiritual and cultural - to be the bedrock
of the educational experience.
Schools to have an 'Indian Ethos', strong roots in
the national psyche and be sensitive to national
aspirations.
 POLITICAL SCIENCE (852)

Aims:
4. To create awareness of rights and duties and to
1. To enable students to gain an understanding of
sensitise students towards social concerns.
basic concepts in Political Science.
5. To expose students to divergent views and
2. To facilitate acquisition of knowledge and
encourage them to develop their own world view.
understanding of the practices of governance.
3. To develop logical reasoning, research and
application skills.

CLASS XI
There will be two papers in the subject: Divine Theory: features only.
Paper I: Theory 3 hours ------ 80 marks The Social Contract theory: features only.
Paper II: Project Work --------20 marks 3. Political Ideologies
Liberalism and Communism.
PAPER I (THEORY) – 80 MARKS Liberalism, meaning and features: Recognition of
SECTION A importance of individuals, Support for human
rights and freedom, Constitutional and liberal
Political Theory
government, and Support for democracy.
1. Introduction to Political Science and State Communism: meaning and features: Dialectical
Meaning of Political Science; Scope of materialism, Class struggle, Dictatorship of
contemporary Political Science: Political Theory, Proletariat, Stateless and Classless society.
Comparative Politics, International Relations,
Public Administration and Political Economy. 4. Sovereignty
State and its elements. Meaning, kinds and characteristics. A historical
Meaning of Political Science (classical and analysis.
modern); Scope of contemporary Political Meaning, definition and characteristics. Kinds:
Science with reference to only the meaning of Titular and Real, Legal and Political; de-jure
Political Theory, Comparative Politics, and de-facto Sovereign, Popular Sovereignty.
International Relations, Public Administration Austin’s Theory and Pluralistic view of
and Political Economy ; Difference between Sovereignty : features only.
politics and political science ; Meaning of State
and elements of State: (a) Population (b) 5. Law
Territory (c) Government (d) Sovereignty ;
Difference between State and Nation. Meaning; Sources and Kinds of Law.
Meaning of law. Sources - Customs, Usages,
2. The Origin of the State Religion, Judicial Decisions, Scientific
Commentaries, Equity, Legislation. Kinds of law
Divine Origin Theory; the Social Contract – meaning and examples of Municipal, National,
Theory (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau). Constitutional and International Law, Statute
Various theories of the origin of State: Law, Ordinances.
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6. Liberty 12. South Asia
Meaning; Dimensions and kinds of Liberty India’s relationship with its neighbours.
Meaning of Liberty; Dimensions - negative and India’s relations with Pakistan, 1965 war and
positive; kinds of Liberty - Civil, Political and Tashkent Agreement, 1971 war and Shimla
Economic. Agreement, Lahore Declaration and Kargil war;
India’s Relationship with Bangladesh : Water
7. Equality dispute, Teen Bhiga corridor and illegal
Meaning and kinds of Equality migration ; India’s relations with China:
Panchsheel Agreement and Sino-Indian war of
Meaning and kinds of Equality – legal, social,
1962
political and economic.
PAPER II (PROJECT WORK)–20 MARKS
8. Justice
Candidates will be required to undertake one project
Meaning, Contemporary theories. which may be any one of the following:
Meaning of Justice; Theories of Justice – John
Rawls and Amartya Sen (features only). (i) A case study.
(ii) Survey study with a questionnaire.
SECTION B (iii) Research based project with in depth analysis.
Contemporary International Relations (iv) Any contemporary or relevant Social/Local/
national/ global political issue.
9. Disintegration of the Soviet Union
(v) Book review/ film review/ documentaries/
Disintegration of the Soviet Union: Causes and posters/ newspapers/ advertisements/ cartoons
its impact. and art.
Causes of disintegration of the Soviet Union:
The project must not be based primarily on the
Political and economic stagnation, Reforms of
syllabus; students must be encouraged to produce
Gorbachev and Rise of nationalism
original, creative and insightful perspectives on an
Impact of disintegration of the Soviet Union: End allied aspect of the topic.
of cold war and emergence of new states (in
brief). For example, if the theme is Fundamental Rights, the
project could deal with violation, protection, court
10. Unipolar World verdicts, Public Interest Litigations (PILs), etc.
related to socially relevant issues.
U.S. unilateralism: case studies of U.S.
intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan. EVALUATION CRITERIA:
Meaning of unilateralism.
Mark allocation for the Project will be as follows:
Case studies of the following (causes and main
events only): S. Assessment Criteria Marks
No. objective
Iraq - Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi
Freedom; 1. Process Candidate should 5
Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom; be able to:
India’s relations with USA after 1991. Defence Identify the topic.
and trade relations only. Plan and detail a
research project.
11. Regional Cooperation Select and use
ASEAN and the European Union, SAARC, appropriate
BRICS, QUAD research methods.
Aims and economic achievements only. 2. Understanding, Candidate should 5
application be able to:
of knowledge Explain issues and

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 and Analysis themes clearly and 8. Civil Society Movements - Role and participation
in context. in India.
Interpret, analyse 9. Relevance of the United Nations in a Unipolar
and evaluate World.
critically a range of 10. Crisis in the Middle East and its impact on World
evidence to present order.
reasoned,
substantiated 11. Rise of Taliban in Afghanistan and the crisis of
arguments/ human rights.
statement. 12. Any other relevant contemporary issue.
3. Presentation Overall format, 5 GUIDELINES FOR TEACHERS:
referencing
(footnotes &/or 1. It must be emphasized that the process of doing the
bibliography), project is as important as the final project.
within word limit 2. Once the project/projects are chosen, there should
of 2000 words, title be a process of brainstorming to encourage
page, students to make out a draft/structure for the
header/footer, etc. project before embarking on research.
4. Viva Range of questions 5 3. During the brainstorming/discussion, the teacher
based on the should discuss the assessment criteria with the
project only. students.
TOTAL 20 4. The teacher should discuss the draft with the
student with regard to the central question and the
type of sources to be used.
List of suggested topics for Project Work: 5. The students should be guided on doing the
1. “The Kingdom of Freedom begins where the research and looking at different types of evidence.
Kingdom of Necessity ends”. 6. Books and suitable reference material could be
2. Right to Freedom and role of Media. suggested by the teachers and made available to
3. The Right to Information – ensuring political the students.
accountability. 7. Internet sites could be suggested, but care must be
4. Citing relevant examples, discuss the relative taken in selecting, using and citing these sites.
importance of negative and positive liberty in the 8. Students must be cautioned against plagiarism and
Indian context. be penalized for the same.
5. India’s response to ASEAN as a dialogue partner. 9. Marks must be awarded for content and originality
6. Relevance of SAARC as a forum of regional and not for decorative elements and
cooperation. embellishments.
7. U.S. dominance in World politics in the Post Cold 10. Projects must be the original work of the student.
War era.

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 CLASS XII
There will be two papers in the subject: Proportional Representation -meaning only.
Paper I: Theory 3 hours ------ 80 marks Political Parties – meaning. Kinds – Single
party, Bi-party, Multi-party system – meaning
Paper II: Project Work ------ 20 marks and merits only.

PAPER I (THEORY) – 80 MARKS Organs of the Government

4. The Legislature
SECTION A
Legislature; The legislature in India and
Constitution and Government
U.S.A. - a comparative study.
1. Forms of Government Meaning of Legislature. The legislatures in
Totalitarian and Authoritarian States, Liberal India and U.S.A.- Composition (strength,
Democratic State, Unitary and Federal States, method of election and tenure) and functions:
Parliamentary and Presidential forms of legislative, constituent, executive (ways in
government. which the legislature controls the executive),
Meaning and features of Totalitarian State, judicial, electoral and financial.
Authoritarian State and Liberal Democratic Composition and powers of the House of
State. Representatives and the Senate, Lok Sabha
Comparison between Totalitarian and and Rajya Sabha (including special powers).
Authoritarian States. Unique powers of the Senate, why is the
Meaning and features of Britain as a Unitary Senate considered the world’s most powerful
state and USA as a Federal States. second chamber?
Comparison between Britain as a unitary state Comparison of the Rajya Sabha and the U.S.
and USA as a federal state. Senate; Lok Sabha with the U.S. House of
Meaning and features of Parliamentary form Representatives.
of government in India and Presidential form
of government in the USA. Comparison 5. The Executive
between Parliamentary government in India Difference between the Political Executive and
and Presidential form of government in the the Permanent Executive. Political Executive
USA. in India and U.S.A. - a comparative study.
Meaning of the Executive.
2. Constitution
Difference between the Political and
Meaning; kinds of Constitutions: Written and Permanent Executive in India.
Unwritten, Rigid and Flexible: merits and
Political executive in India:
demerits. Amending procedures.3
Indian President - legislative, executive,
Meaning; Kinds: Written and Unwritten, Rigid emergency and discretionary powers.
and Flexible: merits and demerits of each.
Powers of the Indian Prime Minister - link
Amending procedures of the Constitutions of between Cabinet and President, formation of
U.K., U.S.A and India. Council of Ministers, Chairman of the
Cabinet, Leader of Parliament and the Leader
3. Franchise and Representation of the nation.
Universal Adult Franchise; Representation; Political executive in the USA:
Political Parties; Party System. USA President - executive and legislative
Universal Adult Franchise - meaning, reasons powers
for widespread acceptance. Comparison of Executive in India and USA:
Representation: Methods Method of Election, Type of executive,
First Past the Post System – meaning only. Relation with legislature, Relation with

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 cabinet and Role in financial matters Directive Principles of State Policy.

6. The Judiciary 9. Local self-government

Meaning of Judiciary. Conditions of 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts.
Independence of Judiciary. Judiciary in India
Key features of the 73rd and 74th Amendments.
and U.S.A. - a comparative study. Judicial
11th and 12th schedules in brief.
Review.
Meaning of judiciary; conditions of Composition and functions of Zila Parishad
independence of judiciary The Judiciary in and Municipal Corporation.
India and U.S.A. – composition (strength and 10. Democracy in India – a perspective of the
tenure only) and powers of Indian Supreme challenges faced
Court (original, appellate and advisory
jurisdiction) and American Supreme Court Challenges faced by the Indian Democracy:
(original and appellate jurisdiction only). Caste, Regionalism and Political Violence.
Judicial Review – meaning, principles Caste: meaning, role of caste in Indian
(maxims). Comparative study of Indian and Politics.
US Supreme Courts.
Regionalism: meaning; Kinds of regional
SECTION B aspirations: language issues, sons-of-the-soil
policies, river water disputes, demand for new
Indian Democracy states, secessionist demands.

7. Indian Constitution Political Violence: meaning, forms- Linguistic,

secessionist, terrorist, caste, electoral and
(i) Preamble politics of violent agitation.
Preamble and its importance. Meaning of
the key words contained in the Preamble. PAPERII (PROJECT WORK)–20 MARKS
(ii) Salient features of the Indian Constitution. Candidates will be required to undertake one
Written and Comprehensive; a Constitution project which may be any one of the following:
drawn from several sources; Federal (i) A case study.
structure with Unitary spirit; Partly rigid
(ii) Survey study with a questionnaire.
and Partly flexible; Fundamental Rights
and Duties; Directive Principles of State (iii) Research based project with in-depth
Policy; Parliamentary form of Government; analysis.
Single Citizenship; Bi-cameral legislature;
(iv) Any contemporary or recent Social/Local/
Universal Adult Franchise; Single
national/ global political issue.
Integrated and Independent Judiciary;
Judicial Review; Emergency powers; (v) Book review/ film review/ documentaries/
Special provisions for Schedule castes and posters/ newspapers/ advertisements/
Schedule tribes. cartoons and art.
The project must not be based primarily on the
8. Fundamental Rights and Directive
syllabus; students must be encouraged to produce
Principles
original, creative and insightful perspectives on an
Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles allied aspect of the topic.
of State Policy.
For example, if the theme is Fundamental Rights,
Fundamental Rights: meaning of Fundamental the project could deal with violation, protection,
Rights; detailed study of all Fundamental court verdicts, Public Interest Litigations (PILs),
Rights in India. etc. related to socially relevant issues.
Directive Principles of State Policy: The project will be assessed by the teacher and
classification: liberal Gandhian and socialist. a Visiting Examiner appointed locally and
approved by CISCE.
Difference between Fundamental Rights and
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Assessment of Project Work will be done as header/footer,
follows: etc.
Internal Evaluation by
1.
Teacher 10 Marks
Evaluation by Visiting TOTAL 10
2. 10 Marks
Examiner Evaluation by the Visiting Examiner
TOTAL 20 Marks
S. Assessment Criteria Marks
No. objective
Internal Evaluation by Teacher 1. Choice of Overall format, 4
Technique/ referencing
S. Assessment Criteria Marks Detailed (footnotes &/or
No. objective procedure bibliography),
1. Process Candidates 3 & title page,
should be able Presentationheader/footer,
to: etc.
2. Analysis and Candidate should 3
Identify the evaluation be able to:
topic. Plan and Interpret, analyze
detail a research and evaluate
project. critically a range
Select and use of evidence to
appropriate present reasoned,
research substantiated
arguments/
methods.
statement.
3. Viva Range of 3
questions based
on the project
2. Understanding Candidates 4 only.
application of should be able
knowledge to: TOTAL 10
and Analysis
Explain issues
and themes
clearly and in
context.
Interpret, analyse
and evaluate
critically a range
of evidence to
present reasoned,
substantiated
arguments/
statement.
3. Presentation Overall format, 3
referencing
(footnotes &/or
bibliography),
within word limit
of 2000 words,
title page,
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List of suggested topics for Project Work: • Few examples to be explained with the help
Given below is a list of suggested topics for of statistical information.
Project work, along with guidelines. • Student’s vision of rapidly evolving Party
system in India.
1. Judicial Activism – two case studies in which
the Judiciary has safeguarded the environment 4. Examine one Supreme Court case dealing with
or human rights. Fundamental Rights. Identify the issues of the
case and analyse the final ruling.
• Reason for selection of the topic.
• Reason for selection of the topic
• Framing the Research Question.
• Framing the Research Question.
• Hypothesis.
• Hypothesis.
• Define Judicial Activism and the need for
Judiciary to intervene in the work of • Nature and reasons of violation of
Legislature and Executive and other matters Fundamental Rights to be explained.
of social concerns. • A case study of violation and protection of
• Positive role played by Judiciary in this Fundamental Rights in the light of the ruling
direction to be highlighted with the help of given by the apex court to be analysed.
two case studies based on environmental • Remedial steps to be taken to prevent this
protection or safeguarding human rights. problem to be suggested.
• Student’s perception of the concept. 5. Role of Local Self Government institutions in
• Valid suggestions for reforms in Judiciary. women empowerment.
2. Public accountability of Civil Servants in India • Reason for selection of the topic.
– Is it a myth or a reality? • Framing the Research Question.
• Reason for selection of the topic. • Hypothesis.
• Framing the Research Question. • Need for women empowerment to be
• Hypothesis. explained with reference to a few examples.
• Meaning of Public accountability of Civil • Positive role played by local self-
Servants to be explained. governments to be stated.
• Positive and crucial role of public servants in • Collection of data based on statistics and
a democracy. analysis.
• Loopholes in the existing bureaucratic set • The project could be in the form of a case
study for example - a film review, book
up.
review, advertisements, T.V. serials,
• Inferences can be drawn about Public documentaries, newspaper articles, journals.
accountability being a myth or reality from
various sources like print/electronic media, • Student’s suggestions for more active
participation of women in Indian electoral
film review, documentaries.
politics.
3. Party System in India – changing phases.
6. Explore the controversies around the
• Reason for selection of the topic. development of a Uniform Civil Code
• Framing the Research Question. mentioned in the Directive Principles.
• Hypothesis. • Reason for selection of the topic.
• A brief timeline of Party Systems since • Framing the Research Question
independence to be prepared. • Hypothesis
• Strengths and limitations of different • Clarification of the concept of Uniform Civil
systems to be highlighted. Code with instances from world
• Success and failure of various systems to be constitutions.
analysed with reference to the role of
regional parties in coalition era.
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 • Need for a Uniform Civil Code with 9. Right to Education: To what extent has it
reference to Constituent Assembly Debates, benefited the slum children?
historical perspective (parliamentary debates • Reason for selection of the topic.
and judicial pronouncements), the present
• Framing the Research Question.
socio-political scenario and the stand of
various political parties. • Hypothesis.
• Controversies and reasons for non-adoption. • Constitutional provisions.
• Student’s view point and position on the • Parliamentary debates leading to the
issue. enactment of the right.
Alternately this project could also be • A case study of a slum area based on a
undertaken survey method or any other survey.
method. • Student’s inferences.
7. Identify and explain the electoral reforms that 10. Role of National Human Rights Commission
are urgently needed in India. in safeguarding the rights of the under-
• Reason for selection of the topic. privileged.
• Framing the Research Question. • Reason for selection of the topic.
• Hypothesis. • Framing the Research Question.
• Define electoral reforms. • Hypothesis.
• Urgency for electoral reforms. • United Nations Universal Declaration of
• Efforts made in the past. Human Rights (1948).
• Parliamentary debates on this issue. • Constitutional provisions.
• Role of the Election Commission. • Formation of National Human Rights
Commission.
• Stand of various political parties.
• Its composition and functions.
• Judicial pronouncements.
• Identifying the under-privileged and
• Student’s observations. understanding their plight.
8. Discrimination faced by a girl child. • Efforts made by the NHRC (a minimum of
• Reason for selection of the topic. two case studies).
• Framing the Research Question. • Student’s viewpoint.
• Hypothesis.
• Gender as an identity.
• Collection of data based on statistics and
analysis.
• The project could be in the form of a case
study for example a film review, book
review, advertisements, T.V. serials,
documentaries
• Inferences drawn.

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 GUIDELINES FOR TEACHERS:
1. It must be emphasized that the process of 6. Books and suitable reference material could be
doing the project is as important as the final suggested by the teachers and made available
project. to the students.
2. Once the project/projects are chosen, there 7. Internet sites could be suggested, but care must
should be a process of brainstorming to be taken in selecting, using and citing these
encourage students to make out a sites.
draft/structure for the project before
8. Students must be cautioned against plagiarism
embarking on research.
and be penalized for the same.
3. During the brainstorming/discussion, the
9. Marks to be awarded for the content and
teacher should discuss the assessment criteria
originality and not for decorative elements and
with the students.
embellishments.
4. The teacher should discuss the draft with the
10. Projects must be the original work of the
student with regard to the central question and
student.
the type of sources to be used.
5. The students should be guided on doing the
research and looking at different types of
evidence.

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ISC Examination Year 2027