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PSIR Optional Foundation Programme

PSIR Optional Foundation Programme

PSIR Optional is one of the most popular optional subjects in the Civil Services Examination. UPSC's own annual report shows 1,863 candidates appeared in the CSE Mains with PSIR Optional in 2020, the highest count among all optionals that year. The subject also overlaps closely with GS Paper I, II, III, IV and Essay, making every hour of preparation count in more than one place. Our Foundation Programme, led by Dr. Vivek Kaushik, builds conceptual clarity in Political Theory and International Relations, sharpens answer writing through regular practice, and backs every attempt with detailed, personalised feedback.

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PSIR Optional Foundation Programme
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What's Included

Key Features of the PSIR Optional Program

Every part of this programme is built around one goal: helping you convert PSIR into a scoring paper, not just a completed syllabus.

✅
Comprehensive Coverage of Syllabus
Complete Political Theory, Indian Politics, Comparative Politics and International Relations coverage across Paper I and Paper II.
✅
Over 250 Hours of Live Lectures
Structured live teaching that takes you from foundational concepts to advanced, exam-oriented application.
✅
Detailed and Well-Researched Notes
Comprehensive class notes built for quick revision, so you are not left piecing together scattered sources close to the exam.
✅
Special Lecture on "Art of Answer Writing"
A dedicated two-hour session focused entirely on how to structure, present and score in PSIR Mains answers.
✅
6 Class Tests During the Course
Regular topic-wise tests through the duration of the programme, so preparation is checked and corrected as you go, not just at the end.
✅
Previous Year Questions (PYQ) Discussion
Systematic discussion of past UPSC papers to help you recognise question patterns and framing.
✅
GS and Essay Overlap Integration
Focused linkage of PSIR content with GS1 (Freedom Struggle, Social Issues), GS2 (Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations), GS3 (Security, Environment) and GS4 (Moral Thinkers, Philosophy), along with Essay.
✅
Single Faculty, Start to Finish
Dr. Vivek Kaushik teaches the entire course himself, so there is no switching between different faculty members mid-programme.
✅
Interview-Ready International Relations Inputs
Extra focus on International Relations, since related questions are frequently asked in the UPSC Civil Services Interview as well.
Syllabus Overview

Paper-wise UPSC Curriculum
breakdown.

The programme follows the official curriculum — structured to ensure adequate time for each subject with integrated mock tests, revision, and mentorship support.

01 Political Theory Foundations (Paper I)
Module 1
02 Indian Government and Politics (Paper I)
Module 2
03 Integrated Answer Writing Programme
Module 3
04 Comparative Political Analysis (Paper II)
Module 4
05 International Relations Theory and Practice (Paper II)
Module 5
06 International Relations Theory and Practice (Paper II)
Module 6
07 Dedicated PSIR Test Series (6 Tests)
Module 7
08 Thinkers and Contemporary Affairs Integration
Module 8
09 1:1 Mentorship and Doubt Resolution
Module 9
10 Full-Length UPSC Mains Answer Writing Simulators
Module 10
11 Integrated PYQ Analysis and GS Linkage
Module 11
Common Questions

Everything you want to
know before joining.

Who teaches the PSIR Optional course at APTI PLUS?▼
The course is taught by Dr. Vivek Kaushik, who holds a doctorate in Political Science from Jamia Millia Islamia, a central university ranked third in India after IISc and JNU. He has cleared UPSC Mains four times, secured AIR 1 in UPSC CAPF 2010, and qualified UGC-NET and JRF. He teaches the full syllabus himself, so there is no switching between faculty mid-course.
What does the PSIR Optional course at APTI PLUS cover?▼
The course offers comprehensive coverage of both PSIR papers. Paper I covers Political Theory and Indian Government and Politics. Paper II covers Comparative Politics and International Relations. Together the course runs over 250 hours of live teaching.
Why is PSIR considered one of the most popular UPSC optionals?▼
According to UPSC's own annual report, 1,863 candidates appeared in the CSE Mains with PSIR Optional in 2020, the highest number among all optional subjects that year. Its close overlap with General Studies and Essay adds to its appeal.
How does PSIR Optional overlap with the General Studies papers?▼
PSIR links directly with GS3 (Security, Environment), GS1 (Freedom Struggle, Social Issues), GS4 (Moral Thinkers and the Philosophical dimension) and GS2 (Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations). Many Essay topics on political and international themes also draw on the same preparation.
Does PSIR help beyond the written papers, in the interview stage?▼
Questions on International Relations are also commonly asked in the UPSC Civil Services Interview, so PSIR preparation adds value at that stage too.
What is the teaching approach followed in this course?▼
The approach moves from concept building to thinkers to previous year questions. The focus stays on applying theory to real political and international developments, not on memorising definitions.
Is a dedicated answer writing component included?▼
Yes. There is a special two-hour lecture focused specifically on the "Art of Answer Writing," along with regular integrated answer writing practice through the course.
How many tests are included, and how are they evaluated?▼
The course includes 6 class tests through its duration, each followed by evaluation and feedback so you know exactly where to improve.
Are Previous Year Questions (PYQs) covered in the course?▼
Yes. PYQ discussions are built into the course to help you understand how UPSC frames and tests PSIR topics over time.
What study material is provided with the course?▼
You receive detailed, well-researched class notes covering both papers, designed for quick and effective revision alongside the live lectures.
If I miss a live class, can I access it later?▼
Yes. Online and Hybrid students get access to recorded lectures, so a missed class does not set back your preparation.
Is this course useful for OPSC OAS and WBCS aspirants, or only UPSC CSE?▼
The programme is designed for UPSC CSE, OPSC OAS and WBCS aspirants who have chosen PSIR as their optional, since the core syllabus and preparation approach overlap closely across these exams.
Is coaching necessary to prepare for PSIR Optional?▼
Coaching is not compulsory, but PSIR's syllabus spans Political Theory, Indian Politics, Comparative Politics and International Relations, and structured coaching helps you cover this efficiently while building the answer-writing skill that actually decides marks.
What is Dr. Vivek Kaushik's teaching experience?▼
He has over 12 years of teaching experience and has published research papers in various academic journals, in addition to his own record of clearing UPSC Mains four times.
When does the next PSIR Optional batch start?▼
(flag: brochure states 15th July 2026, which has already passed as of today. Replace with the next confirmed batch date.)
About This Programme

PSIR Optional Foundation Programme

UPSC CSE PSIR Paper I & II Coaching with Integrated Test Series.

Why This Programme Fits the New UPSC Mains

UPSC Mains has moved beyond content-heavy answers to answer engineering, where structure, thinkers, examples and multidimensional analysis decide marks. PSIR is well suited to this shift, since it rewards students who can connect political theory to current international and domestic developments, but only when taught in a structured way.

The APTI PLUS PSIR Optional Foundation Programme is built for this demand. It offers complete Paper I and Paper II coverage from Dr. Vivek Kaushik, combined with integrated answer writing, structured class tests, and personal doubt resolution through the course.

Key Highlights

  • Single-faculty continuity from foundation to revision (Dr. Vivek Kaushik).
  • Integrated Answer Writing with a dedicated "Art of Answer Writing" lecture.
  • 6 structured class tests with feedback through the course.
  • Detailed, well-researched notes covering the full syllabus.
  • Previous Year Questions discussion built into the teaching plan.

Who Should Enroll in this Optional Programme

This programme is designed for serious UPSC CSE, OPSC OAS and WBCS aspirants at every stage of preparation. It works well for beginners from any academic background who need structured concept building in Political Theory and International Relations from the ground up.

It also benefits aspirants who have already attempted PSIR but found their scores held back by weak structure, limited thinker integration, or unclear presentation. Working professionals and self-study aspirants gain from recorded lectures and flexible Online and Offline modes that still keep preparation structured and evaluated.

Best suited for.

  • Beginners starting PSIR from scratch.
  • Aspirants seeking a scoring optional with strong GS overlap.
  • UPSC CSE, OPSC OAS and WBCS aspirants with PSIR as their optional.
  • Repeaters aiming to improve answer structure and presentation.
  • Working professionals needing flexible, guided preparation.
  • Self-study aspirants needing evaluated answer-writing practice.

Your PSIR Optional Journey Starts with the Right Mentor!

The Best Time to Start Your PSIR Optional Preparation is Now!

Aspirants who score well in PSIR Optional are those who combine strong conceptual fundamentals, disciplined answer writing and consistent evaluation. Join APTI PLUS's PSIR Optional coaching and start building an exam-ready preparation today.

Enroll Now → Download Brochure

250+ Hours of PSIR Optional Classes | Experienced PSIR Faculty | Integrated PSIR Test Series | 1:1 Mentorship

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