CUET 2026 Political Science Important Topics and Chapter Wise Weightage

Common University Entrance Test 2026 ( CUET )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 3 Jan '26 - 30 Jan '26

Saumya
Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content
Updated on Dec 31, 2025 12:50 IST
CUET 2026 will likely be conducted in May 2026, in the computer-based test mode. CUET Political Science syllabus covers important topics including Politics in India, the Rise of Social Movements, Contemporary World Politics, etc. Know the important topics to focus and the weightage of each topic.

CUET 2026 exam is expected to be held in May/June 2026, in the computer-based test mode. CUET Political Science syllabus covers important topics including Politics in India, the Rise of Social Movements, Contemporary World Politics, etc. Know the important topics to focus and the weightage of each topic based on the previous year's CUET question paper.

CUET Political Science syllabus 2026 has been released by NTA in the form of a PDF. The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is a UG entrance exam for admission to the top universities in India. CUET Political Science syllabus covers a wide range of important topics such as Politics in India, Rise of Social Movements, Contemporary World Politics, etc. The CUET syllabus for Political Science includes the names of the units and the various important topics covered under each unit. Candidates can also download the CUET Political Science syllabus PDF from the official website, nta.ac.in or cuet.samarth.ac.in. Read the article below to know the important topics to focus and the weightage of each topic of the Political Science syllabus based on the previous year CUET question paper.

CUET 2026 exam will likely be held in May 2026, in the CBT mode. The CUET application form 2026 is expected to be released in the first week of March 2026. CUET is a national-level exam which serves as a gateway to various undergraduate courses offered in the central, state, private and deemed universities across India.

Q:   How many questions are there in the language section of CUET UG?
A:

CUET UG Language section will include 50 questions. Candidates must attempt all questions. There will be no optional questions.

The language section will check candidate's reading comprehension based on different types of passages. This section will also include questions from grammar. To prepare for the CUET UG language section, candidates must solve previous year question papers and mock tests to become familiar with the type of questions asked in the exam. 

Q:   Is it compulsory to attempt all the sections of the CUET question paper?
A:

CUET UG question paper for each subject will consist of 50 questions. Candidates will be required to attempt all questions and no optional questions will be provided. In CUET UG 2026 there are 37 subjects- 13 languages, 23 domain subjects and general tests. While filling the CUET application form, candidates can select upto five CUET subjects aligning with the subjects studied in class 12th and course requirement.

Candidates must attempt all the questions of the subjects selected. However, candidates must keep in mind the negative marking and select the options carefully.

Q:   How many questions are asked in CUET UG exam?
A:

As per the CUET UG 2026 exam pattern -
The question paper will include 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The CUET UG 2026 exam will be conducted for 13 languages, 23 domain subjects, and general test. Each subject will consist of 50 MCQs and there will no optional questions. All questions are mandatory to attempt. For every wrong answer negative marking of one mark will be attracted.

 

Table of contents
  • CUET Political Science Syllabus 2026
  • CUET 2026 Syllabus for Political Science PDF Download
  • CUET Political Science Exam Pattern 2026
  • CUET Chapter Wise Weightage
  • CUET Domain Subjects: Syllabus and Question Paper
  • CUET 2026 Political Science Preparation Tips

CUET Political Science Syllabus 2026

The table below presents the unit-wise topics under CUET Political Science syllabus:

CUET Political Science Units

CUET Political Science Syllabus Topics

CUET Political Science Syllabus Subtopics

Politics in India Since Independence

Era of One-Party Dominance

- First three general elections

- Nature of Congress dominance at the national level, uneven dominance at the state level

- Coalitional nature  of Congress

- Major opposition parties

Nation-Building and Its Problems

- Nehru’s approach to nation-building,

- Legacy of partition, the challenge of ‘refugee’ resettlement, the Kashmir problem

- Organization and reorganisation of states

- Political conflicts over language.

Politics of Planned Development

- Five-year plans

- Expansion of the state sector 

- Rise of new economic interests

India’s External Relations

- Nehru’s foreign policy

- Sino-Indian War of 1962

- Indo-Pak war of 1965 and 1971

- India’s nuclear programme 

- Shifting alliances in world politics

Challenge to and Restoration of Congress System

- Political succession after Nehru

- Non-Congressism and Electoral Upset of 1967

- Congress split and reconstitution

- Congress’s victory in 1971

- Politics of ‘garibi hatao’

Crisis of the Constitutional Order

- Search for ‘committed’ bureaucracy and judiciary.

- Navnirman Movement in Gujarat and Bihar Movement

- Emergency: Context, Constitutional and extra-constitutional dimensions

- Resistance to Emergency

- 1977 elections and formation of the Janata Party

- Rise of civil liberties organisations

Regional Aspirations and Conflicts

- Rise of regional parties

- Punjab crisis and anti-sikh riots of 1984

- The Kashmir situation

- Challenges and responses in the North East

Democratic Upsurge and Coalition Politics

- Participatory upsurge in the 1990s

- Rise of the JD and the BJP

- Increasing role of regional parties and coalition politics

- UF and NDA governments

- Elections 2004-2019

- UPA government with addition of NDA government

Recent Issues and Challenges

- Challenge of and responses to globalisation

- New economic policy and its opposition

- Rise of OBCs in North Indian politics

- Dalit politics in the electoral and non-electoral arena

- Challenge of communalism

- Ayodhya issue

Contemporary World Politics

Disintegration of the ‘Second World’ and the Collapse of Bipolarity

- New entities in world politics: Russia, Balkan states, and, Central Asian states

- Introduction of democratic politics and capitalism in post-communist regimes

- India’s relations with Russia and other post-communist countries.

Alternative Centres of Economic and Political Power

- Rise of China as an economic power in the post-Mao era

- Creation and expansion of European Union, ASEAN.

- India’s changing relations with China, Japan and South Korea

South Asia in the Post-Cold War Era

- Democratisation and its reversals in Pakistan and Nepal

- Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka

- Impact of economic globalisation on the region

- Conflicts and efforts for peace in South Asia

- India’s relations with its neighbours.

International Organisations in a Unipolar World

- Restructuring and the future of the UN

- India’s position in the restructured UN

- Rise of new international actors

- New international economic organisations, NGOs.

- How democratic and accountable are the new institutions of global governance?

Security in the Contemporary World

- Traditional concerns of security and politics of disarmament

- Non-traditional or human security: global poverty, health, and education. 

- Issues of human rights and migration.

Environment and Natural Resources in Global Politics

- Environment movement and evolution of global environmental norms

- Conflicts over traditional and common property resources

- Rights of indigenous people

- India’s stand-in global environmental debates

Globalisation and Its Critics

- Economic, cultural and political manifestations.

- Debates on the nature of consequences of globalisation

- Anti-globalization movements

- India as an arena of globalisation and struggles against it.

Also Read: CUET syllabus 2026 for Humanities/Arts students

CUET 2026 Syllabus for Political Science PDF Download

National Testing Agency released the CUET UG syllabus 2026 for Political Science online at cuet.nta.nic.in. Check below to get direct link to download CUET Political Science syllabus 2026: 

Download CUET Political Science Syllabus 2026 PDF

CUET Political Science Exam Pattern 2026

Aspirants must be through with the CUET exam pattern for Political Science. Refer to the table below to know the CUET Political Science exam pattern.

Features

Details

Number of questions

50

Type of question

Multiple Choice Question (MCQ)

CUET exam duration

60 minutes or 1 hour

CUET marking scheme

+5 for each correct answer

-1 for each incorrect answer

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CUET Chapter Wise Weightage

Based on the previous years’ CUET analysis, candidates can know the CUET Political Science important topics and the expected number of questions of each topic:

Topics

Weightage

Recent Developments in Indian Politics

8-9

Challenges to the Congress System

5

The End of bipolarity

2-3

Cold War Era

3-4

US Hegemony in World Politics

2-3

Alternative Centers of Power

2-3

Contemporary South Asia

2-3

International Organizations

2-3

Security in the Contemporary World

2-3

Globalisation

2-3

Environment and Natural Resources

2-3

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CUET Domain Subjects: Syllabus and Question Paper

Students preparing for CUET can now download the CUET domain subject wise question paper and detailed syllabus for other commerce subjects.

Download CUET Syllabus and CUET Question Paper PDF
Subjects CUET Syllabus PDFs CUET Question Paper PDFs
English CUET English Syllabus PDF CUET English Question Paper PDF
Biology CUET Biology Syllabus PDF CUET Biology Question Paper PDF
Accountancy/ Book Keeping CUET Accountancy Syllabus PDF CUET Accountancy Question Paper PDF
Business Studies CUET Business Studies Syllabus PDF CUET Business Studies Question Paper PDF
Chemistry CUET Chemistry Syllabus PDF CUET Chemistry Question Paper PDF
Computer Science/ Informatics Practices CUET Computer Science Syllabus PDF CUET Computer Science Question Paper PDF
Economics/ Business Economics CUET Economics Syllabus PDF CUET Economics Question Paper PDF
Engineering Graphics CUET Engineering Graphics Syllabus PDF (Awaited)

CUET Engineering Graphics Question Paper

Entrepreneurship CUET Entrepreneurship Syllabus PDF CUET Entrepreneurship Question Paper PDF
Geography/Geology CUET Geography Syllabus PDF CUET Geography Question Paper PDF
Home Science CUET Home Science Syllabus PDF CUET Home Science Question Paper PDF
Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India CUET Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India Syllabus PDF (Awaited) CUET Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India Question Paper PDF (Awaited)
Legal Studies CUET Legal Studies Syllabus PDF CUET Legal Studies Question Paper PDF
Environmental Science CUET Environmental Science Syllabus PDF CUET Environmental Science Question Paper PDF (Awaited)
Mathematics CUET Mathematics Syllabus PDF CUET Mathematics Question Paper PDF
Physics CUET Physics Syllabus PDF CUET Physics Question Paper PDF
Political Science CUET Political Science Syllabus PDF CUET Political Science Question Paper PDF
Psychology CUET Psychology Syllabus PDF CUET Psychology Question Paper PDF
Sociology CUET Sociology Syllabus PDF CUET Sociology Question Paper PDF
Teaching Aptitude CUET Teaching Aptitude Syllabus PDF CUET Teaching Aptitude Question Paper PDF (Awaited)
Agriculture CUET Agriculture Syllabus PDF CUET Agriculture Question Paper PDF
Mass Media/ Mass Communication CUET Mass Media/ Mass Communication Syllabus PDF

CUET Mass Media/ Mass Communication Question Paper PDF

Anthropology CUET Anthropology Syllabus PDF CUET Anthropology Question Paper PDF
Fine Arts/ Visual Arts (Sculpture/ Painting)/Commercial Arts CUET Fine Arts Syllabus PDF CUET Fine Arts Question Paper PDF (Awaited)
Performing Arts CUET Performing Arts Syllabus PDF CUET Performing Arts Question Paper PDF (Awaited)
Sanskrit CUET Sanskrit Syllabus PDF (Awaited) CUET Sanskrit Question Paper PDF (Awaited)
History CUET History Syllabus PDF CUET History Question Paper PDF
General Test

CUET General Test Syllabus PDF

CUET General Test Question Paper PDF
Q:   What type of questions are asked in the CUET exam?
A:

The CUET questions are objective in nature and carries four options also known as MCQs. Candidates will have to choose the correct answer option and click on it with the help of mouse. Since CUET UG 2026 exam will be conducted in a CBT mode, test-takers will be able to mark only one answer option. In case it is the correct option, students will get +5 marks and in case of wrong answer, negative marking scheme will be applied. Hence, candidates must ensure the accuracy of the answer before selecting the answer. 

Q:   From where can I download CUET sample papers?
A:

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) sample papers are released by the conducting body, National Testing Agency (NTA). To download the CUET question papers follow the steps below:

  1. Visit the link provided- CUET Question Paper
  2. Scroll down the page and look for the subject to download the question paper for
  3. Click on the tab download
  4. Create the login credentials for new registrations
  5. Link to download the CUET question paper will be sent on the registered email ID
  6. Click on the link provided and save the PDF.
Q:   Why should I practice with CUET question papers from previous years?
A:

Practicing with CUET UG (Common University Entrance Test) question papers from previous years offers following benefits:

  1. Helps in knowing format, structure, and types of questions.

  2. Student can know repeated question types.

  3. Help students know weak and strong sections

  4. Helps in developing important skills.

  5. Regularly solving CUET question papers improves problem-solving skills and speed.

CUET 2026 Political Science Preparation Tips

Candidates can check a few CUET preparation tips for Political Science below:

  • To perform well in the CUET Political Science exam, the students need to go through the best books for the domain subject. They should refer to the recommended CUET preparation books.
  • Solving CUET PYQs and taking CUET mock tests 2026 can also help candidates become familiar with the CUET exam pattern and difficulty level.
  • Students should prepare notes during the course of their CUET preparation to keep track of the important topics.
  • Candidates should manage time to complete the CUET syllabus for Political Science by making a proper study plan.

Read More:

About the Author
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Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content

Saumya Jain is an English Literature graduate from the University of Delhi. She has over 8 years of editorial and content writing experience. At Shiksha.com, she has spent more than six years creating research, stud

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