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.
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.
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.
Also Read: CUET Accepting Colleges
- 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. |
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.
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.
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:
- Visit the link provided- CUET Question Paper
- Scroll down the page and look for the subject to download the question paper for
- Click on the tab download
- Create the login credentials for new registrations
- Link to download the CUET question paper will be sent on the registered email ID
- Click on the link provided and save the PDF.
Practicing with CUET UG (Common University Entrance Test) question papers from previous years offers following benefits:
Helps in knowing format, structure, and types of questions.
Student can know repeated question types.
Help students know weak and strong sections
Helps in developing important skills.
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.
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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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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.