NCERT Books Class 12 Political Science: Full PDF List
Looking for the official, updated NCERT books class 12 political science? This page links the verified PDFs for both prescribed textbooks: Contemporary World Politics and Politics in India since Independence. CBSE requires students to study both books equally—many students mistakenly focus only on the international-relations text and run short of time for the eight chapters covering India’s political history.
All 15 chapter PDFs listed below have been verified as live on ncert.nic.in (HTTP 200 status), with the last check on 11 July 2026. Using an outdated or third-party copy risks missing rationalised deletions or encountering renumbered chapters that no longer match your board syllabus.
About the NCERT Class 12 Political Science Textbooks
CBSE prescribes two separate NCERT books for Class 12 Political Science, not a single combined textbook. The first, Contemporary World Politics, covers international relations and global affairs in seven chapters. The second, Politics in India since Independence, traces India’s domestic political journey across eight chapters. Together, they form a 15-chapter syllabus in the current NCERT edition (English medium), verified on ncert.nic.in as of 11 July 2026.
The two books complement each other: the first gives you concepts of state power, security, and international cooperation that frame the second’s examination of how India has applied those principles in building a modern nation and managing regional tensions.
Contemporary World Politics: Chapter-wise PDF Links
| Ch. | Chapter | Pages | Official PDF |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The End of Bipolarity | 14 | |
| 2 | Contemporary Social and Economic Centres of Power | 14 | |
| 3 | Contemporary South Asia | 16 | |
| 4 | International Organisations | 18 | |
| 5 | Security in the Contemporary World | 18 | |
| 6 | Environment and Natural Resources | 18 | |
| 7 | Globalisation | 16 |
| Ch. | Chapter | Pages | Official PDF |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHALLENGES OF NATION BUILDING | 24 | |
| 2 | ERA OF ONE-PARTY DOMINANCE | 18 | |
| 3 | POLITICS OF PLANNED DEVELOPMENT | 10 | |
| 4 | INDIA'S EXTERNAL RELATIONS | 18 | |
| 5 | CHALLENGES TO AND RESTORATION OF THE CONGRESS SYSTEM | 20 | |
| 6 | THE CRISIS OF DEMOCRATIC ORDER | 20 | |
| 7 | REGIONAL ASPIRATIONS | 24 | |
| 8 | RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIAN POLITICS | 25 |
Chapter 1: The End of Bipolarity (14 pages) — Examines the collapse of the Soviet Union and the shift from a two-superpower world to a unipolar or multipolar order.
Chapter 2: Contemporary Social and Economic Centres of Power (14 pages) — Traces the rise of the European Union, ASEAN, and China as major economic and political players reshaping global influence.
Chapter 3: Contemporary South Asia (16 pages) — Explores conflict and cooperation among South Asian nations, including India–Pakistan relations and regional integration efforts.
Chapter 4: International Organisations (18 pages) — Details the role of the United Nations and other multilateral bodies in maintaining international peace and addressing global challenges.
Chapter 5: Security in the Contemporary World (18 pages) — Distinguishes between traditional security threats (military conflict, terrorism) and non-traditional ones (pandemics, climate change, cyber attacks).
Chapter 6: Environment and Natural Resources (18 pages) — Examines debates over global commons (oceans, atmosphere, forests) and resource conflicts driven by scarcity and unequal distribution.
Chapter 7: Globalisation (16 pages) — Analyzes the economic, cultural, and political dimensions of globalisation and its uneven impact on different societies and communities.
Politics in India since Independence: Chapter-wise PDF Links
Chapter 1: Challenges of Nation Building (24 pages) — Covers the immediate post-independence tasks: managing partition, integrating princely states, and reorganising state boundaries by language.
Chapter 2: Era of One-Party Dominance (18 pages) — Traces the Congress system of the first two decades, when the Indian National Congress governed uninterrupted and shaped early democratic institutions.
Chapter 3: Politics of Planned Development (10 pages) — Examines five-year plans and the mixed-economy model that defined India’s approach to modernisation and state-led development.
Chapter 4: India’s External Relations (18 pages) — Explores non-alignment as India’s Cold War strategy and its evolving relations with major powers and neighbours.
Chapter 5: Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System (20 pages) — Documents the rise of regional parties and Nehru’s successors, culminating in the 1971 Congress split and electoral challenges.
Chapter 6: The Crisis of Democratic Order (20 pages) — Analyzes the Emergency of 1975–77, the most severe test to India’s democratic institutions in the post-independence era.
Chapter 7: Regional Aspirations (24 pages) — Explores regional and sub-national movements, including demands for state autonomy, linguistic recognition, and resource control.
Chapter 8: Recent Developments in Indian Politics (25 pages) — Chronicles the shift to coalition governments from the 1990s onward and the emergence of new political formations beyond the Congress–BJP duopoly.
How to Use These Two Books for Board Exam Revision
- Start with Contemporary World Politics first. Its seven chapters are shorter (14–18 pages each) and introduce foundational concepts—power, security, cooperation, globalisation—that frame the Indian politics chapters. Finishing this book first builds confidence and conceptual grounding.
- Plan revision sessions by chapter length. The 10-page chapter on planned development fits comfortably in one sitting. The 14–18 page chapters of the first book suit single or double sittings depending on concept density. However, the longest chapters—Challenges of Nation Building (24 pages), Regional Aspirations (24 pages), and Recent Developments in Indian Politics (25 pages)—require two or more sittings each. Allocate time accordingly so you do not run short in the final weeks.
- Practise both map-based and long-answer questions for every chapter. After reading a chapter, identify one geographical element (borders, regional groupings, resource zones) and one analytical argument (a political shift, a policy choice, a conflict). This dual approach mirrors how CBSE exams test both knowledge and reasoning across both books.
- Correct a common mistake: do not neglect the second book. Many students focus heavily on Contemporary World Politics because international politics feels more abstract or ‘exam-like,’ then rush through the eight chapters of Politics in India since Independence in the final weeks. This gamble fails because CBSE weighs both books equally in the final exam. Your board paper will draw from all fifteen chapters.
Other NCERT Books Prescribed Alongside Class 12 Political Science
If you are studying the full Class 12 Humanities or Social Science stream, you will also need the official NCERT books for Class 12 History, which provides essential context for India’s post-independence political narrative. Students often combine Political Science with the Class 12 Economics books to understand the economic dimensions of India’s development strategy and globalisation. Some schools also prescribe Class 12 Sociology and Class 12 Geography alongside this subject.
Where to Check Unit-wise Weightage for Class 12 Political Science
Verified unit-wise marks weightage for this subject is not available in the current data registry. Rather than estimate marks distribution—which varies by session and can mislead your revision—consult the official CBSE curriculum document for the exact current-session weightage breakdown. This ensures your practice aligns with the board’s actual marking scheme.
Related Resources for Class 12 Political Science on LearnCBSE
After downloading the official textbooks, explore the Class 12 NCERT Books hub to locate PDFs for other prescribed subjects. You can also browse the main NCERT Books index to find resources across all classes and subjects. Each resource page on LearnCBSE links only to official NCERT PDFs verified on ncert.nic.in, so you can trust every download.
Frequently Asked Questions on NCERT Class 12 Political Science Books
Are there two different NCERT books for Class 12 Political Science?
Yes. CBSE prescribes two separate textbooks: Contemporary World Politics (7 chapters on international affairs) and Politics in India since Independence (8 chapters on India’s political history). Both are compulsory and equally examinable. Students sometimes assume there is only one main book, which leads them to neglect half the syllabus.
Which NCERT book covers Indian politics after independence for Class 12?
Politics in India since Independence is the dedicated text for India’s post-1947 political journey. It covers nation-building, the Congress system, planned development, external relations, democratic crises, regional movements, and recent coalition-era developments.
How many chapters are in the NCERT Class 12 Political Science books combined?
There are 15 chapters in total: 7 in Contemporary World Politics and 8 in Politics in India since Independence. All 15 are in the official syllabus and can appear on your board exam.
Do CBSE board exams ask questions from both Political Science books equally?
Yes. The CBSE board exam treats both books as equally important. A common mistake is to assume Contemporary World Politics carries more weight because it comes first or covers glamorous topics like international security. In reality, your final exam will test all eight chapters of Politics in India since Independence with the same rigour as the first book.
Which Contemporary World Politics chapter is the longest to revise?
Chapters 4, 5, and 6—International Organisations, Security in the Contemporary World, and Environment and Natural Resources—are each 18 pages, making them the lengthiest in that book. Plan at least two sittings for each if you are revising in detail. By contrast, Chapters 1, 2, and 7 are 14–16 pages and can often fit in single sittings.
Where can I check the exact unit-wise marks weightage for Class 12 Political Science?
The official CBSE curriculum document on cbse.gov.in lists the marks distribution for each unit or chapter in the current session. This is the authoritative source and changes annually, so always refer to it rather than relying on past-year patterns or estimates.
Reference: NCERT Class 12 Political Science textbooks—Contemporary World Politics and Politics in India since Independence, official edition on ncert.nic.in.