MDP Course Outcomes

Master Programme Course Scheme

Semester	Course Code	Title Course	Credit
First	PSPSTC-101	Western Political Thought	6
First	PSPSTC-102	International Politics: Theory and Issues	6
First	PSPSTC-103	Indian Political System	6
First	PSPSTC-104	Public Administration	6
Second	PSPSTC-201	Political Theory	6
Second	PSPSTC-202	India’s Foreign Policy	6
Second	PSPSTC-203	State Politics in India	6
Second	PSPSTC-204	Comparative Politics	6
Third	PSPSTC-301	Modern Indian Political Thought	6
Third	PSPSTC-302	Indian Politics: Issues and Trends	6
Third	PSPSTC-303	Politics in South Asia	6
Third	PSPSTC-304	International Political Economy	6
Third	PSPSTC-305	Indian Administration	6
Fourth	PSPSTC-401	Dynamics of Jammu & Kashmir Politics (with a Field Study Component)	6
Fourth	PSPSTC-402	India’s Neighbourhood, Extended Neighbourhood and Near Abroad	6
Fourth	PSPSTC-403	International Organization and International Law	6
Fourth	PSPSTC-404	Human Rights	6
Fourth	PSPSTC-405	Public Policy Making and Policy Analysis	6
Fourth	PSPSTC-406	Indian Political Economy	6

Open Choice Courses offered:

Semester	Course Code	Title Course	Code
Third	PSPOLTO-306	Polity and Politics in India	4
Fourth	PSPOLTO-407	India and the World	4

M.A Political Science Semester-1 

Course Code: PSPSTC-101: Western Political Thought (Core) 

Course Objectives: This core course aims to impart knowledge to the learners in the Political Philosophies of various Western political thinkers, constituting the foundations of Political Science. It will introduce and familiarize the learners with various thinkers' ideas, concepts, principles and theories about the state, citizens, political obligation and the art of state-craft. This course is designed to enable the learners to understand how these ideas, institutions, and principles have kept evolving in the writings of various thinkers through the various phases and stages of human civilization. The major objective of this course is to educate the learners that political ideas, institutions and structures described, celebrated and criticized in the writings of political thinkers are not static and abstract. Rather, they were conceived in the light of the continuous process of social, economic and political churning of human society. 

Learning Outcomes: The major learning outcome of this course will be to develop the foundation of learners in the subject matter of political science. It enables the learners to understand,  comprehend, contextualize, and reflect upon political developments, issues, and phenomena in contemporary times. The methods and tools deployed by the political thinkers in their writings will equip the learners to approach political events and phenomena by placing them in their proper contexts. 

Course Code: PSPSTC-102: International Politics: Theory and Practice (Core) 

Course Objectives: This course is designed to develop a basic understanding of international politics because the state, as a subject matter of political science, conducts itself in the comity of nations. It intends to help the learners understand the complex dynamic of international politics within which the state actors operate. This aims to equip the learners with sufficient knowledge to understand why the nation-states behaved/behave in a particular way in their external contexts. The course will teach a foundational understanding of the nature of the international power structure that evolved through the different stages of the history of international relations.  

Learning Outcomes: This course will equip the learners with skills to understand and analyze the nature of the world power structure that has evolved over time. The modes of conflict, competition and cooperation used by the nation-states to conduct relations amongst them enable the learners to understand the theory and practice of International Politics. It aims to empower the learners by educating them on the techniques of understanding, transforming and resolving inter-state conflict and conflict amongst states. By introducing the theoretical foundations of power transition in international relations and the  changing nature of power relationships, which resulted in the emergence of a dynamic structure of the international system  

Course Code: PSPSTC-103: Indian Political System (Core) 

Course Objectives: This course aims to provide foundations in the philosophical and ideological bases of the Indian Political System. It is designed for the structures, processes, and relationships among various structures, as well as symbiotic relationships between the structures and processes. The major objective of the course is to introduce the learners to the politics of representation and recognition. While focusing on the democratization and federalization of political structures, it empowers the learners to understand the process of structural differentiation that has been built and evolved in the Indian political system over a period of time.  

Learning Outcomes: This course imparts skills to the learners to understand the workings of the Indian Political System. The learners will be able to understand how the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances operate in the Indian context. It will help the learners to know that understanding the socio-economic and political context is equally important to grasp the workings of political criticisms and processes as their functioning is shaped by it. The significance of the legitimacy of political structures and where they are driving it will be vital learning for the learners. 

Course Code: PSPSTC-104: Public Administration (Core) 

Course Objectives: This course is designed to educate about the evolution, growth, dynamism, and vitality of public administration in statecraft. The learners will also be familiarized with the organizational structures, operating principles, and various methods of studying the discipline of public administration. The course intends to impart theoretical and practical knowledge about the steel frame of the state constituted by the administrative structures and processes and the impact of contemporary conditions on them.  

Learning Outcomes: The learners will acquire skills to understand the workings of administrative structures as part of statecraft. The knowledge students acquire about the liaison, control, and monitoring mechanisms deployed by the state to regulate the functioning of administrative structures will help them understand the policy implementation and evaluation process.  

M.A Political Science Semester-II 

Course Code: PSPSTC-201: Political Theory (Core) 

Course Objectives: This course provides knowledge about the evolution, growth, dynamism and vitality of the discipline of political science. The major objective of the course is to educate students about the universals of the discipline. It aims to generate learners' interest in the theoretical knowledge base as it is paramount to understand political science. It will equip the learners to understand the process of theorization, which has a symbiotic relationship with the practice of statecraft. The course intends to impart theoretical knowledge theorized based on the practice of statecraft.  

Learning Outcomes: The theoretical knowledge imparted to the learners will equip them to grasp the practice of statecraft. The skills they acquire will empower them to draw theoretical inferences while analyzing data on any political event, development or phenomenon. This course will teach theoretical orientation in the learners to understand the practice of politics. The knowledge provided about the political theorists' tools, techniques and methods will enable the learners to contemplate and reflect upon contemporary political phenomena. This course imparts analytical skills to the learners that are vital in the academic world and in the arena of politics and political science.  

Course Code: PSPSTC-202: India’s Foreign Policy (Core) 

Course Objectives: This course is framed to enable the learners to comprehend how India situated itself in the comity of nation-states after independence when the international scenario was highly acrimonious and polarized. Another objective is to help students understand how India has been adjusting to the highly dynamic world by calibrating its worldview accordingly. It elucidates how India has established and steered its relations with major players at the bilateral, regional and global formats. This course explores the role of constantly evolving internal and external environments in shaping, transforming and adjusting India’s world in the past and contemporary world. 

Learning Outcomes: The learners are educated on why India, or, for that matter, every country, needs foreign policy. They are expected to know the use of diplomacy and the various policy postures of India to deal with the highly dynamic world. It also aims to make students understand how India's security scenario was improved when it had limited military capability. This course equips the learners to grasp how India used diplomacy to secure its national interest and mobilize capital and technology for its energy security, economic growth and prosperity. This knowledge will help them to relate India to the contemporary world.   

Course Code: PSPSTC-203: State Politics in India (Core) 

Course Objectives: Indian politics constitutes a macrocosm, and state politics is the microcosm of politics in India. While focusing on the latter, this course aims to explore the dynamics of politics that vary from state to state. Understanding the theoretical frameworks equips them to approach political phenomena in the politics of different states. The course examines the commonalities, diversities, and uniqueness of state politics across India. It also explores the role of region, religion, ethnicity, caste, class and community in state politics. This course attempts to explain that state formation has been a continuous process and for the structural differentiation to satisfy the regional aspirations of people across the country, thereby building the Indian Nation and State.  

Learning Outcomes: Understanding state politics will prove handy for the learners to grasp the peculiarities of politics in different states of the Indian Union in a systematic and organized manner. The knowledge gained from theoretical frameworks equips the learners with how to approach political phenomena in the politics of different states. It explores how the assertion of regional assertions led to the reorganization of states in different phases. The course examines the logic behind the formation of more and more states over the period of time, which led to the differentiation of political structures and thereby building the Indian nation by accommodating linguistic, ethnocultural and regional aspirations.  

Course Code: PSPSTC-204: Comparative Politics (Core) 

Course Objectives: This course introduces students to different approaches and conceptual frameworks to approach politics from a comparative perspective. It underlines the significance of understanding how and why the comparisons are made. The course explores the commonalities and differences in the politics of nation-states worldwide by deploying different analytical and conceptual tools. It intends to equip the learners with theoretical tools to compare and contrast political structures and processes apart from explaining the process of structural differentiation worldwide. It educates the learners that political structures and processes are dynamic as they have always been negotiating with the evolving objective realities within the nation-states worldwide.  

Learning Outcomes: While studying this course, the learners will learn about debates on the conceptual framework and theoretical perspectives in comparative politics. They will learn to use the comparative method to compare the changes in political structures, processes, regimes, and ideologies that have occurred perennially across nation-states. This course will equip the learners with theoretical knowledge and analytical tools to study politics by comparing and contrasting political phenomena worldwide. 

M.A. Political Science Semester-III 

Course Code: PSPSTC-301: Modern Indian Political Thought (Core) 

Course Objectives: This course aims to educate students on the ideas of Modern Indian Political Thinkers that have shaped the course of politics during the colonial and post-colonial eras. The course also explores the factors and context that shaped the political thinking of these thinkers. It also compares their ideas on the different issues of national importance for India. It intends to underline the relevance of their ideas in the globalized India.  

Learning Outcomes: This course will enrich learners' knowledge about Indian Political thinking and tradition. It will enable them to understand that thinkers' political thinking was organically related to their respective contexts. The context plays a vital role because every Indian political thinker is the product of a particular socio-economic, political, and cultural context apart from their educational background that profoundly shaped their political thinking.  

Course Code: PSPSTC-302: Indian Politics: Issues and Trends (Core) 

Course Objectives: The course is framed to familiarize the students with the issues that cropped up in Indian Politics in the Post-Colonial era. It aims to broaden the horizon of learners about Indian politics by focusing on various issues ranging from old to new issues shaping contemporary Indian Politics. Elucidating the transition in Indian politics from liberal to neo-liberal politics under the impact of neo-liberal economic reforms as a major trend is another vital objective of this course. The debates on secularism, nationalism, citizenship and transparency & accountability will familiarize the students with major discourses in Indian Politics. Another objective of this course is to explain the shift from a socialist orientation to a neoliberal orientation. 

Learning Outcomes: This course will empower the learners to comprehend Indian politics beyond structural and constitutional perspectives. It will enable them to grasp Indian Politics in its entirety. The course will consolidate the learners' knowledge base about the dynamism of Indian Politics. It will enable them to understand the dialectical relationship between Indian politics and its social universe.  

Course Code: PSPSTC-303: Politics in South Asia (Core) 

Course Objectives : The major objective of this course is to examine the domestic politics of South Asian states by placing them in the perspective of comparative politics. This course provides the conceptual and constitutional perspectives on the politics of these states. It aims to educate the students about various political regimes, ranging from democratic to authoritarian and praetorian, which emerged in the South Asian states in the Post-Colonial era. It further compares the variants of these regimes' experiences by the South  Asian states with each other. Understanding the changing nature of South Asian States and their organic relationship with their social universe is the key objective. The course familiarizes the learners with the diversity of political structures and structural differentiation that has taken place over time, apart from introducing them to the dynamic political processes constantly shaping political structures' workings. 

Learning Outcomes: The course inculcates the orientation of comparative politics in the students to understand the politics of South Asian States in a comprehensive manner. The tools of comparative politics equip them to develop deeper insights into the politics of these states by comparing and contrasting their constitutional perspectives, political structures, political processes, political elites and political ideologies. The knowledge imparted by this course enables the learners to grasp the role of civil society movements that brought transformation, such as states and political regimes in South Asia. It will enable them to understand how the civil society upsurge led to the democratization of politics in the region.  

Course Code: PSPSTC-304: International Political Economy (Elective) 

Course Objectives: This course provides theoretical perspectives and empirical explanations regarding international political economy. It examines how economic interests are determining the course of international relations. This course deals with issues relating to power distribution, wealth and resources among nations. The key objectives to be explored are the politics of framing the rules of international trade and understanding the evolution of the global economy & global market. The students will be familiarized with the politics of foreign aid, trade, technology transfer, arms trade and foreign direct investment. The impact of the Bretton Woods system, globalization, and anti-globalization on the international political economy will be examined to provide an overall perspective for learners. The North-South divide prevailed during the Cold War era and has prevailed in the globalized world, comprehending the dynamics of international political economy in the contemporary era.  

Learning Outcomes: This course will enable the students to examine inter-state relations and international politics from the political economy perspective. It enables the learners to understand how the economic interests of dominant powers determine the course of global politics and the international economy. The course explores for the benefit of its learners how foreign aid, trade,  foreign direct investments, technology transfer and arms transfer from developed nations to developing nations are used as tools to shape the nature of the international political economy. It explores the role of international financial and monetary institutions in shaping the dynamism of international political economy. 

Course Code: PSPSTE-305: Indian Administration (Elective) 

Course Objectives: This course traces the evolution of Indian Administration is a historical perspective and constitutional framework. Besides elucidating the uniformity of administrative structures and continuity of administration in India, it elaborates on liberal democracy and quasi-unitary state structure that shape the working of Indian Administration. It explains the functioning of administrative structures at national, state and local levels, their inter-relationship and their respective social, economic, political and cultural settings. The course also aims to explain the concepts and mechanisms of clean and accountable administration. It explores the impact of liberalization, privatization and globalization on administration.  

Learning Outcomes: The grounding in the evolution of Indian Administration will help learners absorb its working in contemporary times. It also elucidates that Indian Administration operates in the larger political setting with which it has a symbiotic relationship. It empowers the students to grasp the dynamism of Indian Administration. They are familiar with the concepts and mechanisms of clean administration, good governance and accountable and responsible administration. Understanding the change and continuity of administration from national to state and local levels will be an outcome.   

Course Code: PSPSTO-306: Polity and Politics in India (Open Choice Course) 

Course Objectives: This course is designed for students pursuing a master's Degree Programme in another discipline with the objective of promoting their interdisciplinary knowledge base. It aims to introduce the theory and practice of Indian polity in a blended mould. The course provides a conceptual and constitutional framework of Indian Politics to grasp the practice of politics in India. This course familiarizes students with the institutions and processes of governance operating at the national, state, and local levels. It also explores the factors shaping Indian politics.  

Learning Outcomes: The learners gain knowledge of Indian Polity and Politics and get interdisciplinary knowledge perspectives. They also learn the significance of an interdisciplinary approach to understanding their parent subjects. It helps those students aspiring to take the competitive examinations for various jobs tremendously. It acquaints the students with the functioning of the Indian political system, which affects their lives and future.  

 

M.A. Political Science Semester-IV 

Course Code: PSPSTC-401: Dynamics of Jammu and Kashmir Politics (Core) 

Course Objectives: This course is designed to provide knowledge about the immediate surroundings of learners. It familiarizes the students with the politics of Jammu and Kashmir, which have evolved over time. It introduces the students to the historical and constitutional perspectives of the politics of  Jammu and Kashmir. The constitutional provisions related to its special status and the subsequent modifications have been discussed here. The economic and electoral dynamics of politics have also been explored to grasp politics in its entirety. The perennial conflict situation and urge for regional autonomy have also been examined. It also acquaints the students with the recent change in its status and position in the Indian Union. 

Learning Outcomes: Understanding the historical and constitutional perspectives enables the learners to grasp the dynamics of politics in Jammu and Kashmir. It empowers them to develop a broad knowledge base by focusing on the politics of granting special status and subsequently diluting it through various accords and agreements. Political economy and regional autonomy perspectives help the learners develop deeper insights into the dynamics of politics in Jammu and Kashmir. Elucidating the impact of recent changes in the status of Jammu and Kashmir will be another learning outcome of this course.  

Course Code: PSPSTC-402: India’s Neighbourhood, Extended Neighbourhood and Near Abroad (Core)

Course Objectives: This course aims to enrich students’ knowledge base on India’s World view by focusing on its immediate and extended surroundings. It evaluates India’s South Asian, Southeast Asian,  West Asian and Central Asian diplomacies, as well as examines its Indian Ocean policy and relations with  Australia and Canada. It explores its bilateral relations with South Asian states, some Southeast Asian and  West Asian States, which matter more to India’s national interest. 

Learning Outcomes: The course helps the learners to use bilateral and multilateral approaches to grasp India’s policy perspectives and strategies in the South Asian, Southeast Asian, Central Asian, and  West Asian regions. By elaborating on the regional policy postures, learners can figure out how India adjusted its equations and relations with these regions depending upon the evolving time and space. While discussing India’s maritime security concerns and naval diplomacy, the learners will understand the significance of the Indian Ocean in India's destiny. 

Course Code: PSPSTE-403: International Organization and International Law (Elective) 

Course Objectives: This course intends to explain the evolution and growth of international organizations and International Law, which have shaped state actors' behaviour in international politics. It educates about the goals and principles of international organizations and describes their contribution in the domain of high and low politics. The course explores the need for reforms in the United Nations to keep it relevant in the twenty-first century. It elucidates the symbiotic relationship between international organizations and international law as they reinforce each other. It explains relations between  International and National Law to better understand the subject. It mandates elaborating the sources of international law and humanitarian law and their utility for the Pacific settlement of conflict. 

Learning Outcomes: This course enables the learners to consolidate their knowledge base by focusing on studying International Organization and International Law because national politics has close linkages with international politics. It introduces them to the fact that the states are bound to honour their commitments to international organizations given under international law while formulating their national policies. It sensitizes the learners to the right of asylums for the individual and the right to extradition available to the states under international law.  

Course Code: PSPSTE-404: Human Rights (Elective) 

Course Objectives: This course is framed to sensitize the student with the articulation of the idea of human rights, which is the conceptualization of various human rights and their legalization in the form of international legal regimes such as declarations, covenants, protocols and conventions. It explores the role of public international law and humanitarian law for the protection and promotion of human rights. It intends to elaborate on the obligations of the State and Civil Society as major stakeholders in human rights. The impact of conflict and globalization on human rights scenarios worldwide has also been elaborated here. This course examines the mechanism of human rights and the human rights of disadvantaged groups such as children, transgender, refugees, migrants, minorities and internally displaced people in India. It also evaluates the role of Human Rights Movements in the protection of human rights  

Learning Outcomes: The course educates students about the global picture and the dynamism of human rights and international legal regimes that have evolved there. It will make the learners aware that individuals, states, civil society and the international community are stakeholders in human rights. They will learn the safeguards available in international and national law for protecting human rights. It will enhance the students' sensitivity regarding human rights in general and the rights of disadvantaged groups. 

Course Code: PSPSTE-405: Public Policy and Governance (Elective) 

Course Objectives: This course imparts theoretical knowledge about public policy, public policymaking, policy analysis and evaluation. It explains the models of policy analysis and the significance of public policies in democratic societies. It explores the roles played by various agencies,  groups and media in policy implementation and evaluation. Some case studies of public policies are undertaken to elucidate their objectives, formulation, implementation, and evaluation processes. To explain the co-relations between public policies and governance is the core objective of this course. It intends to draw a distinction between government and governance. 

Learning Outcomes: While studying this course, the learners will understand the significance of public policies for the Statecraft. Understanding the importance of public policies for democratic governance will be one of the vital learning outcomes. The students will be introduced to public policy formulation, implementation and evaluation processes to strengthen their knowledge base. They will also learn how sound public policies will improve governance and how effective governance will result in people-centric public policies. Studying some sectoral public policies will enable them to explore the relationship between public policies and democratic governance.   

Course Code: PSPSTE-406: Indian Political Economy (Elective) 

Course Objectives: This course is designed to grasp a political economy perspective by focusing on the linkages between India's polity and economy. It intends to provide a conceptual and historical framework of the Indian political economy. It explores to what extent the economic ideas of the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution and the freedom struggle shaped the political economy in India. The political economy of agriculture, liberalization, elections, regional disparities, media, social sector, technology and growth in India will be examined. It explains that political and economic processes are intertwined as the polity and economy are interdependent. 

Learning Outcomes: Theoretical knowledge about political economy equips the learners to explore the dynamics of the economy and polity in India. They will learn the politics of land reforms, demonetization, digitalization, and the economics of elections, media, and technology to better understand Indian politics and economy. This course will enable the students to learn their subject better by using the interdisciplinary approach. 

Course Code: PSPSTO-407: India and the World (Open Choice Course) 

Course Objectives: This course is designed for students pursuing a Master's Degree Programme in another discipline to promote their interdisciplinary knowledge base. It introduces the world power structure that keeps on changing with the change of global objective realities. The states' use of war and diplomacy as an instrument of their foreign policy is elaborated here. It aims to familiarize the students with India’s worldview, which has evolved since its independence. It educates students about India’s use of foreign policy to mobilize external support in the form of capital and technology to modernize its economy. It elucidates the use of diplomacy to fulfil India’s energy requirements by importing fossil fuels from the West Asian region. This course explores India’s worldview in the context of three concentric circles: the immediate circle, intermediate circle and ultimate circle. 

Learning Outcomes: The learners gain knowledge on India and the World and thereby develop an interdisciplinary knowledge perspective. They also learn the significance of an interdisciplinary approach for better understanding their parent subjects. It helps those students aspiring for the competitive examinations for various jobs tremendously. It acquaints the students with how India has engaged the world by articulating different policy perspectives to serve its national interest. They will also learn about India’s commitments towards global commons such as world peace, climate change, a fair world trading system and the security of Sea Lanes of Communications.