International Relations (IR) is a vital part of the General Studies Paper II in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. To master this dynamic section, aspirants often rely on well-structured International Relations UPSC Notes that cover India’s foreign policy, bilateral and multilateral ties, and global developments. For quick and effective revision, many candidates also prefer international relations UPSC handwritten notes that simplify complex topics and current affairs in a concise format.

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International Relations has garnered a significant amount of weightage in the last few years. Candidates can check out the Topic Wise International Relations Notes for UPSC with the links given in the table below.

Approaching International Relations for the UPSC exam requires a focus on current affairs. We also have to understand how global events impact India and its relations with other countries. Here's a simplified breakdown of the topics to cover:

India's relations based on its geographical location

• Neighboring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, China, and Nepal.
• International organizations such as the UN, G20, ASEAN, GCC, IMF, EU, World Bank, etc.
• Different regions like the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, etc.
• Relations with economically advanced nations like Australia, Japan, USA, etc.
• India's interactions with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (USA, France, China, Russia, and UK).

India's foreign policy during the various phases of history

• Post-independence period
• Cold War era
• Non-alignment movement
• Conflicts with Pakistan and China
• After the fall of the USSR
• Post 9/11 developments
• Current events like the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and vaccine diplomacy.

When studying IR material, focus on the following:

• Understand the fundamental principles of international relations.
• Trace the evolution of India's foreign policy.
• Analyze significant global changes and their effects on India.
• Examine India's role in major international organizations.

In bilateral relations, pay attention to:

• India's relationships with neighboring countries.
• Relations with the United States, Russia, and China.

For each relationship, consider the following:

• Historical background.
• Economic ties.
• Present-day issues.
• Areas of conflict.
• Important agreements or movements.
• Future prospects.
• Unique opportunities or challenges.
• The influence of the Indian diaspora.

Follow this approach and keep up with current affairs. You can effectively prepare for the International Relations section of the UPSC exam.

Important International Relations Books for UPSC

• Pax Indica by Shashi Tharoor
• India’s Foreign Policy: Coping with the Changing World – Muchkund Dubey
• Challenge and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy – Rajeev Sikri
• India’s Foreign Policy Since Independence by V.P. Dutt

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We hope that all your doubts regarding the International Relations UPSC Notes will be cleared after going through this article. You can download the Testbook App now to check out various other topics relevant to the UPSC IAS Exam.