The Class 12 Political Science NCERT syllabus is built on two books: Contemporary World Politics, covering international relations since the Cold War, and Politics in India since Independence, covering India’s domestic political history from 1947 onward. Together these 15 chapters are core reading for CBSE boards and a foundational text for UPSC Civil Services aspirants. Below are free, direct-download official PDF links for every chapter plus complete-book ZIP files.
Complete Chapter List with Free PDF Download
Contemporary World Politics
| Chapter | What You’ll Learn |
|---|---|
| The Cold War Era | Origins and course of the Cold War between the US and Soviet blocs. |
| The End of Bipolarity | The disintegration of the Soviet Union and its global consequences. |
| US Hegemony in World Politics | The rise of a unipolar world and challenges to US dominance. |
| Alternative Centres of Power | The emergence of the EU and ASEAN as alternative power centres. |
| Contemporary South Asia | Political developments and conflicts in South Asian countries. |
| International Organisations | The role and functioning of the United Nations and its key bodies. |
| Security in the Contemporary World | Traditional and non-traditional security concerns in global politics. |
Politics in India since Independence
| Chapter | What You’ll Learn |
|---|---|
| Challenges of Nation Building | India’s early challenges after independence, including Partition and integration of princely states. |
| Era of One-Party Dominance | Congress party’s political dominance in the early decades after independence. |
| Politics of Planned Development | India’s early economic planning approach and its political dimensions. |
| India’s External Relations | India’s foreign policy and key international relationships since independence. |
| Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System | Political shifts and realignments through the 1960s-70s. |
| The Crisis of Democratic Order | The Emergency period and its impact on Indian democracy. |
| Rise of Popular Movements | Major social and political movements from the 1970s onward. |
| Regional Aspirations | Regional political movements and their impact on Indian federalism. |
How to Download the Complete Class 12 Political Science NCERT Books (ZIP)
Every link above goes directly to the official NCERT server, with no redirect chains or pop-ups standing between you and the actual PDF.
Why This Book Matters for Boards and UPSC
For CBSE boards, this subject rewards students who can connect events to their causes and consequences in a structured, chronological way, since both objective and long-answer questions test this understanding. For UPSC aspirants, Politics in India since Independence is considered one of the best entry points into modern Indian political history and is frequently referenced in both prelims and mains preparation, while Contemporary World Politics builds the international relations foundation needed for General Studies papers. Reading both books chronologically, and connecting chapters to current geopolitical developments, strengthens preparation for both goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I download the Class 12 Political Science NCERT book PDF for free?
Click any chapter link above to open the official PDF directly, or use the Part 1/Part 2 ZIP links to download each book at once. No login or payment is required.
2. Is the Class 12 Political Science NCERT book free to download?
Yes, NCERT publishes all its textbooks for free public access and every link here points directly to the official ncert.nic.in files.
3. Is this the updated 2026-27 edition?
Yes, these links reflect the current 2026-27 edition as published on the official NCERT website.
4. How many chapters are in Class 12 Political Science?
There are 15 chapters across two books: Contemporary World Politics (7 chapters) and Politics in India since Independence (8 chapters).
5. Is the book available in Hindi medium?
Yes, NCERT publishes Hindi-medium editions of both books on its official textbooks portal.
6. Can I read this book offline after downloading?
Yes, once downloaded, the PDF or ZIP files can be opened anytime without an internet connection using any standard PDF reader.
7. Is this book useful for UPSC preparation?
Yes, Politics in India since Independence in particular is a foundational text for UPSC Civil Services preparation on Indian polity’s political history.
8. What is the difference between the two books?
Contemporary World Politics covers international relations and global political developments since the Cold War. Politics in India since Independence covers India’s domestic political history from 1947 onward.
9. Is this book only theory-based, or does it need current affairs knowledge too?
While the textbook itself is largely self-contained, connecting chapters like International Organisations or Regional Aspirations to recent current affairs helps deepen understanding and answer quality for both boards and UPSC.
10. Should I use NCERT or other publishers’ guides?
NCERT is the official source CBSE bases its exams on and should be your primary text; other guides can supplement it with extra practice questions but shouldn’t replace it.
11. What is the difference between the NCERT textbook and the NCERT Exemplar for Political Science?
The textbook covers core concepts and standard exercises, while the Exemplar offers more challenging problems for additional practice once the textbook is mastered.
12. What is the best way to study from this book?
Read each chapter for its timeline and key events, note important terms and organisations, and practice answer-writing that connects textbook content to examples and current developments.
