The NCERT book class 12 political science syllabus is built on two books bound as one: 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; this class 12 political science ncert book covers all 15 chapters below.
What This Book Covers
The first half traces global power shifts chapter by chapter — from the End of Bipolarity through Contemporary Centres of Power, Contemporary South Asia, International Organisations, Security, Environment and Natural Resources, and Globalisation. The second half turns inward, covering Challenges of Nation Building through Regional Aspirations and the Rise of Popular Movements in independent India.
Complete Chapter List with What You’ll Learn
Contemporary World Politics
| Chapter | What You’ll Learn |
|---|---|
| The End of Bipolarity | The disintegration of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War, and the collapse of the ‘second world’. |
| Contemporary Centres of Power | The emergence of the EU and ASEAN, and other alternative centres of power in a changing world order. |
| 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. |
| Environment and Natural Resources | The rising profile of environmental issues in world politics, global commons, resource geopolitics, and India’s stance on environmental debates. |
| Globalisation | The concept, causes, and political-economic-cultural consequences of globalisation, and resistance movements against it. |
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. |
| Regional Aspirations | Regional autonomy movements and how the Indian state responded, including Assam, Punjab, Mizoram, and Jammu and Kashmir. |
| Rise of Popular Movements | The rise of coalition politics, Mandal politics, the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, and the new policy consensus of the 1990s. |
Chapters in This Book
Chapter links on this page were last automatically re-checked against the official NCERT source on August 15, 2026.
All 15 chapters below link directly to the official NCERT source (ncert.nic.in) — nothing is hosted on this site. Click “Read” to open a chapter, or “Download” to save it. You can also open the full book in our chapter-by-chapter reader.
Prefer the whole book at once? Download Complete Book (Part 1) Download Complete Book (Part 2)
Why This Book Matters for Boards and UPSC
Class 12 is a CBSE board exam year, so this book’s chapters form the direct basis for the board syllabus — downloading the official version (rather than a summarized or third-party copy) ensures you’re studying from the exact source the exam is set against. Keep two separate timelines as you read — one for world events, one for India — board questions rarely mix the two but often ask you to date events precisely. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
Is this the updated 2026-27 edition?
Yes, every chapter linked above is pulled directly from the official NCERT source at ncert.nic.in, so it always reflects whatever NCERT currently has published for Class 12 Political Science for the 2026-27 academic session.
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).
Is the book available in Hindi medium?
Yes, NCERT publishes Hindi-medium editions of both books on its official textbooks portal.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.