UGC-NET – Paper II: International and Area Studies (Code: 90)
Exam Cycle: June 2026
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COURSE OVERVIEW
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Subject Name: International and Area Studies
Subject Code: 90
Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Paper Type: Paper-II – International and Area Studies
Total Marks: 200
Total Questions: 100 MCQs
Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
Duration: 3 Hours (Paper I + II combined)
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COMPLETE LIST OF UNITS
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Unit I: International and Area Studies: Concepts, Theories and Approaches:
Unit II: Evolution of International Relations and Area Studies.
Unit III: Contemporary World Order.
Unit IV: Conflict, Security and Peace: National and International.
Unit V: International Organisations and Global Governance.
Unit VI: India’s Foreign Policy.
Unit VII: South Asia and Indo-Pacific Region.
Unit VIII: Central Asia, West Asia and Africa.
Unit IX: Europe and Erstwhile Soviet Union/Russia.
Unit X: The Americas.
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UNIT-WISE DETAILED SYLLABUS
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Unit I: International and Area Studies: Concepts, Theories and Approaches:
Topic 1: Major concepts, scope and nature of International Relations and Area Studies:
• Major concepts
• scope and nature of International Relations and Area Studies
Topic 2: Theories: Realist, Liberal, Marxist and Critical Theories of IR and Area Studies:
• Theories
• Realist
• Liberal
• Marxist
• Critical Theories of IR and Area Studies
Topic 3: Approaches: Western and Non-Western:
• Approaches
• Western
• Non-Western
Topic 4: Power Politics: Balance of Power, Geopolitics, Bi polarity, Unipolarity, Multi polarity and Polycentrism:
• Power Politics
• Balance of Power
• Geopolitics
• Bi polarity
• Unipolarity
• Multi polarity
• Polycentrism
Topic 5: State and Non-State Actors in IR and Area Studies:
• State and Non-State Actors in IR and Area Studies
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Unit II: Evolution of International Relations and Area Studies.
Topic 1: Emergence of nation states and nationalism:
• Emergence of nation states and nationalism
Topic 2: Pre-World War I International System:
• Pre-World War I International System
Topic 3: Inter-War Period:
• Inter-War Period
Topic 4: Post-World War II Period (Cold War):
• Post-World War II Period (Cold War)
Topic 5: Decolonisation, Global South and International Politics:
• Decolonisation
• Global South and International Politics
Topic 6: Post-Cold War International Relations:
• Post-Cold War International Relations
Topic 7: Impact of Globalisation:
• Impact of Globalisation
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Unit III: Contemporary World Order.
Topic 1: Changing Patterns of World Order: Unipolarity, Bipolarity, Multipolarity and Polycentrism:
• Changing Patterns of World Order
• Unipolarity
• Bipolarity
• Multipolarity
• Polycentrism
Topic 2: Role of Major Powers: US, Russia, China, Japan, India and EU:
• Role of Major Powers
• US
• Russia
• China
• Japan
• India
• EU
Topic 3: Globality, Globalism and Globalisation:
• Globality
• Globalism
• Globalisation
Topic 4: Democratisation and the World Order:
• Democratisation and the World Order
Topic 5: Science, Technology and Global Order:
• Science, Technology and Global Order
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Unit IV: Conflict, Security and Peace: National and International.
Topic 1: Concepts, components and models of National and International Security:
• Concepts, components and models of National and International Security
Topic 2: Evolution of Strategic Thoughts: Kautilya, Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, Antonio Jomini, Carl von Clausewitz, H. Mackinder, A.T. Mahan, G. Douhet, William Mitchell, Alexander de Seversky, H. Kissinger:
• Evolution of Strategic Thoughts
• Kautilya
• Sun Tzu
• Machiavelli
• Antonio Jomini
• Carl von Clausewitz
• H. Mackinder
• A.T. Mahan
• G. Douhet
• William Mitchell
• Alexander de Seversky
• H. Kissinger
Topic 3: Evolution of Strategic Doctrines: Massive Retaliation, Deterrence, Flexible Response, Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), NMD:
• Evolution of Strategic Doctrines
• Massive Retaliation
• Deterrence
• Flexible Response
• Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)
• Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI)
• NMD
Topic 4: Evolution of India’s Security Policies and Nuclear and Maritime Doctrines:
• Evolution of India’s Security Policies and Nuclear and Maritime Doctrines
Topic 5: New Modes of Warfare: Conventional, Low Intensity Conflicts, Information and Communication warfare, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare, Revolution in Military Affairs:
• New Modes of Warfare
• Conventional
• Low Intensity Conflicts
• Information and Communication warfare
• Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare
• Revolution in Military Affairs
Topic 6: Non-Traditional Security Threats: Food and Health Security, Energy Security, Environmental Security, Gender Security, Human Security, Cyber Security and Terrorism:
• Non-Traditional Security Threats
• Food and Health Security
• Energy Security
• Environmental Security
• Gender Security
• Human Security
• Cyber Security
• Terrorism
Topic 7: Conflict Resolution and Peace, Arms Control and Disarmament:
• Conflict Resolution and Peace
• Arms Control and Disarmament
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Unit V: International Organisations and Global Governance.
Topic 1: Role of International Organisations in International Peace and Security, Development cooperation and Democratisation:
• Role of International Organisations in International Peace and Security, Development cooperation and Democratisation
Topic 2: United Nations: Role, Relevance, and Reforms:
• United Nations
• Role, Relevance, and Reforms
Topic 3: Global Governance: Issues and Challenges of global commons:
• Global Governance
• Issues and Challenges of global commons
Topic 4: Regional and Sub-regional Organisations:
• Regional and Sub-regional Organisations
Topic 5: Impact of Globalisation:
• Impact of Globalisation
Topic 6: International Law as an instrument of global governance:
• International Law as an instrument of global governance
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Unit VI: India’s Foreign Policy.
Topic 1: Evolution of Objectives and Principles of India’s Foreign Policy:
• Evolution of Objectives and Principles of India’s Foreign Policy
Topic 2: India’s Relations with Neighbourhood and Extended Neighbourhood:
• India’s Relations with Neighbourhood and Extended Neighbourhood
Topic 3: India and Major Powers: US, Russia, China, Japan, and EU:
• India and Major Powers
• US
• Russia
• China
• Japan
• EU
Topic 4: India’s Look East and Act East Policy:
• India’s Look East and Act East Policy
Topic 5: India’s Engagement with International and Regional Organisations:
• India’s Engagement with International and Regional Organisations
Topic 6: Role of India’s Soft Power in its Foreign Policy:
• Role of India’s Soft Power in its Foreign Policy
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Unit VII: South Asia and Indo-Pacific Region.
Topic 1: Geopolitical and Geostrategic setting:
• Geopolitical and Geostrategic setting
Topic 2: Colonialism, nationalism and independence movements:
• Colonialism
• nationalism and independence movements
Topic 3: Nation building, state building and challenges to democratization:
• Nation building
• state building and challenges to democratization
Topic 4: Post-Independence developments: Political Regimes:
• Post-Independence developments
• Political Regimes
Topic 5: Internal and External Threats to State Security and Human Security:
• Internal and External Threats to State Security and Human Security
Topic 6: Regional Territorial and Maritime Issues, Role of Extra-regional Powers:
• Regional Territorial and Maritime Issues
• Role of Extra-regional Powers
Topic 7: Regional Trade, Development Cooperation and Strategic Partnership: IORA, SAARC, ASEAN, ARF, APEC, BIMSTEC, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation etc:
• Regional Trade, Development Cooperation and Strategic Partnership
• IORA
• SAARC
• ASEAN
• ARF
• APEC
• BIMSTEC
• Mekong-Ganga Cooperation etc
Topic 8: Impact of Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation (LPG):
• Impact of Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation (LPG)
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Unit VIII: Central Asia, West Asia and Africa.
Topic 1: Geopolitical and Geostrategic setting:
• Geopolitical and Geostrategic setting
Topic 2: Colonialism, nationalism and independence movements:
• Colonialism
• nationalism and independence movements
Topic 3: Nation building, state building and challenges to democratization:
• Nation building
• state building and challenges to democratization
Topic 4: Post-Independence developments: Political Regimes:
• Post-Independence developments
• Political Regimes
Topic 5: Internal and External Threats to State Security and Human Security:
• Internal and External Threats to State Security and Human Security
Topic 6: Regional conflicts and issues and role of extra-regional powers:
• Regional conflicts and issues and role of extra-regional powers
Topic 7: Regional Trade, Development Cooperation and Strategic Partnership:
• Regional Trade, Development Cooperation and Strategic Partnership
Topic 8: Impact of Globalisation:
• Impact of Globalisation
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Unit IX: Europe and Erstwhile Soviet Union/Russia.
Topic 1: Geopolitical and Geostrategic setting:
• Geopolitical and Geostrategic setting
Topic 2: Nationalism, Industrial Revolution and State building:
• Nationalism
• Industrial Revolution and State building
Topic 3: Europe between two World Wars:
• Europe between two World Wars
Topic 4: Alliances and Accords in Europe: NATO, WARSAW PACT, Helsinki Accord, EU etc:
• Alliances and Accords in Europe
• NATO
• WARSAW PACT
• Helsinki Accord
• EU etc
Topic 5: Internal and External Threats to State Security and Human Security, Migration refugees and Ethnic Problems:
• Internal and External Threats to State Security and Human Security
• Migration refugees and Ethnic Problems
Topic 6: Trade, Development cooperation and Strategic Partnerships:
• Trade, Development cooperation and Strategic Partnerships
Topic 7: Role of US in Europe:
• Role of US in Europe
Topic 8: Impact of Globalisation:
• Impact of Globalisation
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Unit X: The Americas.
Topic 1: Geopolitical and Geostrategic setting:
• Geopolitical and Geostrategic setting
Topic 2: Colonialism, Nationalism and Independence Movements:
• Colonialism
• Nationalism and Independence Movements
Topic 3: Nation building, state building and challenges to democratization:
• Nation building
• state building and challenges to democratization
Topic 4: Internal and External Threats to State Security and Human Security:
• Internal and External Threats to State Security and Human Security
Topic 5: Regional conflicts and Issues: Role of US and Extra-regional Powers:
• Regional conflicts and Issues
• Role of US and Extra-regional Powers
Topic 6: Regional trade, development cooperation and strategic partnership:
• Regional trade, development cooperation and strategic partnership
Topic 7: Globalisation and its impact:
• Globalisation and its impact
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EXAMINATION STRUCTURE
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Paper-II: Subject Specific Examination
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 200
- Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- Negative Marking: No
- Duration: 3 Hours (Combined with Paper I)
- Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
Additional Notes (if any):
- [No additional notes provided in source]
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SYLLABUS SUMMARY
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Total Units: 10
Total Topics: 68
Subject: International and Area Studies
Subject Code: 90
Exam Category: UGC-NET Paper-II
Source: Official NTA/UGC Syllabus
Status: “As per latest official syllabus”
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