Politics in India: Contemporary Issues

By Dr. Manisha Misra | Banaras Hindu University

Learners enrolled: 94

ABOUT THE COURSE:
This course introduces to the students the various facets of Indian political landscape which shape our political discourses ranging from major concerns to challenges and emerging debates. The intricacies of Indian political scenario provide valuable insight about our existing political system. The changing nature of Indian political system, movements and their impact, reservation, affirmative action, regionalism, linguism and other issues are essentially contested debates and yet inevitable for understanding and explaining the politics of our country. A clear understanding of these issues will help the students to develop their own independent views and critical prospective about politics and democracy in their own country. If the learner is a UG or PG level student of Political Science or a NET- JRF aspirant or aspirant of competitive exam where Indian Political System related questions are asked, then this course would be beneficial for them.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: UG, PG Students and NET aspirants

PREREQUISITES: No pre-requisites required. Students who have completed Intermediate (12+) can join

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: For academics only

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	8 weeks
Category :	Political Science Multidisciplinary
Credit Points :	2
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	18 Aug 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	18 Aug 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	29 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	25 Oct 2025 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 7.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: Changing Nature of Indian Political System

Week 2: Institutional Changes: Contemporary Role

Week 3: Social Movements and Politics

Week 4: Politics of Inclusion

Week 5: Debates on Secularism

Week 6: Identity Politics and Extremism

Week 7: Challenges of National Integration

Week 8: Nation Building: Problems and Prospects

Books and references

Atul Kohli (ed.) The Success of India's Democracy, New Delhi, Foundation books, 2005
Bidyut Chakrabarty and Rajendra Kumar Pandey, Indian Government and Politics, Sage Publications, Delhi, 2008
Bidyut Chakraborty, Indian Politics and Society Since Independence, New Delhi, Routledge, 2008
Christophe Jaffrelot, India's Silent Revolution: The rise of Lower Castes in North India, London Hurst and Company, 2003
D.D. Basu, Introduction to the Constitution of India, Agra, Wadhwa and Company Law Publishers, 1999
Granville Austin, The Indian Constitution: Corner Stone of a Nation, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1996
Working a Democratic Constitution: A History of the Indian Experience, New Delhi: OUP, 2003
J.C. Johari, Indian Politics (Bhartiya Rajniti), Vishal Publications, Jalandhar, 2001
M. V. Pylee, Constitutional Government of India, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2003
M.P Singh, Indian federalism: An Introduction, New Delhi, National Book Trust, 2011
M.P. Singh and H. Roy (eds.), Indian Political System, New Delhi, Pearson, 2018
Neerja Gopal Jayal and Pratap Bhanu Mehta (ed.) Politics in India, New Delhi Oxford University Press, 2010
Nivedita Menon (ed.) Gender and Politics in India, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2013
P. Brass, Politics of India Since Independence, Hyderabad, Orient Longman, 1990
R. Kothari, Politics in India, Hyderabad, Orient Blackswan, 2019
Rajeev Bhargava (ed.) Politics and Ethics of the Indian Constitution, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2008
Zoya Hasan, E. Sridharan and R. Sudarshan (ed.) India's Living Constitution, New Delhi, Permanent Black, 2002
Zoya Hasan, Politics of Inclusion, Caste, Minorities and Affirmative Action, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2009

Instructor bio

Dr. Manisha Misra

Banaras Hindu University

Dr. Manisha Misra is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Department of Political Science, Vasanta College for Women, Rajghat, Varanasi (Admitted to the privileges of Banaras Hindu University) since January 2015. She has ten years of teaching experience at UG level and five years at PG level. Earlier served as an Assistant Professor in Political Science in S.S.Jalan Girls’ College, University of Calcutta, Kolkata in 2014. Her areas of specialization include International Relations and Women Studies. She has published twelve papers in reputed Journals, six papers as Book Chapters & three as Conference Proceedings. Developed E-content for E-pgPathshala of four modules consisting of four quadrants under MHRD’s Project NME-ICT in the subject-Women Studies, paper-11- Women, Governance and Politics. She has also delivered lectures as a resource person in various Colleges and University in India. She has delivered special talks at Air India Radio, Varanasi, at Facebook live and created an educational YouTube Channel. She has presented several papers in national/international seminars, workshops and symposiums. She is working as member of various committees at the college such as member of IQAC, Admission committee, Career Counselling & Placement Cell, Time table committee, Scholarship committee & Co-Curricular Committee. She has completed her Ph.D from BHU in 2018. She has qualified her Master of Arts in Political Science from BHU in 2009 with International Relations as specialization and awarded with Two Gold Medals (Dr. Karan Singh Gold Medal & B.H.U. Gold Medal) for securing First position. She has qualified her U.G.C.NET in two subjects Political Science & Women Studies & JRF in Political Science.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: 25 October 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 6 assignments out of the total 8 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup. It will have the logos of INI and BHU.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- INI team

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