International Relations for UPSC Prelims 2025: Important Topics, Sources, Trends and Tips

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International Relations (IR) is a crucial segment of the UPSC Prelims, requiring aspirants to stay updated on global affairs, India’s foreign policy, and international organizations. With the increasing complexity of geopolitics, topics like bilateral relations, multilateral groupings, treaties, and global conflicts have gained prominence in recent years. Understanding trends from previous year questions and analyzing India’s strategic interests in changing world dynamics is essential for scoring well.

A smart preparation strategy involves filtering relevant news, making concise notes, and revising key facts regularly. In this blog, we will break down the most important topics, the best sources to follow, and effective study techniques to help aspirants master IR for UPSC Prelims 2025.

Important Topics of IR for Prelims 2025

Static

UnderStanding important bilateral relations – US, China, UK, Japan, Central Asia, West Asia, Neighbours
Important Foreign Policy Programmes of India – Neighbourhood First, Act East, Necklace of Diamonds, etc.
Important International Organisations – UN, WTO, IMF, World Bank Group, ADB, AIIB, SCO, BRICS, QUAD, BIMSTEC, L.69, GCC etc. – their mandate and structure + Funding
Important Bilateral and Multilateral Military Exercises – Yudh Abhyas (with USA), Malabar (with USA, Japan, Australia), Shakti (with France), Garuda Shakti (with Indonesia), Mitra Shakti (with Sri Lanka), Sampriti (with Bangladesh), Nomadic Elephant (with Mongolia), etc.
Operations for aid – Operation Dost, Operation Ajay, Operation Sankat Mochan, Operation Sadhbhav, etc.
Important Agreements of India
Global Initiatives that India has joined, like IPEF
Global Infrastructure Projects – INSTC, IMEC, etc.
Places in News

Current Affairs Topics (since January 2024)

MERCOSUR
Interpol
Creditor Committee
UN Convention on Cybercrime
Summit for Democracy
Indus-X
Raisina Dialogue
Darfur Crisis
Europe’s AI Convention
Global South Summit 2024
Summit of the Future
Pacific Islands Forum
India-Caricom Summit
Free Movement Regime
Operations – Indravati, Sankalp, Chakra, etc.
Colombo Security Conclave
Places in News – Scarborough Shoal, Triton Island, Blue Line, Gulf of Tonkin, Lake Michigan, Hopen Island, etc.
Exercises in News – Desert Cyclone, JIMEX, Mitra Shakti, Varuna, etc.

Best Sources for IR for Prelims 2025

For Static – Any Coaching Compilation to build Understanding
For Current Affairs – UnderStand UPSC FocUS Magazine for IR – Extensive coverage of IR Current Affairs of last 1.5 years (Freely Available on UnderStand UPSC App)
Follow PIB Regularly for updates on Military Exercises and Operations
Extensive use of Maps for Places in News

Trend Analysis in Prelims – IR

There is an Irregular trend in Questions of IR in Prelims – varying from 6 to 14 in past few years.
A substantial portion of these questions is derived from recent IR happenings – pacts, international organisations, Operations, Places in News, etc.
UPSC has been consistently asking about Places in News (At Least one question every year in past few years) in the form of Pair based Questions.
Another very significant area is Reports released by International Organisations.

Tips for Preparing IR for UPSC Prelims 2025

IR is mainly a current affairs based subject in terms of questions asked in UPSC Prelims. However, you must ensure that you have a strong foundation and conceptual clarity of Indian Foreign Policy and its objectives in different regions of the world. This will help you in solving unpredictable questions.
Identify recurring themes and question patterns to focus on high-yield topics. UPSC often frames questions on India’s participation in global events and agreements.
Strictly restrict yourself to a single source. IR is a dynamic subject. Reading and retaining information from different sources is extremely difficult here.
Catch the repeating themes – Reports by International Organisations, Places in News, International Organisations, etc.
UPSC asks about mandates, functions, and reports of institutions like IMF, WHO, UNSC, and G20. Understanding their structure and India’s role in them is crucial.
MCQ Aptitude and MAD series by Satyam Jain Sir is a game changer here.

All the Best!

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International Relations for UPSC Prelims 2025: Important Topics, Sources, Trends and Tips

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