Political Geography

Boundaries & Frontiers: Types & India’s Boundaries

  • Boundaries: definition, types (physical, geometric, cultural, superimposed); evolution of India’s boundaries
  • Frontiers: concept; difference from boundaries; India’s disputed frontiers (Sino-Indian, Indo-Pakistan)

Heartland Theory: Mackinder

  • Heartland Theory (Mackinder): pivot area, World Island, who rules the heartland rules the world

Rimland Theory: Spykman

  • Rimland Theory (Spykman): rimland’s strategic importance; comparison with Heartland

Geography of Federalism & Centre-State Relations in India

  • Developments: post-Cold War geopolitics; multipolarity; rise of non-state actors
  • Geography of federalism: types of federalism (dual, cooperative, competitive); India’s federal structure
  • Centre-state relations in India: legislative, administrative & financial relations; 7th Schedule

Electoral Reforms in India

  • Electoral reforms in India: delimitation, EVM, NOTA, Model Code of Conduct, FPTP vs PR debate

Determinants of Electoral Behaviour

  • Determinants of electoral behaviour: caste, religion, region, development, leadership, media

Geopolitics of Climate Change

  • Geopolitics of climate change: UNFCCC negotiations, equity debates, climate refugees, Arctic geopolitics

Geopolitics of World Resources

  • Geopolitics of world resources: oil & gas geopolitics (Middle East, Russia); rare earth minerals; water wars

Geopolitics of the Indian Ocean

  • Geopolitics of the Indian Ocean: strategic importance, choke points (Hormuz, Malacca), IORA, maritime disputes

Regional Organisations: SAARC, ASEAN, OPEC & EU

  • SAARC: members, objectives, key summits, limitations & future prospects
  • ASEAN: members, objectives, ASEAN Community, dialogue partnerships with India
  • OPEC: members, objectives, oil production policy, influence on global economy
  • EU: integration process, institutions, Euro zone, Brexit & its implications

Neopolitics of World Natural Resources

  • Neopolitics of world natural resources: Arctic resources, deep-sea mining, food sovereignty debates

Practical: (No separate practical; seminar/project-based)

No specific topics listed.

Supplementary Topics: Cultural, Social & Political Geography

No specific topics listed.