Department of Politics and International Studies

Explore the

Department

0
Students
0
Scholars
0
Faculty
0 +
Publications
About the Department

The  salient features of the Department include:

  • UGC Special Assistant Programme DRS-II Level.
  • Exchange programmes with prestigious foreign and Indian universities.
  • Interactions with distinguished Indian and foreign scholars through seminars, conferences, workshops and refresher courses.
  • Promoting teaching and research in the areas of International Relations and Area Studies in general and South Asia in Particular
  • Policy input to the makers of India’s foreign and security policies as well as the theoretical understanding of International Relations.
  • Publication of Scholarly Journals titled International Journal of South Asian Studies.
  • Publication of Scholarly Books on the Thrust Areas of teaching and research programmes in the Department.

0413-2654772

head.pol@pondiuni.ac.in

Vision and Message of Head of Department

Dr. Nanda Kishor M.S

  • Associate Professor

Department of Politics and International Studies, Pondicherry University

The Department of Politics and International Studies envisions itself as a centre of excellence in the critical study and transformative praxis of political thought and global affairs. Anchored in the rich intellectual traditions of political theory, public policy, and international relations, our mission is to produce reflective scholars, ethical leaders, and informed global citizens capable of navigating and shaping the complexities of the 21st-century world.

Our Department offers two robust Master’s programmes—MA in Political Science and MA in Politics and International Relations—alongside a dynamic graduate programme under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Each programme is grounded in Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and structured through Bloom’s Taxonomy, ensuring conceptual clarity, analytical rigour, and skill-based learning outcomes. The curriculum integrates classical and contemporary discourses, blending Indian knowledge systems with global theories, thereby encouraging comparative and cross-cultural analysis.

Our core strength lies in our interdisciplinary faculty, whose research spans across political philosophy, governance, foreign policy, security studies, and area studies. The Department’s uniqueness is further defined by its commitment to decolonising knowledge, fostering South-South dialogues, and promoting policy-relevant research. The Department’s USP resides in its plural pedagogies, experiential learning modules, field-based research orientation, and integration of digital tools. We aim not merely to educate, but to cultivate critical inquiry, civic responsibility, and strategic foresight.

We invite aspiring scholars and practitioners to join us in shaping a more just, informed, and interconnected world.

Office Contact Details

+91-413-2654-333

dpisoffice@pondiuni.ac.in

Faculty

Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor

The Department has good infra-structural facilities including interactive class rooms, Smart class rooms and other teaching aids to assist teachers and students in their pursuit of academic excellence and relavance.

Specific focus on India’s Foreign and Security Policy, Indian political system, Political Theory, Political Economy of Development, Public Administration, South Asian Regional ooperation and Peace and Conflict Resolution.

  • Exchange programmes with prestigious foreign and Indian universities.
  • Interactions with distinguished Indian and foreign scholars through seminars, conferences, workshops and refresher courses.
  • Promoting teaching and research in the areas of International Relations and Area Studies in general and South Asia in Particular
  • Policy input to the makers of India’s foreign and security policies as well as the theoretical understanding of InternationalRelations.
  • Publication of Scholarly Journals titled International Journal of South Asian Studies.
  • Publication of Scholarly Books on the Thrust Areas of teaching and research programmes in the Department.

Graduates of the Department of Politics and International Studies, Pondicherry University, have distinguished themselves across diverse professional domains. Many have risen to become Vice Chancellors, Professors, and researchers in prestigious universities in India and abroad. Others have excelled in civil services and hold key bureaucratic positions. Our alumni also serve in the Indian Armed Forces, contribute to leading think tanks, and work as policy analysts, risk consultants, and development professionals in reputed NGOs and international organisations. Their success reflects the Department’s academic rigour, interdisciplinary training, and its strong emphasis on leadership, ethics, and real-world engagement. 

The Department of Politics and International Studies at Pondicherry University takes immense pride in the wide-ranging internship opportunities availed by its students at premier institutions, policy think tanks, government bodies, and civil society organisations. These internships are integral to our Outcome-Based Education (OBE) framework, reinforcing classroom learning with hands-on experience and policy exposure. Our students have consistently secured prestigious internships at national-level institutions such as the Ministry of External Affairs, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), and United Service Institution of India (USI). These placements provide direct exposure to diplomatic processes, strategic studies, and global policy dialogues.

They also intern at prominent think tanks including the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), and India Foundation, where they engage in research on defence, foreign policy, and civilisational studies. Equally, they contribute meaningfully to developmental and governance-related projects at the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), and the Government of Puducherry.

Further reflecting our Department’s commitment to socially relevant and locally grounded learning, students have interned at the Tribal Research Centre (Ooty), various reputed NGOs, and the experimental international township of Auroville. These experiences cultivate critical perspectives on grassroots governance, sustainability, and inclusive development. Such diverse internships equip our students with research skills, professional competence, and ethical sensibilities—essential attributes for careers in academia, civil services, policy-making, and international organisations.

Translate »