Class 11 Political Science Chapter 17 Nationalism is a high-frequency chapter in the CBSE Class 11 Political Science exam. These class 11 political-science handwritten notes chapter 17 Nationalism follow the 2026-27 NCERT and cover what a nation is and how it differs from other groups, the nation as an imagined community, shared beliefs, history, territory and political ideals..

21+ pages | Key Terms + Quick Recall | Exam-focused notes · Class 11 Political Science Chapter 17, 2026-27 NCERT
  • CBSE Class 11 Weightage: a scoring chapter in the Political Science paper, asked in short and long answers.
  • What the notes cover: what a nation is and how it differs from other groups, the nation as an imagined community, shared beliefs, history, territory and political ideals, national self-determination and its two effects.
  • Best for: quick revision before Class 11 exams and a base for CUET later.

You can read the complete class 11 political-science handwritten notes for Nationalism, with key terms, boxed definitions, and quick revision points, in the PDF below.

These handwritten notes are written by subject teachers, mapped to the 2026-27 NCERT, and checked against the last five years of CBSE Class 11 Political Science papers.

What the Nationalism Handwritten Notes Cover

This chapter studies nationalism and the idea of a nation. It shows how a nation is an imagined community held together by shared beliefs, history, territory and political ideals. It also weighs the claim to self-determination and the need to tie nationalism to democracy.

  • What a nation is and how it differs from other groups
  • The nation as an imagined community
  • Shared beliefs, history, territory and political ideals
  • National self-determination and its two effects
  • The Basque demand for a separate state
  • Tagore's critique of narrow nationalism
  • Nationalism, pluralism and democracy
Concept: A nation is an imagined community of shared belief, best tied to democracy and pluralism.

Nationalism Self-Assessment Quiz

Try these quick questions after you read the notes. Tap each question to check your answer. They cover the points CBSE asks most often.

A nation is best described as a what kind of community?

(a) family (b) imagined (c) tribal (d) racial

Answer: (b) imagined - bound by shared belief, not face-to-face ties

Who warned that patriotism cannot be our final spiritual shelter?

(a) Nehru (b) Gandhi (c) Tagore (d) Marx

Answer: (c) Tagore - his refuge was humanity above the nation

The Basque region lies within which country?

(a) France (b) Spain (c) Italy (d) Canada

Answer: (b) Spain - it is an autonomous region seeking a separate state

Which treaty created many new states after World War I?

(a) Paris (b) Versailles (c) Vienna (d) Geneva

Answer: (b) Versailles - it redrew Europe's borders in 1919

Which is NOT one of the four assumptions of a nation?

(a) shared beliefs (b) shared history (c) common territory (d) common wealth

Answer: (d) common wealth - the fourth is shared political ideals

Nationalism Topic-wise Weightage for CBSE Class 11 Political Science

Some parts of this chapter are asked more often than others. The table below shows which sub-topics to revise first, based on recent CBSE Class 11 question trends.

Sub-topicWeightageCBSE Frequency
Nation and its four assumptionsHighAlmost every year
National self-determinationHigh3 of the last 5 years
Nationalism and pluralismMedium3 of the last 5 years
Tagore's critique of nationalismMedium2 of the last 5 years
Basque case studyLow1 of the last 5 years

Key Terms and Ideas in Nationalism

These are the terms and ideas the exam asks about most. Learn each one so you can define it and use it in your answers.

Term / IdeaWhat it means
NationAn imagined community bound by shared beliefs
NationalismLoyalty and pride in one's nation
Self-determinationA nation's claim to rule itself
Imagined communityBond of belief, not face-to-face ties
Rabindranath TagoreWarned against a narrow nationalism
Jawaharlal NehruWrote of India's deep oneness in diversity
Treaty of VersaillesMade new states after First World War
PluralismMany cultures living within one country
Remember: FOUR ties bind a nation: belief, history, territory and shared political ideals.
Watch Out: Self-determination no longer means a separate state for every cultural group.

How Collegedunia's Handwritten Notes Help You Revise Nationalism

These notes are made for the night before the exam. They keep the facts short and easy to scan. Collegedunia maps every point to the 2026-27 NCERT.

  • Clear handwriting: each topic is written in neat, easy-to-read handwriting.
  • Boxed key terms: the main terms and definitions are boxed by hand for fast recall.
  • Diagrams and tables: simple hand-drawn tables and charts make ideas clear.
  • Colour-coded headings: new sub-topics stand out, so you find any section in seconds.

How to Use These Handwritten Notes for Class 11 Political Science Revision

Use these class 11 political-science handwritten notes in two passes. Read them slowly once for the full chapter. Then, near the exam, read only the boxes and key terms for a fast recall.

  • Read the notes once with the NCERT chapter open beside you.
  • Say each key term and idea in your own words.
  • Practise one long-answer question from a past paper.
  • On the last day, revise only the key terms and the boxes.

Class 11 Political Science Handwritten Notes for All Chapters

The table below links the class 11 political-science handwritten notes for every chapter. Use it to jump to any other chapter's notes.

Nationalism Class 11 Political Science Handwritten Notes FAQs

Ques. Where can I download Nationalism Class 11 Political Science Handwritten Notes PDF?

Ans. You can download the Nationalism Class 11 Political Science Handwritten Notes PDF directly from this page. Both the Normal and HD versions are free.

Ques. Are these handwritten notes aligned with the 2026-27 NCERT?

Ans. Yes. These notes follow the current 2026-27 syllabus for Class 11 Political Science. These notes cover what a nation is, the four shared assumptions, national self-determination, Tagore's critique, and why nationalism must be tied to democracy.

Ques. How many pages is the Class 11 Political Science Nationalism Handwritten Notes PDF?

Ans. The notes run about 21 pages. They cover the full chapter with key terms, hand-drawn boxes, and a short self-assessment quiz.

Ques. What is the main idea of the 11th standard Political Science chapter Nationalism?

Ans. A nation is an imagined community held together by shared beliefs, history, territory and political ideals rather than by descent or a single language. Nationalism is strongest and safest when it is joined with democracy and respects the many identities of its people.

Ques. Are these Nationalism notes enough for the CBSE Class 11 exam?

Ans. Yes, for revision. The Collegedunia handwritten notes cover every key point and exam term. Read them with the NCERT chapter and practise past questions.