History is an important subject in UPSC Prelims. If an aspirant prepares the static topics of History well, he/she can score well in the examination. The prelims exam syllabus for History comprises ‘History of India and Indian National Movement’. This main area can be divided into several important topics, list of which is given in the following section.
UPSC Prelims History Syllabus
History syllabus for prelims can be divided into:
- Ancient India
- Medieval India
- Modern India
- Art and Culture
Some of the important topics under each broad area are given below.
Important Topics in Ancient India
- Indus Valley Civilization
- Rig Vedic period
- Later Vedic period
- Jainism
- Buddhism eg: Sautrantika and Sammitiya sub-sects, Hinaya school
- Mahajanapadas
- Mauryan empire eg: Chandragupta, Bindusara, Asoka’s reign etc
- Post-Mauryan India eg: Satavahanas, Sakas, Kushanas etc
- Gupta Period eg: visit of important foreign travellers, administration etc.
- Harshavardhana
- Sangam period
Important Topics in Medieval India
- Bhakti and Sufi Movement
- The Pratiharas
- The Palas
- Pallavas
- Chalukyas
- Rashtrakutas
- Indian Feudalism
- Cholas
- Early Muslim invasions eg: Mahmud of Ghazni, Muhammad Ghori
- The Delhi Sultanate eg: Khalji Dynasty, Tughlaq Dynasty, Lodi Dynasty etc
- The Battle of Panipat
- Akbar’s rule and religious views
- Jahangir’s rule
- Aurangzeb
- Shivaji
- The Peshwas
- Vijayanagara Empire
| Looking for study material to prepare for the upcoming Civil Services Exam?
Refer to the links below and complement your UPSC exam preparation: |
Important Topics in Modern India
- Portuguese in India
- Dutch in India
- Danes in India
- The English
- The French
- The Carnatic Wars
- Anglo Maratha Wars
- Doctrine of Lapse
- The Charter Acts
- Land Revenue System: Ryotwari and Mahalwari system and Permanent Settlement
- Revolt of 1857
- Administrative changes after 1857
- Montford Reforms (1919)
- Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy
- Wood’s Dispatch (1854)
- Hunter Education Commission (1882-83)
- Saddler University Commission (1917-19)
- Hartog Committee (1929)
- Wardha Scheme of Basic Education (1937)
- Vernacular Press Act, 1878
- Socio-religious reforms
- Peasant Movements
- Early Phase Indian National Congress
- The Moderate Congress (1885-1905)
- The Extremist (1905-1920)
- Differences between the Moderates and the Extremists
- Partition of Bengal (1905)
- Swadeshi Movement
- Muslim League, 1906
- Surat Session of INC, 1907
- Indian Council Act (Morley-Minto Act) 1909
- Ghadar Party, 1913
- Komagata Maru Incident 1914
- The Lucknow Pact (1916)
- Home Rule Movement (1915–1916)
- August Declaration, 1917
- Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
- Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918)
- Kheda Satyagraha (1918)
- Government of India Act, 1919
- Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)
- Khilafat Movement
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22)
- Bardoli Resolution
- Nagpur Session of Congress
- Swaraj Party and its Evaluation
- Muddiman Committee (1924)
- Simon Commission (1927)
- Bardoli Satyagraha (1928)
- Nehru Report (1928)
- Lahore Session, 1929
- Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1931)
- First Round Conference, 1930
- Gandhi-Irwin Pact, 1931
- Karachi session of 1931
- Second Round
Conference, 1931 - Civil Disobedience Movement (Second-Phase)
- Third Round
Conference (17 November 1932) - Communal Award
- Poona Pact, 1932
- Government of India Act, 1935
- August Offer of 1940
- Demand for Pakistan (1942)
- Cripps Mission (1942)
- Quit India Movement
- I N.A. Trials
- Rajagopalachari Formula, 1945
- Desai – Liaqat Pact
- Cabinet Mission (1946)
- Wavell Plan
- Mountbatten Plan of June 1947
- Indian Independence Act 1947
- Governor generals and viceroys of India
- Important Personalities include:
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Jawaharlal Nehru
- Sarojini Naidu
- Annie Besant
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
- Subhas Chandra Bose
- Rabindranath Tagore
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- Lal Bahadur Shastri
- Jyotiba Phule
- Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
- Swami Vivekananda
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Note: Read about the important initiatives and books written by famous personalities.
Important Topics in Art and Culture
Art and culture are important areas. Art and culture-related questions are asked both in the preliminary and main examinations. Some important topics are given below.
- Indian Architecture, Sculpture and Pottery
- Harappan Art
- Mauryan Art
- Post-Mauryan Art
- Gupta Age Art
- South Indian Art
- Mughal Art etc
Note: Study about Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta caves, the difference between Gandhara and Mathura school of art etc
- Indian Paintings, eg: Bodhisattva Padmapani
- Indian Handicrafts
- Indian Music
- Indian Dance Forms
- Important temples
- Important Festivals
- Indian Theatre Forms
- Indian Literature
- UNESCO’S List of Tangible World Heritage Sites in India
Tips to score well in UPSC History Prelims exam
History is a vast subject but a planned preparation can result in a good score. Here are some tips that candidates must follow to ace their UPSC History Prelims exam.
- Check the syllabus and divide topics as per your feasibility.
- Begin with the NCERTs to establish a strong theoretical grasp in History.
- Prepare previous year’s papers to learn about relevant subjects, question difficulty levels, and so on.
- For History, it is recommended to take brief notes. It will aid candidates in swiftly revising their topics.
- Buy recommended study material and not everything that is available. Candidates must diligently study from NCERTs and standard books.
- In recent years, more factual questions have been asked in the history portion, thus, it is advisable to concentrate on facts.
Comments