UPSC- Mains Syllabus 1 of 9
HISTORY
PAPER - I
1. Sources:
Archaeological sources:
Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments
Literary sources:
Indigenous: Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific literature, literature, literature in regional
languages, religious literature.
Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.
2. Pre-history and Proto-history:
Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic and mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture
(neolithic and chalcolithic).
3. Indus Valley Civilization:
Origin, date, extent, characteristics, decline, survival and significance, art and architecture.
4. Megalithic Cultures:
Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community life,
Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry.
5. Aryans and Vedic Period:
Expansions of Aryans in India.
Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literature; Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the
later Vedic period; Political, social and economical life; Significance of the Vedic Age; Evolution of
Monarchy and Varna system.
6. Period of Mahajanapadas:
Formation of States (Mahajanapada) : Republics and monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Trade
routes; Economic growth; Introduction of coinage; Spread of Jainism and Buddhism; Rise of
Magadha and Nandas.
Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact.
7. Mauryan Empire:
2 of 9
Foundation of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta, Kautilya and Arthashastra; Ashoka; Concept of
Dharma; Edicts; Polity, Administration; Economy; Art, architecture and sculpture; External
contacts; Religion; Spread of religion; Literature.
Disintegration of the empire; Sungas and Kanvas.
8 Post - Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas):
Contact with outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage, development of religions,
Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science.
9. Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India:
Kharavela, The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, economy, land
grants, coinage, trade guilds and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam literature and culture; Art
and architecture.
10. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas:
Polity and administration, Economic conditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants, Decline of
urban centres, Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women, Education and educational
institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi, Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture.
11. Regional States during Gupta Era:
The Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami; Polity and Administration, Trade guilds, Literature;
growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakti movement, Shankaracharya; Vedanta;
Institutions of temple and temple architecture; Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Polity and
administration; Cultural aspects. Arab conquest of Sind; Alberuni, The Chalukyas of Kalyana,
Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas; Polity and Administration; local Government; Growth of art and
architecture, religious sects, Institution of temple and Mathas, Agraharas, education and literature,
economy and society.
12. Themes in Early Indian Cultural History:
Languages and texts, major stages in the evolution of art and architecture, major philosophical
thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and Mathematics.
13. Early Medieval India, 750-1200:
- Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula, origin and the rise of
Rajputs
- The Cholas: administration, village economy and society
- “Indian Feudalism”
- Agrarian economy and urban settlements
- Trade and commerce
- Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order
3 of 9
- Condition of women
- Indian science and technology
14. Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200:
- Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and
Brahma-Mimansa
- Religion: Forms and features of religion, Tamil devotional cult, growth of Bhakti, Islam and its
arrival in India, Sufism
- Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil literature, literature in the newly developing
languages, Kalhan’s Rajtarangini, Alberuni’s India
- Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting
15. The Thirteenth Century:
- Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghurian invasions – factors behind Ghurian success
- Economic, social and cultural consequences
- Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans
- Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban
16. The Fourteenth Century:
- “The Khalji Revolution”
- Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measures
- Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq
- Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and public works, decline
of the Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta’s account
17. Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries:
- Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes,
caste and slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Sufi movement
- Culture: Persian literature, literature in the regional languages of North India, literature in the
languages of South India, Sultanate architecture and new structural forms, painting, evolution of
a composite culture
- Economy: Agricultural production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production, trade
and commerce
18. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century – Political Developments and Economy:
- Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids
4 of 9
- The Vijayanagra Empire
- Lodis
- Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun
- The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration
- Portuguese Colonial enterprise
- Bhakti and Sufi Movements
19. The Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Century – Society and Culture:
- Regional cultural specificities
- Literary traditions
- Provincial architecture
- Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.
20. Akbar:
- Conquests and consolidation of the Empire
- Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems
- Rajput policy
- Evolution of religious and social outlook, theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy
- Court patronage of art and technology
21. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century:
- Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb
- The Empire and the Zamindars
- Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb
- Nature of the Mughal State
- Late Seventeenth century crisis and the revolts
- The Ahom Kingdom
- Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.
22. Economy and Society in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries:
- Population, agricultural production, craft production
5 of 9
- Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies : a trade
revolution
- Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance and credit systems
- Condition of peasants, condition of women
- Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth
23. Culture in the Mughal Empire:
- Persian histories and other literature
- Hindi and other religious literature
- Mughal architecture
- Mughal painting
- Provincial architecture and painting
- Classical music
- Science and technology
24. The Eighteenth Century:
- Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire
- The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh
- Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas
- The Maratha fiscal and financial system
- Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat:1761
- State of politics, culture and economy on the eve of the British conquest
PAPER - II
1. European Penetration into India:
The Early European Settlements; The Portuguese and the Dutch; The English and the French East
India Companies; Their struggle for supremacy; Carnatic Wars; Bengal -The conflict between
the English and the Nawabs of Bengal; Siraj and the English; The Battle of Plassey; Significance of
Plassey.
2. British Expansion in India:
Bengal – Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim; The Battle of Buxar; Mysore; The Marathas; The three Anglo-
Maratha Wars; The Punjab.
6 of 9
3. Early Structure of the British Raj:
The early administrative structure; From diarchy to direct control; The Regulating Act (1773); The
Pitt’s India Act (1784); The Charter Act (1833); The voice of free trade and the changing character
of British colonial rule; The English utilitarian and India.
4. Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule:
(a) Land revenue settlements in British India; The Permanent Settlement; Ryotwari Settlement;
Mahalwari Settlement; Economic impact of the revenue arrangements; Commercialization of
agriculture; Rise of landless agrarian labourers; Impoverishment of the rural society.
(b) Dislocation of traditional trade and commerce; De-industrialisation; Decline of traditional crafts;
Drain of wealth; Economic transformation of India; Railroad and communication network including
telegraph and postal services; Famine and poverty in the rural interior; European business enterprise
and its limitations.
5. Social and Cultural Developments:
The state of indigenous education, its dislocation; Orientalist-Anglicist controversy, The introduction
of western education in India; The rise of press, literature and public opinion; The rise of modern
vernacular literature; Progress of science; Christian missionary activities in India.
6. Social and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas:
Ram Mohan Roy, The Brahmo Movement; Devendranath Tagore; Iswarchandra Vidyasagar; The
Young Bengal Movement; Dayanada Saraswati; The social reform movements in India including
Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage etc.; The contribution of Indian renaissance to the growth of
modern India; Islamic revivalism – the Feraizi and Wahabi Movements.
7. Indian Response to British Rule:
Peasant movements and tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries including the Rangpur Dhing
(1783), the Kol Rebellion (1832), the Mopla Rebellion in Malabar (1841-1920), the Santal Hul
(1855), Indigo Rebellion (1859-60), Deccan Uprising (1875) and the Munda Ulgulan (1899-1900);
The Great Revolt of 1857 - Origin, character, causes of failure, the consequences; The shift in the
character of peasant uprisings in the post-1857 period; the peasant movements of the 1920s and
1930s.
8. Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism; Politics of Association; The Foundation of the
Indian National Congress; The Safety-valve thesis relating to the birth of the Congress; Programme
and objectives of Early Congress; the social composition of early Congress leadership; the
Moderates and Extremists; The Partition of Bengal (1905); The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal; the
economic and political aspects of Swadeshi Movement; The beginning of revolutionary extremism in
India.
9. Rise of Gandhi; Character of Gandhian nationalism; Gandhi’s popular appeal; Rowlatt Satyagraha;
the Khilafat Movement; the Non-cooperation Movement; National politics from the end of the Non-
cooperation movement to the beginning of the Civil Disobedience movement; the two phases of the
Civil Disobedience Movement; Simon Commission; The Nehru Report; the Round Table
Conferences; Nationalism and the Peasant Movements; Nationalism and Working class movements;
Women and Indian youth and students in Indian politics (1885-1947); the election of 1937 and the
formation of ministries; Cripps Mission; the Quit India Movement; the Wavell Plan; The Cabinet
7 of 9
Mission.
10. Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India between 1858 and 1935
11. Other strands in the National Movement
The Revolutionaries: Bengal, the Punjab, Maharashtra, U.P, the Madras Presidency, Outside India.
The Left; The Left within the Congress: Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, the Congress
Socialist Party; the Communist Party of India, other left parties.
12. Politics of Separatism; the Muslim League; the Hindu Mahasabha; Communalism and the politics of
partition; Transfer of power; Independence.
13. Consolidation as a Nation; Nehru’s Foreign Policy; India and her neighbours (1947-1964); The
linguistic reorganisation of States (1935-1947); Regionalism and regional inequality; Integration of
Princely States; Princes in electoral politics; the Question of National Language.
14. Caste and Ethnicity after 1947; Backward castes and tribes in post-colonial electoral politics; Dalit
movements.
15. Economic development and political change; Land reforms; the politics of planning and rural
reconstruction; Ecology and environmental policy in post - colonial India; Progress of science.
16. Enlightenment and Modern ideas:
(i) Major ideas of Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau
(ii) Spread of Enlightenment in the colonies
(iii) Rise of socialist ideas (up to Marx); spread of Marxian Socialism.
17. Origins of Modern Politics:
(i) European States System.
(ii) American Revolution and the Constitution.
(iii) French revolution and aftermath, 1789-1815.
(iv) American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of
slavery.
(v) British Democratic Politics, 1815-1850; Parliamentary Reformers, Free
Traders, Chartists.
18. Industrialization:
(i) English Industrial Revolution: Causes and Impact on Society
(ii) Industrialization in other countries: USA, Germany, Russia, Japan
(iii) Industrialization and Globalization.
8 of 9
19. Nation-State System:
(i) Rise of Nationalism in 19th century
(ii) Nationalism: state-building in Germany and Italy
(iii) Disintegration of Empires in the face of the emergence of nationalities across the world.
20. Imperialism and Colonialism:
(i) South and South-East Asia
(ii) Latin America and South Africa
(iii) Australia
(iv) Imperialism and free trade: Rise of neo-imperialism.
21. Revolution and Counter-Revolution:
(i) 19th Century European revolutions
(ii) The Russian Revolution of 1917-1921
(iii) Fascist Counter-Revolution, Italy and Germany.
(iv) The Chinese Revolution of 1949
22. World Wars:
(i) 1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars: Societal implications
(ii) World War I: Causes and consequences
(iii) World War II: Causes and consequence
23. The World after World War II:
(i) Emergence of two power blocs
(ii) Emergence of Third World and non-alignment
(iii) UNO and the global disputes.
24. Liberation from Colonial Rule:
(i) Latin America-Bolivar
(ii) Arab World-Egypt
(iii) Africa-Apartheid to Democracy
(iv) South-East Asia-Vietnam
25. Decolonization and Underdevelopment:
(i) Factors constraining development: Latin America, Africa
26. Unification of Europe:
(i) Post War Foundations: NATO and European Community
(ii) Consolidation and Expansion of European Community
(iii) European Union.
9 of 9
27. Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World:
(i) Factors leading to the collapse of Soviet communism and the Soviet Union,
1985-1991
(ii) Political Changes in Eastern Europe 1989-2001.
(iii) End of the cold war and US ascendancy in the World as the lone
superpower.
