Ancient History Syllabus for UPSC

1.Stone Ages

• Focus on different Stone Ages such as, Paleolithic Age, Middle Stone Age, Neolithic and Chalcolithic Age.

2.Civilisation

• Indus Valley Civilization- Sites and Archaeological Discoveries, religion, Society and Culture, Reasons for Decline of Indus Valley Civilization

3.Vedic Period

• Early Vedic Age (1500-900 BCE)- Sources for Reconstructing Vedic Society and Culture, Geography of the Rig Vedic Period – Area of Settlement Political Organisation and Evolution of Monarchy, Social Organization, Economy, Religious Practices and Culture
• Later Vedic Age (900 -600 BCE)- Geography of the later Vedic Phases – Area of Settlement, Political System, Social Organisation and Varna System, Economy, Religious Practices and Culture

4.Buddhism and Jainism

• Jainism: Birth and Life of Mahavira (540- 468 B.C.), Teachings of Mahavira, Organisation and Sects of Jainism,Literature of Jainism, Councils, Spread and Royal Patrons
• Buddhism: Birth and Life of Buddha (563-483 BC), Teachings of Buddha, Organisation and Sects of Buddhism, Literature of Buddhism, Councils, Spread of and Royal Patronage, Causes for the Decline

5.Mahajanapadas Period

• Republics and Monarchies, 16 Mahajanapadas, Magadha, Key Dynasties (Haryanka dynasty,Shishunaga Dynasty, Nanda Dynasty), Persian Invasions, Alexander’s Invasion, Society and Rise of urban centres and  Economy

6.Mauryan period

• Sources: Inscriptions and Sites, Literary Sources (The Arthasastra), Rulers and Political History of the Mauryas, Asoka’s Inscriptions and Sites, Asoka and Buddhism, Decline of the Mauryas

7.Post Mauryan Period

• Society: Evolution of Jatis, Satavahanas, Sungas and Kanvas, Sakas, Kushanas, Kanishka

8.Gupta Period

• Sources of Gupta Rule, Rulers and Political history of Guptas Chronology, Foreign Travellers Visit – Fahien’s Visit, Gupta Administration, Other Important Dynasties, Society Religion and Culture, Urban centres in Gupta period, Economy, Science and Technology, Literature,Later Guptas, Other Important Dynasties

9. Harshavardhana Period

• Harsha Military Conquests, Harsha and Buddhism, Administration, Society and Culture, Economy

10. Sangam Period

• Sangam Literature, South Indian Dynasties (Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas)Sangam Polity, Society and Culture, Economy of Sangam Period, Foreign Dynasties, Commercial Contacts with the Outside World, Schools of Art

Syllabus of Medieval Indian History for UPSC Prelims Examination

1.Major Dynasties(750-1200)

The Pratiharas (8th to 10th Century), The Palas (8th to 11th Century), The Tripartite Conflict, The Rajaputas, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas

2.Chola Empire

• Political History: Vijayalaya (850–871 CE),Rajaraja I (985 – 1014 A.D.),Rajendra I (1012-1044 A.D.),
• Administration, Religion, Society, Literature, Architecture, Sculptures of Chola Empire

3.Early Muslim Invasions

• Ghaznavid Dynasty: Condition of India on the eve of Mahmud Ghazni invasion
• Muhammad Ghori: Political Condition of India on the Eve of Ghori Invasion, Different Battles

4.The Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526AD)

• Slave Dynasty (1206-1290),Khalji Dynasty (1290-1320), Thuglaq Dynasty (1320-1414),Sayeed Dynasty (1414-1451), Lodhi Dynasty (1451-1526)
• Administration, Economy, Literature and Languages, Music, Architecture during Delhi Sultanates

5.Rajput States

The Chahamanas or Chauhans of Ajmer, Solankis (Chalukya Dynasty), The Paramaras, The Rathors or Gahawars

6.Southern Dynasties

Hoysalas, Yadavas, Kakatiyas

7.Mughal Empire

• Important Rulers: Mohammed Babur, Mohammad Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangazeb
• Administration, Literature, Painting, Architecture during Mughals

8.Sur Dynasty

Sher Shah Suri: Sher Shah’s Reforms and Important Battles

9.Marathas and others in 18th Century

• Policy of Expansion: Marathas and Nizam-ul-Mulk, Martha Advance into Gujara and Malwa, The Maratha Advance into Doab and Punjab
• Different Phases of Maratha Kingdom: First Phase(1741-52), Second Phase (1752-61)
• Chhatrapati Shivaji(1627-1680): Shivaji’s administration
• The Peshwas (1713-1818)
• Other Indian States ( The Bhonsles The Gaikwads Holkars Sindhias)
• Economic, Social and Cultural life of 18th Century

11.Vijayanagar Empire

• Sources, Political History (Sangama dynasty(1336-1486), Saluva dynasty(1486-1506), Tuluva dynasty(1506-1565), Aravidu dynasty(1570-1647))
• Administration, Revenue, Society, Religion, Literature and Architecture of Vijayanagara Kingdom

12.Regional States in Medieval Period

Bahmani, Bengal, Avadh, The Sikhs, Rajput States, Jats, Hyderabad, Mysore

13.Religious Movements During Medieval Period

• Bhakti Movement: Reason for the Movement, Common teachings of Bakthi Movement, Schools of thought of Bhakti Movement
• Sufi Movement: Salient features of Sufism, Liberal outlook associated with Sufism, Sufi orders

Syllabus of Modern India for UPSC Prelims Examination

1.Fall of Mughals

Reason for the decline of Mughals

2.Advent of Europeans

• Portuguese in India, The Dutch in India, The Danes in India, The English, The French
• Struggle Among Europeans: Anglo-French Rivalry(First Carnatic War (1746-1748), Second Carnatic War (1749-1754), Third Carnatic War (1758-1763))
• Reason for the French failure in India.
• Rise of East India Company: Reason for the Success of English

3.British Expansion

• Expansion in Bengal, Battle of Plassey, Battle of Buxar, Anglo Maratha Wars, The Subsidiary Alliance System
• Second Phase of British Expansion in India: The Conquest of Sindh, Anglo-Sikh Wars, Doctrine of Lapse, Annexation of Oudh

4.Administration Before 1857

• The Dual System, Judicial System, Impact of British Administration
• The Charter Acts: Regulating Act of 1773 and Pitts India Act, Charter Act of 1813 and 1833, Government of India Act of 1858, Indian council Act of 1861

5.Economic Policies of the British

• Phase of Mercantilism (1757-1813), Industrial Phase(1813-1858), Phase of Finance Imperialism (1858 onwards)
• Land Revenue Policy: Ryotwari, Mahalwari, Permanent Settlement
• Impact of British Policy on Indian Economy, Drain of Wealth Theory

6.Revolt of 1857

• Causes of the Revolt: Economic Causes, Political Causes, Administrative Causes, Socio -Religious Causes, Influence of Outside Events, Discontent Among Sepoy’s
• Centres and Spread of the Revolt, Leaders of the Revolt
• Causes of Failure of the Revolt, Nature and Impact of the Revolt, Consequences.

7.Administrative Changes After 1857

• Administration – Central, Provincial, Local, Public Services, Princely State, Foreign Policy
• Public Services, Princely States, Foreign Policy

8.Development of Education Policy

• Charter Act of 1813, Orientalist-Anglicism Controversy, Wood’s Dispatch (1854), Hunter Education Commission (1882-83)
• Indian Universities Act, 1904
• Government Resolution on Education Policy1913, Saddler University Commission (1917-19), Hartog Committee1929
• Wardha Scheme,1937, Sergeant Plan of Education, Kothari Education Commission (1964-66)
• Development of Vernacular Education, Development of Technical Education

9.Development of Press

Different Publications and Journals, Vernacular Press Act1878, Struggle for Secure Press Freedom,

10.Socio Religious Reform Movements

Hindu Reform Movements, Muslim Reform Movements, Parsi Reform Movements, Sikh Reform Movements, Famous Personalities of Reform Movements

11.Peasant, Tribal and Other Movements

• Tribal Movements: Bhil Uprising, Kol Uprising, Santhal Rebellion, Jaintia and Garo Rebellion, Rampa Rebellion, Munda Rebellion, Khonda Dora Uprisings, Tana Bhagat Movement
• Peasant Movements: Champaran Satyagraha, Kheda Peasant Struggle, Bardoli Movement, Moplah Rebellion

12.Pre Congress Organizations and National Movements till 1905

Factors responsible for Rise of Nationalism, Predecessors of Indian National Congress

13.Foundation of Indian National Congress

Reasons behind the creation of Indian National Congress (INC), Major objectives of INC

14.Revolutionary Nationalism

• Early Phase Indian National Congress
• The Moderate Congress (1885-1905), Opinion Against Economic Exploitation Administrative Reforms Constitutional Reforms : Weaknesses & Evaluation
• The Extremist (1905-1920): Revolutionary Movements, Reasons for Failure
• Differences between the Moderates and the Extremists

15.Indian National Movement ( 1905 – 18)

• Partition of Bengal1905, Swadeshi Movement, Muslim League1906
• Surat Session of INC1907, Indian Council Act (Morley-Minto Act) 1909
• Ghadar Party1913, Komagata Maru Incident, 1914
• The Lucknow Pact, 1916, Home Rule Movement (1915–1916), August Declaration, 1917
• Champaran Satyagraha, 1917, Ahmadabad Mill Strike, 1918, Kheda Satyagraha,1918

16.Indian National Movement (1918-1929)

• Montague-Chelmsford Reforms or the Government of India act1919, Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)
• Khilafat Movement, The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22)
• The Left Movement, Bardoli Resolution, Nagpur Session of Congress, Swaraj Party
• Simon Commission1927, Bardoli Satyagraha 1928
• Nehru Report, 1928, Jinnah’s Fourteen Points, Lahore Session, 1929
• Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1931), First Round Table Conference, 1930, Gandhi-Irwin Pact, 1931
• Karachi session,1931, Second Round Table Conference, 1931, Second Phase of Civil Disobedience Movement, Third Round Table Conference, 1932
• Communal Award, Poona Pact, 1932, Government of India Act, 1935, Provincial Elections and Formation of popular Ministries in Provinces, 1937

17.Freedom to Partition (1939 – 1947)

• World War II and Indian Nationalism, World War II and Indian Nationalism
• Poona Resolution and Conditional Support to Britain ,1941
• August Offer, 1940 , The Individual Civil Disobedience
• Two-Nation Theory, Demand for Pakistan,1942, Cripps Mission, 1942, Quit India Movement
• Azad Hind Fauj, Indian National Army
• Rajagopalachari Formula, 1945, Desai – Liaqat Plan, Wavell Plan and Simla Conference 1945
• Wavell Plan and Simla Conference 1945, Naval Mutiny, 1946, Cabinet Mission,1946
• Jinnah’s Direct-Action Resolution, Indian Independence Act 1947