Civil Service Exam Syllabus (Preliminary) – Indian 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 :
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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
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 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 postcolonial 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.
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.
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.
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