History Optional Syllabus for UPSC
The UPSC History optional is examined in two Mains papers of 250 marks each, 500 marks in total. Paper I has 7 topics and Paper II has 7 topics, listed below with their subtopics.
History Paper I syllabus
1. Ancient India
- Prehistoric cultures
- Indus Valley civilization
- Vedic period, Mahajanapadas
2. Ancient Indian Polity
- Mauryan empire
- Post-Mauryan period
- Gupta period
3. Ancient Indian Culture
- Religion, philosophy
- Art, architecture
- Literature, science
4. Medieval India: Sultanate
- Arab conquest, Delhi Sultanate
- Administration, economy
- Society, culture
5. Medieval India: Mughal
- Mughal administration
- Economy, trade
- Art, architecture, culture
6. Bhakti & Sufi Movements
- Saints, teachings
- Social reform impact
- Regional variations
7. Regional Kingdoms
- Vijayanagara, Bahmani
- Rajputs, Marathas
- Sikhs, regional powers
History Paper II syllabus
1. British Expansion
- European trading companies
- Conquest & consolidation
- Administrative development
2. Colonial Economy
- Land revenue systems
- Commercialization
- Deindustrialization
3. Social & Religious Reform
- Reform movements
- Women's issues
- Caste reform
4. National Movement
- Early nationalism
- Gandhian era
- Revolutionary movements
5. Constitutional Development
- Constitutional acts
- Towards independence
- Partition, integration
6. World History
- Enlightenment, revolutions
- World Wars, Cold War
- Decolonization
7. Post-Independence India
- Nation building
- Planning, development
- Foreign policy
Other Social Sciences optionals
Track your History preparation
Follow Paper I and Paper II topic by topic, with revision counts — free.
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