Mains GS Paper IWorld HistoryHigh-yield

Imperialism, Colonialism & Scramble for Africa/Asia (19th–20th c.)

साम्राज्यवाद, उपनिवेशवाद और अफ्रीका/एशिया के लिए होड़

Imperialism, Colonialism & Scramble for Africa/Asia (19th–20th c.) is part of the UPSC Mains GS Paper I syllabus, under World History. It appeared in Mains GS Paper I question papers in 3 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 (2017, 2020, 2023). It is marked high-yield: a topic worth revising more than once.

What should you study in Imperialism, Colonialism & Scramble for Africa/Asia (19th–20th c.)?

  • 19th century imperialism — motives (economic, political, prestige)
  • Scramble for Africa — Berlin Conference 1884-85
  • Colonialism in Asia — China's unequal treaties, SE Asia
  • Impact on colonies — deindustrialisation, racism, resistance

How often is Imperialism, Colonialism & Scramble for Africa/Asia (19th–20th c.) asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 3 of 10 years, including 1 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

  1. 2016: not asked
  2. 2017: asked
  3. 2018: not asked
  4. 2019: not asked
  5. 2020: asked
  6. 2021: not asked
  7. 2022: not asked
  8. 2023: asked
  9. 2024: not asked
  10. 2025: not asked

About the Mains GS Paper I paper

GS Paper I is a 250-mark descriptive Mains paper covering Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world, and society. See all 41 Mains GS Paper I topics.

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