World Wars I & II — Causes, Course, Consequences & Post-war Order

What should you study in World Wars I & II?

• WWI causes — alliance system, nationalism, assassination of Franz Ferdinand
• WWI consequences — Treaty of Versailles, League of Nations, redrawing of borders
• WWII causes — appeasement, Nazi aggression, Pearl Harbor
• WWII consequences — UN, Cold War, decolonization, nuclear age

How often is World Wars I & II 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: asked
5. 2020: not asked
6. 2021: not asked
7. 2022: asked
8. 2023: not 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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