Mahajanapadas, Second Urbanisation & Rise of Magadha (600–300 BCE)

What should you study in Mahajanapadas, Second Urbanisation & Rise of Magadha (600–300 BCE)?

• Sixteen Mahajanapadas — Magadha's rise (Haryanka, Nanda)
• Republics (gana-sanghas) — Licchhavis, Vajjis
• Second urbanisation — punch-marked coins, trade guilds
• Alexander's invasion & its impact

How often is Mahajanapadas, Second Urbanisation & Rise of Magadha (600–300 BCE) asked in UPSC Prelims?

Asked in 5 of 10 years, including 2 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

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

About the Prelims GS Paper I paper

General Studies Paper I is the Prelims paper that decides the cut-off: 100 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks, with negative marking for wrong answers. See all 88 Prelims GS Paper I topics.

Related topics to study next

• Prehistory, Protohistory & Sources of Ancient Indian HistoryHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
• Indus Valley Civilization — Sites, Features, Trade & DeclineHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
• Vedic Period — Rigvedic & Later Vedic, Society, Economy & ReligionHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
• Buddhism & Jainism — Origins, Councils, Texts, Sites & SpreadHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
• Mauryan Empire — Chandragupta, Ashoka, Administration & EdictsHigh-yieldasked 6/10 yrs
• Post-Mauryan Polities — Kushanas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Trade RoutesHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
• Gupta Empire — Administration, Economy, Art, Science & Post-GuptaHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
• Sangam Age, South Indian Kingdoms & Epigraphy/NumismaticsHigh-yieldasked 6/10 yrs