Prelims GS Paper IAncient HistoryHigh-yield

Sangam Age, South Indian Kingdoms & Epigraphy/Numismatics

संगम युग, दक्षिण भारतीय राजवंश और अभिलेखशास्त्र/मुद्राशास्त्र

Sangam Age, South Indian Kingdoms & Epigraphy/Numismatics is part of the UPSC Prelims GS Paper I syllabus, under Ancient History. It appeared in Prelims GS Paper I question papers in 6 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024). It is marked high-yield: a topic worth revising more than once.

What should you study in Sangam Age, South Indian Kingdoms & Epigraphy/Numismatics?

  • Sangam literature — Akam, Puram, Tolkappiyam
  • Chera, Chola, Pandya kingdoms — ports & trade
  • Epigraphy — Ashokan scripts, Brahmi, Kharosthi
  • Numismatics — punch-marked, cast, die-struck coins

How often is Sangam Age, South Indian Kingdoms & Epigraphy/Numismatics asked in UPSC Prelims?

Asked in 6 of 10 years, including 3 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: asked
  5. 2020: not asked
  6. 2021: asked
  7. 2022: not asked
  8. 2023: 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.

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