SYLLABUS FOR UNION
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION MAIN EXAMINATION
HISTORY
PAPER - I
1. Sources:
Archaeological
sources: Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments
Literary
sources: Indigenous: Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific literature,
literature, literature in regional languages, religious literature. Foreign
accounts: Greek, Chinese and
Arab writers.
2. Pre-history
and Proto-history:
Geographical
factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic and mesolithic); Beginning of
agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic).
3. Indus Valley
Civilization:
Origin, date,
extent, characteristics, decline, survival and significance, art and
architecture.
4. Megalithic
Cultures:
Distribution of
pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community life,
Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry.
5. Aryans and
Vedic Period:
Expansions of
Aryans in India. Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literature;
Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period; Political,
social and economical life; Significance of the Vedic Age; Evolution of
Monarchy and Varna system.
6. Period of
Mahajanapadas:
Formation of
States (Mahajanapada) : Republics and monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Trade
routes; Economic growth; Introduction of coinage; Spread ofJainism and
Buddhism; Rise of Magadha and Nandas. Iranian and Macedonian invasions and
their impact.
7. Mauryan
Empire:
Foundation of
the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta, Kautilya and Arthashastra; Ashoka; Concept of
Dharma; Edicts; Polity, Administration; Economy; Art, architecture and
sculpture;
External
contacts; Religion; Spread of religion; Literature. Disintegration of the
empire; Sungas and Kanvas.
8. Post -
Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas):
Contact with
outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage, development
of religions,
Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and
science.
9. Early State
and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India:
Kharavela, The
Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, economy, land
grants, coinage, trade guilds and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam
literature and culture; Art and architecture.
10. Guptas,
Vakatakas and Vardhanas:
Polity and
administration, Economic conditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants,
Decline of urban centres, Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women,
Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi,
Literature, scientific literature,
art and
architecture.
11. Regional
States during Gupta Era:
The Kadambas,
Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami; Polity and Administration, Trade guilds,
Literature; growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakti movement,
Shankaracharya; Vedanta; Institutions of temple and temple architecture; Palas,
Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Polity and administration; Cultural aspects.
Arab conquest of Sind; Alberuni, The Chalukyas of Kalyana, Cholas, Hoysalas,
Pandyas; Polity and
Administration;
local Govern-ment; Growth of art and architecture, religious sects, Institution
of temple and Mathas, Agraharas, education and literature, economy and society.
12. Themes in
Early Indian Cultural History:
Languages and
texts, major stages in the evolution of art and architecture, major
philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and Mathematics.
13. Early
Medieval India, 750-1200:
- Polity: Major
political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula, origin and the rise
of Rajputs - The Cholas: administration, village economy and society - “Indian
Feudalism” - Agrarian economy and urban settlements - Trade and commerce -
Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order - Condition of
women - Indian science and technology
14. Cultural
Traditions in India, 750- 1200:
- Philosophy:
Skankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and Brahma-
Mimansa - Religion: Forms and features of religion, Tamil devotional cult,
growth of
Bhakti, Islam
and its arrival in India, Sufism - Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth
of Tamil literature, literature in the newly developing languages, Kalhan’s
Rajtarangini, Alberuni’s India - Art and Architecture: Temple architecture,
sculpture, painting
15. The
Thirteenth Century:
- Establishment
of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghurian invasions – factors behind Ghurian success
- Economic, social and cultural consequences - Foundation of Delhi Sultanate
and
early Turkish
Sultans - Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban
16. The
Fourteenth Century:
- “The Khalji
Revolution” - Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian
and economic measures - Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures,
bureaucracy
of Muhammad
Tughluq - Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering
and public works, decline of the Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta’s
account
17. Society,
Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries:
- Society:
composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious
classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Sufi movement
- Culture:
Persian literature, literature in the regional languages of North India,
literature in the languages of South India, Sultanate architecture and new
structural forms, painting,
evolution of a
composite culture - Economy: Agricultural production, rise of urban economy and
non-agricultural production, trade and commerce
18. The
Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century – Political Developments and Economy:
- Rise of
Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa,
Bahmanids
- The
Vijayanagra Empire – Lodis - Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun -
The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration - Portuguese Colonial enterprise -
Bhakti and Sufi Movements
19. The
Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Century – Society and Culture:
- Regional
cultural specificities - Literary traditions - Provincial architecture -
Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.
20. Akbar:
- Conquests and
consolidation of the Empire - Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems
- Rajput policy
- Evolution of religious and social outlook, theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious
policy - Court patronage of art and technology
21. Mughal
Empire in the Seventeenth Century:
Major
administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb - The Empire and
the Zamindars - Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb -
Nature of the Mughal State - Late Seventeenth century crisis and the revolts -
The Ahom Kingdom
- Shivaji and
the early Maratha Kingdom.
22. Economy and
Society in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries:
- Population,
agricultural production, craft production - Towns, commerce with Europe
through Dutch,
English and French companies : a trade revolution - Indian mercantile classes,
banking, insurance and credit systems
Condition of peasants, condition of
women -
Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth
23. Culture in
the Mughal Empire:
- Persian
histories and other literature - Hindi and other religious literature - Mughal
architecture - Mughal painting - Provincial architecture and painting -
Classical music - Science and technology
24. The Eighteenth Century:
Factors for the
decline of the Mughal Empire - The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan,
Bengal, Awadh - Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas - The Maratha fiscal and
financial system - Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat:1761 - State of
politics, culture and economy on the eve of the British conquest
PAPER - II
1. European
Penetration into India:
The Early
European Settlements; The Portuguese and the Dutch; The English and the French
East India Companies; Their struggle for supremacy; Carnatic Wars; Bengal -The
conflict between the English and the Nawabs of Bengal; Siraj and the English;
The Battle of
Plassey;
Significance of Plassey.
2. British
Expansion in India:
Bengal – Mir
Jafar and Mir Kasim; The Battle of Buxar; Mysore; The Marathas; The three
Anglo-Maratha Wars; The Punjab.
3. Early
Structure of the British Raj:
The early
administrative structure; From diarchy to direct control; The Regulating Act
(1773); The Pitt’s India Act (1784); The Charter Act (1833); The voice of free
trade and the changing character of British colonial rule; The English
utilitarian and India.
4. Economic
Impact of British Colonial Rule:
(a) Land revenue
settlements in British India; The Permanent Settlement; Ryotwari Settlement;
Mahalwari Settlement; Economic impact of the revenue arrangements;
Commercialization of agriculture; Rise of landless agrarian labourers;
Impoverishment of the rural society.
(b) Dislocation of
traditional trade and commerce; De-industrialisation; Decline of traditional
crafts; Drain of wealth; Economic transformation of India; Railroad and
communication network including tele-graph and postal services; Famine and
poverty in the rural interior; European business enterprise and its
limitations.
5. Social and
Cultural Developments:
The state of
indigenous education, its dislocation; Orientalist-Anglicist controversy, The
introduction of western education in India; The rise of press, literature and
public opinion; The rise of modern vernacular literature; Progress of science;
Christian missionary activities in India.
6. Social and
Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas:
Ram Mohan Roy,
The Brahmo Movement; Devendranath Tagore; Iswarchandra Vidyasagar; The Young
Bengal Movement; Dayanada Saraswati; The social reform movements in India
including Sati,
widow remarriage, child marriage etc.; The contribution of Indian renaissance
to the growth of modern India; Islamic revivalism – the Feraizi and Wahabi
Movements.
7. Indian
Response to British Rule:
Peasant
movements and tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries including
the Rangpur
Dhing (1783), the Kol Rebellion (1832), the Mopla Rebellion in
Malabar
(1841-1920), the Santal Hul (1855), Indigo Rebellion (1859-60),
Deccan Uprising
(1875) and the Munda Ulgulan (1899-1900); The Great Revolt of
1857 - Origin,
character, causes of failure, the consequences; The shift in the
character of
peasant uprisings in the post-1857 period; the peasant movements
of the 1920s
and 1930s.
8. Factors leading
to the birth of Indian Nationalism; Politics of Association; The
Foundation of
the Indian National Congress; The Safety-valve thesis relating
to the birth of
the Congress; Programme and objectives of Early Congress; the social
composition of early Congress leadership; the Moderates and Extremists; The
Partition of Bengal (1905); The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal; the economic and
political aspects of Swadeshi Movement; The beginning of revolutionary
extremism in India.
9. Rise of Gandhi;
Character of Gandhian nationalism; Gandhi’s popular appeal; Rowlatt Satyagraha;
the Khilafat Movement; the Non-cooperation Movement; National politics from the
end of the Non-cooperation movement to the beginning of the Civil Disobedience movement;
the two phases of the Civil Disobedience Movement; Simon Commission; The Nehru
Report; the Round Table Conferences; Nationalism and the Peasant Movements;
Nationalism and Working class movements; Women and Indian youth and students in
Indian politics (1885-1947); the election of 1937 and the formation of
ministries; Cripps Mission; the Quit India Movement; the Wavell Plan; The
Cabinet Mission.
10. Constitutional
Developments in the Colonial India between 1858 and 1935
11. Other strands
in the National Movement The Revolutionaries: Bengal, the Punjab,
Maharashtra,
U.P, the Madras Presidency, Outside India. The Left; The Left within the
Congress: Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, the Congress Socialist Party;
the
Communist Party
of India, other left parties.
12. Politics of
Separatism; the Muslim League; the Hindu Mahasabha; Communalism and the
politics of partition; Transfer of power; Independence.
13. Consolidation
as a Nation; Nehru’s Foreign Policy; India and her neighbours (1947-1964); The
linguistic reorganisation of States (1935-1947); Regionalism and regional
inequality; Integration of Princely States; Princes in electoral politics; the
Question of National Language.
14. Caste and
Ethnicity after 1947; Backward castes and tribes in post-colonial electoral
politics; Dalit movements.
15. Economic
development and political change; Land reforms; the politics of planning and
rural reconstruction; Ecology and environmental policy in post - colonial
India; Progress of science.
16.
Enlightenment and Modern ideas:
(i) Major ideas
of Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau
(ii) Spread of
Enlightenment in the colonies
(iii) Rise of
socialist ideas (up to Marx); spread of Marxian Socialism.
17. Origins of
Modern Politics:
(i) European
States System.
(ii) American Revolution
and the Constitution.
(iii) French
revolution and aftermath, 1789-1815.
(iv) American
Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery.
(v) British
Democratic Politics, 1815- 1850; Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders, hartists.
18.
Industrialization:
(i) English
Industrial Revolution: Causes and Impact on Society
(ii)
Industrialization in other countries: USA, Germany, Russia, Japan
(iii)
Industrialization and Globalization.
19.
Nation-State System:
(i) Rise of Nationalism
in 19th century
(ii)
Nationalism: state-building in Germany and Italy
(iii)
Disintegration of Empires in the face of the emergence of nationalities across
the world.
20. Imperialism
and Colonialism:
(i) South and
South-East Asia
(ii) Latin America
and South Africa
(iii) Australia
(iv)
Imperialism and free trade: Rise of neo-imperialism.
21. Revolution
and Counter-
Revolution:
(i) 19th
Century European revolutions
(ii) The
Russian Revolution of 1917-1921
(iii) Fascist
Counter-Revolution, Italy and Germany.
(iv) The
Chinese Revolution of 1949
22. World Wars:
(i) 1st and 2nd
World Wars as Total Wars: Societal implications
(ii) World War
I: Causes and consequences
(iii) World War
II: Causes and consequence
23. The World
after World War II:
(i) Emergence
of two power blocs
(ii) Emergence
of Third World and non-alignment
(iii) UNO and
the global disputes.
24. Liberation
from Colonial Rule:
(i) Latin
America-Bolivar
(ii) Arab
World-Egypt
(iii)
Africa-Apartheid to Democracy
(iv) South-East
Asia-Vietnam
25.
Decolonization and
Underdevelopment:
(i) Factors
constraining development: Latin America, Africa
26. Unification
of Europe:
(i) Post War
Foundations: NATO and European Community
(ii)
Consolidation and Expansion of European Community
(iii) European
Union.
27.
Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World:
(i) Factors
leading to the collapse of Soviet communism and the Soviet Union, 1985-1991
(ii) Political
Changes in Eastern Europe 1989-2001.
(iii) End of
the cold war and US ascendancy in the World as the lone
superpower.
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