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The Union Public Service Commission allows the candidates to choose optional subjects for themselves.

UPSC History is a theoretical subject and focuses on major and remarkable global historical events.

Optional subjects must be chosen wisely as it plays a crucial role in the candidate’s overall score. UPSC

History Syllabus is a widely chosen optional subject as it is mostly theoretical and interlinks our ancestor’s

past to the present world.

• IAS History Optional Syllabus has Paper 1 and Paper 2 in UPSC Mains. Each paper is of 250 marks with a total of 500 marks. Time alloted is 3 Hours.

• History can be a quite scoring optional subject as it mainly consists of Indian Culture, India’s Freedom Structure and the world’s history.

• Reference books for History and other study materials are easily available for the UPSC exam. • History is a part of the Mains as well as the Prelims exam and plays a vital role in General

Studies-1 of the UPSC civil services exam. • History Optional Syllabus for UPSC demands a methodological and objective approach from the

candidates.

In this article, we will find comprehensive information about the UPSC History Syllabus, which will

include its Syllabus, Paper Pattern, a few Reference Books, and some Preparation Tips. All these

dimensions are important for civil services examinations. Considering this, the Testbook provides the best

quality notes for UPSC Exams.

UPSC History Syllabus for IAS Exam - Paper I & II

History Syllabus for UPSC: Optional Paper- I

SR. NO.

TOPIC SUB-TOPIC

1 Archaeological Sources, Pre-History & Proto-History, Indus Valley Civilization

• Archaeological sources: Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments

UPSC History

Syllabus for IAS Optional

Subject Paper 2022

UPSC Optional Syllabus

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• Literary sources: Indigenous: Primary and secondary, poetry, scientific literature, literature, literature in regional languages, religious literature

• Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers • Pre-History & Proto-History: Geographical factors,

hunting and gathering (palaeolithic and mesolithic) • Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic) • Indus Valley Civilization: Origin, date, extent,

characteristics, decline, survival and significance, art and architecture

2 Megalithic Cultures, Aryans & Vedic Period

• Megalithic Cultures: Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus

• Development of community life, Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry

• Aryans & 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.

3 Period of Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire

• Period of Mahajanapadas: Formation of States (Mahajanapada): Republics and monarchies, Rise of urban centres

• Trade routes, Economic growth, Introduction of coinage, Spread of Jainism and Buddhism, Rise of Magadha and Nandas. Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact.

• 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

• The disintegration of the empire, Sungas and Kanvas

4

Post - Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas) & Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India

• Post - Mauryan Period: Contact with the outside world, growth of urban centres, economy, coinage

• Development of religions, Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science.

• Early State and Society: 0. Kharavela, The Satavahanas, the Tamil

States of the Sangam Age 1. Administration, economy, land grants,

coinage, trade guilds and urban centres

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2. Buddhist centres, Sangam literature and culture, art and architecture

5 Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas & Regional States during Gupta Era

• Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas: 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 Government, Growth of art and architecture,

religious sects • Institution of temple and Mathas, Agraharas,

education and literature, economy and society. • The regional States during Gupta Era:

0. Languages and texts 1. Major stages in the evolution of art and

architecture 2. Major philosophical thinkers and schools,

ideas in Science and Mathematics

6

Early Medieval India, 750-1200: Polity & Cultural Traditions in 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.

• Cultural Traditions: 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

7

The Thirteenth Century: Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate & The Fourteenth Century.

• The Thirteenth Century: Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Gurian invasions – factors behind Ghurian success, Economic, social and cultural consequences

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• Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans, Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban.

• The Fourteenth Century: “The Khalji Revolution”, Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measures

• Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, the 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

8

Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries & The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century- its culture.

• 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, the evolution of a composite culture

• Economy: Agricultural production, the rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production, trade and commerce.

• The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century- its culture: Political Developments and Economy: Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids

• The Vijayanagara Empire, Lodis, Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun

• The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration, Portuguese Colonial enterprise, Bhakti and Sufi Movements.

• Culture & Society: Regional cultural specificities, Literary traditions, Provincial architecture, Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.

9

Akbar, Mughal Empire in Seventeenth-Century, Economic Society & Culture

• 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.

• Mughal Empire in 17th Century: Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb

• The Empire and the Zamindars, Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb

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• Nature of the Mughal State, Late Seventeenth century crisis and the revolts, The Ahom Kingdom, Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.

• Economic Society & Culture: 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. Persian histories and other literature, Hindi and other religious literature

• Mughal architecture, Mughal painting, Provincial architecture and painting, Classical music, Science and technology

10 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

History Syllabus for UPSC: Optional Paper- II

Sr. No

TOPIC SUB-TOPIC

1

European Penetration into India & British Expansion in India & Early Structure of British Raj & Economical Impact of British Colonial Rule.

• 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

Download UPSC History optional Syllabus PDF for IAS Exams Here!

Download UPSC History optional Syllabus PDF in Hindi for IAS Exams Here!

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English, The Battle of Plassey, Significance of Plassey.

• British Expansion in India: Bengal – Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim

• The Battle of Buxar, Mysore, The Marathas, The three Anglo-Maratha Wars, Punjab.

• Early Structure of 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.

• Impact of British Colonial Rule: Land revenue settlements in British India

• The Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari Settlement, Mahalwari Settlement

• The economic impact of the revenue, arrangements, Commercialization of agriculture

• Rise of landless agrarian labourers, Impoverishment of the rural society

• Dislocation of traditional trade and commerce, De-industrialisation

• The decline of traditional crafts, Drain of wealth, Economic transformation of India, Railroad and communication network including telegraph and postal services

• Famine and poverty in the rural interior, European business enterprise and its limitations.

2

Social and Cultural Developments & Social and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas

• 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.

• Social and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas: Ram Mohan Roy, The Brahmo Movement, Devendranath Tagore, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

• The Young Bengal Movement, Dayananda Saraswati

• The social reform movements in India including Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage etc.

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• The contribution of Indian renaissance to the growth of modern India, Islamic revivalism – the Feraizi and Wahabi Movements.

3

Indian Response to British Rule & Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism & Rise of Gandhi & Constitutional Developments in Colonial India between 1858 and 1935

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

4 Other strands in the National Movement The Revolutionaries & Politics of Separatism, the Muslim League &

• Other strands in the National Movement The Revolutionaries: Bengal, the Punjab, Maharashtra, U.P, the Madras Presidency,

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Consolidation as a Nation, Nehru’s Foreign Policy, India and her neighbours (1947-1964) & Caste and Ethnicity after 1947

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.

• Politics of Separatism: the Hindu Mahasabha, Communalism and the politics of partition, Transfer of power, Independence.

• Muslim League & Consolidation as a Nation: The linguistic reorganisation of States (1935-1947), Regionalism and regional inequality, Integration of Princely States, Princes in electoral politics, the Question of National Language.

• Caste: Backward castes and tribes in postcolonial electoral politics, Dalit movements.

5

Economic development and political change & Enlightenment and Modern ideas

• 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.

• Enlightenment and Modern ideas: Major ideas of Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau, Spread of Enlightenment in the colonies, Rise of socialist ideas (up to Marx), the spread of Marxian Socialism

6 Origins of Modern Politics & Industrialization & Nation-State System

• Origins of Modern Politics: European States System, American Revolution and the Constitution, French revolution and aftermath, 1789- 1815, American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery, British Democratic Politics, 1815- 1850, Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders, Chartists.

• Industrialization: English Industrial Revolution: Causes and Impact on Society, Industrialization in other countries: USA, Germany, Russia, Japan, Industrialization and Globalization.

• Nation-State System: Rise of Nationalism in 19th century, Nationalism: state-building in Germany and Italy, Disintegration of Empires in the face of the emergence of nationalities across the world.

7 Imperialism and Colonialism & Revolution and Counter-Revolution &

• Imperialism and Colonialism: South and South-East Asia, Latin America and South Africa,

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World Wars & The World after World War II

Australia, Imperialism and free trade: Rise of neo-imperialism.

• Revolution and Counter-Revolution: 19th Century European revolutions, The Russian Revolution of 1917- 1921, Fascist Counter-Revolution, Italy and Germany, The Chinese Revolution of 1949.

• World Wars: 1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars: Societal implications, World War I: Causes and consequences, World War II: Causes and consequences.

• The World after World War II: Emergence of two power blocs, Emergence of Third World and non-alignment, UNO and the global disputes.

8 Liberation from Colonial Rule & Decolonization and Underdevelopment

• Liberation from Colonial Rule: Latin America-Bolivar

• Arab World-Egypt, Africa-Apartheid to Democracy, South-East Asia-Vietnam.

• Decolonization and Underdevelopment: Factors constraining development: Latin America, Africa.

9 Unification of Europe

• Post War Foundations: NATO and European Community.

• Consolidation and Expansion of European Community, European Union.

10 The disintegration of the Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World

• The disintegration of the Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World: Factors leading to the collapse of Soviet communism and the Soviet Union.

• 1985-1991, Political Changes in Eastern Europe 1989-2001, End of the cold war and US ascendancy in the World as the lone superpower.

Check the detailed UPSC IAS Mains Syllabus here.

UPSC History Exam Pattern 2022

UPSC Recruitment is based on three stages i.e., Prelim Exam, Mains Exam and an Interview.

• There will be two papers for the History Optional Subject. • Each paper would comprise 250 marks, which makes it 500 marks in total. • There is no negative marking. • There are 9 papers total in the UPSC Mains Exam. • Each Paper would have objective answer type questions.

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Sr. No. IAS Mains Papers Subject Marks

1. Paper VI Optional Subject Paper-I 250

2. Paper VII Optional Subject Paper-II 250

TOTAL 500

Time Duration 3 hours

Check the detailed UPSC IAS exam pattern here.

How to Prepare for UPSC History Optional Subject ?

It is recommended to select history as the optional subject only if the candidate is certain about their

performance in the subject. History demands a lot of learning power and the ability to link past events

with the present. As History is a subject allocated to us since our school, even history is a scoring subject.

1. If the candidate has chosen History as their optional subject, they should list down all the major historical events and solve UPSC civil services test series.

2. When it comes to History, it is important to remember dates, names and events. 3. The candidates must cling to a few but better reference books. 4. It is mandatory to understand, learn and revise concepts daily as History is a vast subject. 5. History is generally theoretical and focuses more on India’s History. 6. The NCERT books from class 6th to 11th must be reffered in order to gain an advantage over

the rest of the candidates. 7. Also, the students must analyse the previous year question papers in a very analytical and

thoughtful manner in order to better align their preparation strategy according to the demands of the exam.

8. Moreover, the candidates also need to solve a lot of history subject specific mocks, write a lot of mains answers and compare them with model answers/toppers' answers so as to better hone their answer writing capabilities.

Prepare for the exam using the UPSC IAS mains strategy here.

UPSC History Syllabus Previous Years’ Question Papers

Candidates must keep on solving the question papers regularly. Solving UPSC history previous years’

question papers helps to analyze the time management and the level of the questions.

IAS History Paper 1 History Paper-I PDF Download

IAS History Paper 2 History Paper-II PDF Download

Check some more UPSC IAS Previous Year’s Question Papers for other subjects here!

Books to Refer for UPSC History Syllabus

Some of the best books to study the complete UPSC History optional subject are mentioned below:

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• India’s Ancient Past – R.S. Sharma • India’s Struggle For Independence (Bipan Chandra) • History Of Modern India (Bipan Chandra) • Mastering Modern World History (Norman Lowe) • History NCERT books

Check Related UPSC Syllabus for Other Subjects

UPSC Physics Optional Syllabus UPSC Statistics Optional Syllabus

UPSC Psychology Syllabus UPSC Zoology Syllabus

UPSC Botany Syllabus UPSC Chemistry Syllabus

UPSC Animal Husbandry And Veterinary Science Syllabus

UPSC Commerce And Accountancy Syllabus

UPSC Medical Science Syllabus UPSC Anthropology Optional Syllabus

This was a detailed article about the syllabus. To start the preparation for your examination, download

the Testbook App and get access to world-class educations, mock tests, etc.

UPSC History Syllabus 2022 FAQs

[faq_accordion]

[mks_accordion_item title="UPSC History Syllabus comprises National or International Historical

Events? " number=1]

UPSC history optional syllabus mainly comprises National Historical Events i.e. National Movements,

Contribution of the National Leaders, Politics & Development.

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title="Which is the best reference book for UPSC History syllabus?" number=2]

It’s highly recommended to refer to History NCERT books for the UPSC civil services exam.

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title="What are the total marks for the UPSC IAS History paper?" number=3]

The UPSC History optional paper for civil services exam is divided into Paper 1 & 2. Each paper carries

250 marks each for a total of 500 marks.

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title="What does the UPSC History syllabus focus more on? " number=4]

The UPSC History syllabus focuses more on intertwining historical events with the present world such as

the consequences of World Wars, Revolutionaries and Industrialization.

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[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title="Is UPSC History paper 1 and paper 2 a part of the General Studies-I paper?

" number=5]

Yes, every optional subject in UPSC would be a part of General Studies-I paper

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title="What’s the difficulty level of the UPSC History paper in the IAS Exam?

" number=6]

History is part of both UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains syllabus so preparing the optional subject will

help with the GS part as well. However, the syllabus of history is quite vast so candidates often find it

hard.

[/mks_accordion_item]

[/faq_accordion]