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History — UPSC GS Paper I Notes

History — UPSC Notes

Ancient · Medieval · Modern | GS Paper I + Prelims

🌐 भाषा: हिंदी में पढ़ें →

📋 UPSC Syllabus — GS Paper I (History)

→ Indian culture covering salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
→ Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present.
→ The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors.
→ Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
→ World history from 18th century to present — wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonization & decolonization.

🏛️ Ancient History

Prehistoric & Proto-Historic

Vedic & Early Iron Age

Religious Movements

Major Empires & Kingdoms

South India & Post-Gupta Period

Art, Architecture & Culture

⚔️ Medieval History

Early Medieval & Rajput Period

Rajput Kingdoms & Tripartite Struggle (750–1200 AD) Coming Soon

Pratiharas, Palas, Rashtrakutas, tripartite struggle, Rajput clans, Arab invasion, Mahmud of Ghazni, Muhammad Ghori

PrelimsGS Paper I

Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 AD)

Bhakti & Sufi Movements

Regional Kingdoms

Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 AD)

Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, Aravidu dynasties; Krishnadevaraya; administration, Ashtadiggajas, Hampi architecture, Battle of Talikota

PrelimsGS Paper IMains

Bahmani Sultanate & Deccan Kingdoms Coming Soon

Bahmani kingdom, Bijapur, Golconda, Bidar, Ahmadnagar, Berar; Mahmud Gawan, architecture

PrelimsGS Paper I

Mughal Empire (1526–1707 AD)

Mughal Empire — Babur to Aurangzeb

Babur, Humayun, Akbar (Din-i-Ilahi, Mansabdari), Jahangir, Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal), Aurangzeb; administration, Mansabdari system, Zamindars, Jagirs

PrelimsGS Paper IMains

Maratha Empire

Medieval Art & Architecture

Medieval Art & Architecture — Sultanate to Mughal Coming Soon

Indo-Islamic architecture, Qutb Minar, Alai Darwaza, Tughlaq tombs, Mughal architecture — Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Mughal paintings

PrelimsGS Paper IMains

🇮🇳 Modern History

Coming of Europeans & British Expansion

Advent of Europeans & Rise of British Power Coming Soon

Portuguese, Dutch, French, British — East India Companies; Plassey (1757), Buxar (1764); Subsidiary Alliance, Doctrine of Lapse; Anglo-Mysore, Anglo-Maratha, Anglo-Sikh wars

PrelimsGS Paper IMains

1857 & Early Resistance

Revolt of 1857 — First War of Independence

Causes, immediate trigger (Enfield cartridge), major centres, leaders — Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmibai, Nana Saheb, Tantia Tope, Bahadur Shah Zafar; aftermath, Government of India Act 1858

PrelimsGS Paper IMains

Social & Religious Reform Movements

Social & Religious Reform Movements (19th Century)

Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Aligarh Movement, Wahabi Movement, Theosophical Society; women's rights, caste reform, widow remarriage

PrelimsGS Paper IMains

Indian National Movement

Indian National Movement — Three Phases

Moderate phase (1885–1905), Extremist phase (1905–1920) — Partition of Bengal, Swadeshi; Gandhian phase — Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India; key leaders, Round Table Conferences

PrelimsGS Paper IMains

Partition & Indian Independence (1947) Coming Soon

Cabinet Mission Plan, Mountbatten Plan, Partition of India (India-Pakistan), Radcliffe Line, Princely States integration, August 15 1947

PrelimsGS Paper IMains

Post-Independence India

Post-Independence Consolidation Coming Soon

Sardar Patel's integration of Princely States, reorganization of states, Planning Commission, early policies of Nehru era

GS Paper IMains

World History

World History — 18th Century to Present Coming Soon

French Revolution, American Revolution, World War I & II, Cold War, decolonization, rise of socialism & communism, redrawing of national boundaries

GS Paper IMains

⚠️ Note: More topics will be added regularly. Bookmark this page and revisit for updates.