History Optional ( PYQ from 1981-2020 + Complete History through Questions and Answers) Useful for UPSC and States Public Commission Examinations

“UPSC Previous Years’ Solved Papers (1981-2020)- History Optional `Ancient,Medieval, Modern India + World History'” is a book that deals with the optional history questions that have come in the UPSC examination from 1981 to 2020. The answer to every question has been conceptualized very precisely, keeping in mind the demand of the question and the expectations of the UPSC while evaluating the solution. In any examination, time management plays an imperative role; accordingly, this book is structured. The answers are lucid and condensed and very helpful for the last-minute revision. We hope this book will help the students efficiently grasp history and facilitate them in perceiving the ‘why’ And ‘how’ Behind very historical episodes. Salient features: Sequential arrangement of previous years’ questions with answers. Divided into two parts: Ancient and Medieval. Helps aspirants get a feel of past questions with their answers and accordingly prepare. Each question has its corresponding year mentioned. The importance of CCC- Context, Concept and Content-thoroughly taken care of.

CONTENTS

Ancient History

1. Sources

2. Pre-history and Proto-history

3. Indus Valley Civilization

4. Megalithic Cultures

5. Aryans and Vedic Period

6. Period of Mahajanapadas

7. Mauryan Empire

8. Post-Mauryan Period

9. Early State and Society in Eastern

India, Deccan and South India

10. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas

11. Regional States During The Gupta Era

12. Themes in Early Indian Cultural History

Medieval History

13. Early Medieval India (750-1200)

14. Cultural Traditions in India (750-1200)

15. The Thirteenth Century 15.1 – 15.10

16. The Fourteenth Century 16.1 – 16.14

17. Society, Culture and Economy in The

Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries

17.1 – 17.17

18. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth

Century–Political Developments

and Economy 18.1 – 18.13

19. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth

Century–Society and Culture 19.1 -19.6

20. Akbar: Conquests and Consolidation

of The Empire 20.1 – 20.10

21. Mughal Empire in The Seventeenth

Century 21.1 – 21.16

22. Economy and Society in The Sixteenth

and Seventeenth Centuries 22.1 – 22.10

23. Culture in The Mughal Empire

23.1 – 23.10

24. The Eighteenth Century 24.1 – 24.6

Modern History

25. European Penetration into India

25.1 – 25.6

26. British Expansion in India 26.1 – 26.11

27. Early Structure of The British Raj

27.1 – 27.5

28. Economic Impact of The British

Colonial Rule

29. Social and Cultural Developments

30. Social and Religious Reform

Movements in Bengal and Other

Areas 30.1 – 30.10

31. Indian Response to British Rule

31.1 – 31.10

32. Factors Leading to The Birth of

Indian Nationalism 32.1 – 32.18

33. The Gandhian Phase 33.1 – 33.31

34. Constitutional Developments in The

Colonial India Between 1858 and 1935

34.1 – 34.6

35. Other Strands in The National

Movement 35.1 – 35.11

36. Politics of Separatism 36.1 – 36.9

37. Consolidation As a Nation 37.1 – 37.12

38. Caste and Ethnicity After 1947

38.1 – 38.6

39. Economic Development and

Political Change 39.1 – 39.10

World History

40. Enlightenment and Modern Ideas

40.1 – 40.5

41. Origins of Modern Politics 41.1 – 41.12

42. Industrialisation 42.1 – 42.4

43. Nation-State System 43.1 – 43.7

44. Imperialism and Colonialism 44.1 -44.7

45. Revolution and Counter-Revolution

46. World Wars

47. The World After World War II

48. Liberation From Colonial Rule

49. Decolonisation and Underdevelopment

50. Unification of Europe

51. Disintegration of Soviet Union and The

Rise of Unipolar World