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History Important Topics For UPSC prelims 2025, List

PWOnlyIAS October 18, 2024 05:29 306 0

History Important Topics for UPSC Prelims 2025: Prepare effectively with key topics from Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian history, including freedom struggles

History Important Topics For UPSC prelims 2025, List

History Important Topics For UPSC prelims: History is one of the most critical and equally important subjects for aspiring UPSC candidates, especially for the Prelims examination. Every year, questions from Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian history appear considerably. We have created this comprehensive guidepost, which will provide a list of important historical topics for UPSC prelims that every candidate should prioritize for effective preparation for UPSC Prelims 2025.

History Important Topics for UPSC Prelims 2025

For the UPSC Prelims 2025, the history subject will play a vital role in the General Studies Paper. Aspiring candidates are advised to focus on important history topics for UPSC prelims, including ancient, medieval, and modern history, along with India’s freedom struggle, cultural heritage, and significant events and personalities.

Important Topics of Ancient History for UPSC Prelims

Ancient Indian history provides the foundation for understanding India’s cultural and political evolution. Although the number of questions in this section appears less than in Modern History, it still carries high weightage.

Here’s a history important topics for UPSC prelims from Ancient India:

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1. Indus Valley Civilization

  • Key sites: Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, Dholavira, and Lothal
  • Urban planning, architecture, script, and trade
  • Decline of the civilisation and its causes
Click to know: Indus Valley Civilization


2. Vedic Age

  • Early and Later Vedic societies
  • Vedic literature (Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda)
  • Social structure, religion, and economy during the Vedic period
Click to know: Vedic Age


3. Mahajanapadas and the Rise of Kingdoms

  • Sixteen Mahajanapadas
  • Magadha’s rise to power
  • Conflicts among kingdoms and republics
Click to know: 16 Mahajanapadas


4. Buddhism and Jainism

  • Life of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira
  • Basic tenets of Buddhism and Jainism
  • Spread of Buddhism and Jainism across India and abroad

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Click to know: Jainism And Buddhism


5. Mauryan Empire

  • Chandragupta Maurya and the establishment of the Mauryan Empire
  • Ashoka’s reign and the Kalinga war
  • Ashoka’s Dhamma and the Mauryan administration
  • Decline of the Mauryan Empire

6. Post-Mauryan Period

  • Rise of the Indo-Greeks, Shakas, and Kushans
  • The Gupta Empire (Golden Age of India)
  • Science, technology, art, and culture under the Guptas

By focusing on these important topics of ancient history for UPSC Prelims, every aspiring candidate can cover a major portion of the History syllabus from the section on ancient history.

Medieval History Important Topics for UPSC

Medieval Indian history is based on the period from the decline of the Gupta Empire to the rise of the Mughal Empire and beyond. It has been seen that fewer questions appear from this section, but some notable years have witnessed a heavier emphasis on medieval rulers and cultural aspects.

Key medieval history important topics for UPSC are:

1. Early Medieval Period (Post-Gupta Period)

  • The Chalukyas, Pallavas, Rashtrakutas, and Cholas
  • The Rajputs and their role in Indian history

2. Delhi Sultanate

  • Slave Dynasty, Khilji Dynasty, Tughlaq Dynasty, Sayyid Dynasty, and Lodhi Dynasty
  • Administration, art, and architecture of the Delhi Sultanate
  • Major rulers like Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Alauddin Khilji, and Muhammad bin Tughlaq

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3. Bhakti and Sufi Movements

  • Key saints and reformers: Kabir, Guru Nanak, Mirabai, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
  • Influence on society, religion, and culture
  • Similarities and differences between Bhakti and Sufi traditions

Click to know: Bhakti Movement and Sufi Movement

4. Vijayanagara and Bahmani Kingdoms

  • The rise and fall of the Vijayanagara Empire
  • Achievements of rulers like Krishnadevaraya
  • Bahmani Sultanate and its significance

5. Mughal Empire

  • Major rulers: Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb
  • Mughal administration, mansabdari system, art, architecture, and religious policies
  • Decline of the Mughal Empire and the emergence of regional powers

6. Maratha Empire

  • The rise of Shivaji and his administration
  • Maratha wars with the Mughals and other regional powers’

These medieval history important topics for UPSC prelims will help aspirants prepare effectively for the questions related to the political and cultural changes during this era.

Modern History Important Topics for UPSC Prelims

Modern Indian history holds the highest weightage in the Prelims exam. This segment of the syllabus covers the period from the arrival of Europeans in India to the Independence movement, so it is essential to focus on this era.

Here are the modern history important topics for UPSC Prelims:

1. The Advent of Europeans in India

  • Arrival of the Portuguese, Dutch, English, and French
  • Battle of Plassey (1757) and Battle of Buxar (1764)
  • Establishment of British rule in India

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2. British Economic Policies

  • Drain of wealth theory by Dadabhai Naoroji
  • Land revenue policies: Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, and Mahalwari systems
  • Famines and economic impact of British rule

3. Revolts and Rebellions

  • The 1857 Revolt (Causes, events, and consequences)
  • Various tribal and peasant movements (Santhal Rebellion, Indigo Rebellion etc)

Click to know: Tribal Revolts

4. Social Reform Movements

  • Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Jyotiba Phule
  • Movements like Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, and Prarthana Samaj
  • Role of women in social reforms

Click to know: Social Reform Movements

5. Indian National Movement (1885–1947)

  • Formation of Indian National Congress (INC)
  • Swadeshi Movement, Home Rule Movement, Non-Cooperation Movement
  • Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement
  • Role of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, and other freedom fighters

Click to know: Indian National Movement

6. Partition of India and Independence

  • Events leading to the partition of India
  • Role of communalism in Indian politics
  • Mountbatten Plan and the Indian Independence Act (1947)

Candidates should focus on important modern history topics for UPSC Prelims, which are mentioned above to learn this vital section of the Prelims exam.

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How to Approach History Preparation for UPSC Prelims 2025

  • Prioritize Important Topics: Candidates should focus on the key topics listed above to maximize their efficiency.
  • Timeline and Chronology: For history, prepare and draw a clear timeline list of important events. Questions may ask for the correct order of historical events.
  • Previous Year Questions: Solve as many possible previous years’ UPSC Prelims questions to understand the type of questions that appear from history.
  • Integrated Study: Relate history with art and culture topics, as UPSC often combines them in the Prelims exam.

Importance of History for UPSC Prelims 2025

The General Studies Paper I of UPSC Prelims contains around 15-20 questions from history. These questions are generally straightforward and conceptual, or sometimes tricky. Covering history important topics for UPSC Prelims 2025 ensures that candidates are ready to handle questions from all the phases of Indian history: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern.

Number of History Questions
Year Number of Questions
2024 08
2023 14
2022 14
2021 10
2020 20
2019 17
2018 22

Prelims History Question Paper 2024

The UPSC Prelims 2024 history question paper comprises of a balanced mix of questions from Ancient, Medieval, and Modern history. By analyzing trends from previous years, candidates can identify patterns and focus their preparation on high-yield topics.

Download UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2024 PDF
Prelims Question Paper 2024 Download Link 
General Studies Paper I (GS Paper) Click Here
UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis 2024 Click Here

History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2024

The History questions in UPSC Prelims 2024 showed a balanced mix of ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history. The questions in the history section covered topics such as the Indian freedom struggle, prominent historical figures, and important cultural developments.

History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2024
Ancient History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2024 Click Here
Modern History Questions In UPSC Prelims 2024 Click Here
Medieval History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2024 Click Here

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Tips to Prepare History for UPSC Prelims 2025

To effectively prepare for history important topics for UPSC Prelims 2025, consider the following tips:

  1. Current Affairs: Stay updated with UPSC Daily Current Affairs and UPSC Current Affairs Magazine to connect historical events with current trends.
  2. Notes and Summaries: Use UPSC Online Notes and UPSC Udaan Online Notes for concise summaries of important topics, making revision easier.
  3. Refer to NCERTs: Study from UPSC NCERT Notes and NCERT Wallah Books for foundational concepts in history.
  4. Mock Tests: Take advantage of UPSC Udaan Prelims Wallah for practice tests, which help in assessing your preparation level.

Enhance History Preparation With These Resources
UPSC UDAAN Prelims Wallah PWONLYIAS UPSC Wallah Polity

Conclusion

History is a subject that requires detailed yet focused preparation. By covering the history important topics for UPSC Prelims 2025, such as Ancient Indian history (Indus Valley Civilization, Buddhism, and Mauryan Empire), medieval history important topics for UPSC (Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, and Bhakti Movement), and modern history important topics for UPSC Prelims (Indian National Movement, Revolt of 1857, and British economic policies), candidates can ensure that their preparation is complete and covers all essential areas.

Remember, strategic preparation of these important topics of ancient history for UPSC prelims, medieval history important topics for UPSC, and modern history will boost the chances of success in the UPSC Prelims 2025.

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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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