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Explore History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2025 with detailed analysis of Ancient, Medieval & Modern India topics, difficulty level, trends, and smart preparation tips. Download question paper, answer key & solutions here.
PWOnlyIAS
May 31, 2025
History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2025: The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination remains a hard challenge, demanding both breadth and depth of knowledge. Among the most tested areas is History, a core subject within General Studies Paper I. This year, the History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2025 demonstrated consistency in structure, relevance, and diversity across various timelines—Ancient, Medieval, and Modern India. Read on to get a detailed analysis of the History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2025, focusing on question distribution, difficulty level, topic trends, and ideal preparation strategies.
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UPSC Prelims Question Paper & Answer Key 2025 |
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| UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 | Download Link |
| UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 | Download Link |
| UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2025 with Solution | Download Link |
In UPSC Prelims 2025, the history segment featured 17 questions, slightly fewer than the previous year but still a considerable share of the total 100 questions. These were distributed across:
(Note: Some questions may overlap themes, especially when linked to current affairs.)
This breakdown emphasises the importance of prioritising Ancient, Medieval, and Modern History within one’s preparation strategy.
| Overview of History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2025 | |||
| Subject | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Nature of Questions |
| Ancient India | 6 | Easy to Moderate | Factual and conceptual questions on the Vedic Age, Buddhism, etc. |
| Medieval India | 2 | Easy to Moderate | Direct questions, mostly from the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal period |
| Modern India | 9 | Easy to Moderate | Static questions from the Indian National Movement and reforms |
The UPSC Prelims History Questions & Answers 2025 were primarily designed to test the candidate’s command over core historical subjects and their contextual interpretation. The inclusion of questions linked to recent events, such as the renaming of Port Blair to Sri Vijiya Puram, inspired questions on Rajendra Chola I and the Srivijaya invasion, emphasising the need to study static themes through the lens of current affairs.
1. Consider the following statements about Raja Ram Mohan Roy:
I. He possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical systems of the East.
II. He desired his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific approach and the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both 1 and II
(d) Neither I nor II
2. Consider the following subjects with regard to Non-Cooperation Programme:
I. Boycott of law-courts and foreign cloth
II. Observance of strict non-violence
III. Retention of titles and honours without using them in public
IV. Establishment of Panchayats for settling disputes
How many of the above were parts of the Non-Cooperation Programme?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All the four
3. Consider the following statements in respect of the Non-Cooperation Movement:
I. The Congress declared the attainment of ‘Swaraj’ by all legitimate and peaceful means to be its objective.
II. It was to be implemented in stages with civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes for the next stage only if ‘Swaraj’ did not come within a year and the Government resorted to repression.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II
4. “Sedition has become my religion” was the famous statement given by Gandhiji at the time of
(a) the Champaran Satyagraha
(b) publicly violating Salt Law at Dandi
(c) attending the Second Round Table Conference in London
(d) the launch of the Quit India Movement
5. Who provided legal defence to the people arrested in the aftermath of Chauri Chaura incident?
(a) C. R. Das
(b) Madan Mohan Malaviya and Krishna Kant
(c) Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Khwaja Hasan Nizami
(d) M. A. Jinnah
6. Subsequent to which one of the following events, Gandhiji, who consistently opposed untouchability and appealed for its eradication from all spheres, decided to include the upliftment of ‘Harijans’ in his political and social programme?
(a) The Poona Pact
(b) The Gandhi-Irwin (Delhi Pact) Agreement
(c) Arrest of Congress leadership at the time of the Quit India Movement
(d) Promulgation of the Government of India Act, 1935
7. Who among the following was the founder of the ‘Self-Respect Movement’?
(a) Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker
(b) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(c) Bhaskarrao Jadhav
(d) Dinkarrao Javalkar
8. The first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, a music training school, was set up in 1901 by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar in
(a) Delhi
(b) Gwalior
(c) Ujjain
(d) Lahore
This section on Ancient Questions in UPSC Prelims 2025 reflected a balanced focus on political developments, societal norms, art and architecture, and religious movements. Notable topics included the Mauryan and Gupta dynasties, early cave architecture, Vedic culture, and the rise of Buddhism and Jainism.
The question trend reaffirmed that aspirants must not underestimate the ancient segment. Candidates relying on NCERTs, along with supplementary sources like RS Sharma’s “Ancient India”, had an evident advantage.
Though limited in number, the Medieval Questions in UPSC Prelims 2025 were conceptually structured and rooted in important themes. This year, questions were asked about the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire, emphasising political organisation and architecture.
Aspirants should prepare Medieval History with clarity, particularly using Satish Chandra’s Medieval India and other standard reference materials. Despite the low number of questions, Medieval History remains an unpredictable yet essential domain.
The Modern Questions in UPSC Prelims 2025 remained the most prominent segment within the history portion. Covering approximately 9 questions, this section focused on the Indian National Movement, key leaders, socio-religious reform movements, and legislative developments.
The 2025 paper saw a shift from culture-heavy content to core historical facts and timelines. UPSC maintained its inclination toward static portions while also testing news-linked knowledge, like:
Questions were mostly statement-based multiple-choice format, testing candidates’ reasoning and elimination skills.
Over the past decade, History has remained a consistent and weighty component of the UPSC Prelims exam. While the number of questions fluctuates each year, the subject continues to test a candidate’s understanding of both factual recall and conceptual understanding.
Analysing the trends helps aspirants focus on priority areas within the Ancient, Medieval, Modern, and Art & Culture segments:
| 10-Year Trend Analysis of History Questions in UPSC Prelims | |
| Year | No. of History Questions |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 17 |
This trend shows that History consistently contributes 10–15 questions to the UPSC Prelims each year, making it a non-negotiable subject for aspirants.
Candidates noted that History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2025 were “manageable but required depth.” Those relying on quick summaries or coaching handouts found themselves at a disadvantage, especially with the Ancient and Medieval segments. On the contrary, aspirants who used NCERTs, standard reference books like Spectrum, and integrated current affairs performed well.
Experts observed that Modern History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2025 were highly conventional, rewarding serious aspirants with a structured preparation approach.
Ready to boost your UPSC 2025 preparation? Join PW’s UPSC online courses today!
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