UPSC History Syllabus 2024 - Check UPSC History Paper 1 and 2 Syllabus

UPSC History Syllabus 2024 - Check UPSC History Paper 1 and 2 Syllabus

Edited By Vishnukumar V | Updated on Feb 14, 2024 05:59 PM IST | #UPSC CSE
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The Commission prescribed the IAS History syllabus in the UPSC notification online. History optional syllabus is released separately for paper 1 and paper 2 of the UPSC CSE mains exam. The UPSC IAS syllabus 2024 for History is released by the Commission together in PDF format.
Download - UPSC IAS History syllabus pdf

This Story also Contains
  1. UPSC History Syllabus 2024 - For Paper I
  2. UPSC History Syllabus 2024 - For Paper II
  3. UPSC Preparation Strategy 2024
  4. UPSC History Optional Books 2024
UPSC History Syllabus 2024 - Check UPSC History Paper 1 and 2 Syllabus
UPSC History Syllabus 2024 - Check UPSC History Paper 1 and 2 Syllabus

With the help of UPSC History question papers, candidates can know about the important topics, difficulty level, and chapters asked in the UPSC CSE 2024 mains exam. UPSC optional History syllabus comprises 500 marks for Paper 1 and Paper 2 of UPSC IAS exam. Along with the IAS History syllabus for mains exam, candidates must also check UPSC IAS exam pattern for their preparations. For more details about IAS History syllabus 2024, candidates must read the article below.

Relevant Articles:


UPSC History Syllabus 2024 - For Paper I

Subject

Topics

Sources

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

  • Foreign account: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.

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

Pre-history and Proto-history

  • Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic)

  • Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic and mesolithic)

Indus Valley Civilization

Origin date, extent, characteristics-decline, survival and significance, art and architecture

Megalithic Cultures

  • Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus

  • Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry

  • Development of community life, Settlements

Aryans and Vedic Period

  • 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

  • Expansions of Aryans in India

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 Mecedonian 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

Post-Mauryan Period

  • Contact with outside world growth of urban centres

  • Economy, coinage, development of religions, Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science

Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India

  • Kharavela, The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, Economy, land grants, coinage, trade guilds and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam literature and culture

  • Art and architecture

Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas

  • Polity and administration, Economic conditions

  • Coinage of the Guptas

Land grants

  • Decline of Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply. urban centres

  • Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women

  • Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi

  • Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture

Regional States during Gupta Era

  • 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 Chaluky as 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

Themes in Early Indian Cultural History

  • Languages and texts, major stages in the evolution of art and architecture, major philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and Mathematics

Early Medieval 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 in India, 750-1200

  • 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

The Thirteenth Century

  • Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghorian invasions - factors behind Ghurian success.

  • Economic, Social and cultural consequences.

  • Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans.

  • Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban.

The Fourteenth Century

  • “The Khalji Revolution”.

  • Alauddin Khilji: Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measure.

  • Firuz Tugluq: Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and public works, decline of the Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta's account

  • Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq.

Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries

  • 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, evolution of a composite culture.

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

  • Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Sufi movement.

The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century-Political Developments and Economy

  • Mughal Empire, first phase : Babur, Humayun.

  • The Sur Empire : Sher Shah’s administration.

  • Malwa, Bahmanids.

  • The Vijayanagara Empire.

  • Lodis.

  • Portuguese colonial enterprise, Bhakti and Sufi Movements

  • Rise of Provincial Dynasties : Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat.

The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century- Society and culture

  • Provincial architecture.

  • Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.

  • Regional cultures specificities.

  • Literary traditions.

Akbar

  • Rajput policy.

  • Conquests and consolidation of empire.

  • Establishment of jagir and mansab systems.

  • Court patronage of art and technology.

  • Evolution of religious and social outlook. Theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy.

Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century

  • Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply.

  • Late Seventeenth Century crisis and the revolts.

  • The Ahom kingdom.

  • Shivaji and the early MarathaKingdom.

  • Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb.

  • Nature of the Mughal State.

  • Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb.

  • The Empire and the Zamindars.

Economy and society, in the 16th and 17th Centuries

  • Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies : a trade revolution.

  • Conditions of peasants, Condition of Women.

  • Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth.

  • Indian mercantile classes. Banking, insurance and credit systems.

  • Population Agricultural and craft production.

Culture during Mughal Empire

  • Provincial architecture and painting.

  • Persian histories and other literature.

  • Hindi and religious literature.

  • Mughal architecture.

  • Mughal painting.

  • Classical music.

  • Science and technology.

  • Hindi and religious literature.

The Eighteenth Century

  • The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh.

  • Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas.

  • The Maratha fiscal and financial system.

  • Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire.

  • Emergence of Afghan power Battle of Panipat, 1761.

  • State of, political, cultural and economic, on eve of the British conquest.

UPSC Subject-wise Questions for various Subjects

UPSC History Syllabus 2024 - For Paper II

Subject

Topics

European Penetration into India

The Early European Settlements

The English and the French

East India Companies

Siraj and the English

The Battle of Plassey

Significance of Plassey

Their struggle for supremacy

Carnatic Wars; Bengal-The conflict between the English and the Nawabs of Bengal

The Portuguese and the Dutch

British Expansion in India

The three

Anglo-Maratha Wars

The Punjab

Bengal-Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim

The Battle of Buxar; Mysore

The Marathas

Early Structure of the British Raj

The Pitt's India Act (1784)

The Charter Act (1833)

The Voice of free trade and the changing

The English utilitarian and India

The Early administrative structure

From diarchy to direct control

The Regulating Act (1773)

character of British colonial rule

Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule

Dislocation of traditional trade and commerce; De-industrialisation; 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

Land revenue settlements in British India; The Permanent Settlement; Ryotwari Settlement; Mahalwari Settlement; Economic impact of the revenue arrangements; Commercialization of agriculture; Rise of landless agrarian labourers; Impoverishment of the rural society.

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

Islamic revivalism-the Feraizi and Wahabi Movements.

The Brahmo Movement

The Young Bengal Movement

Dayanada Saraswati

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

Devendranath Tagore

Iswarchandra Vidyasagar

The contribution of Indian renaissance to the growth of modern India

Enlightenment and Modern ideas

Major Ideas of Enlightenment : Kant, Rousseau.

Rise of socialist ideas (up to Marx); spread of Marxian Socialism

Spread of Enlightenment in the colonies.

Origins of Modern Politics

American Revolution and the Constitution.

British Democratic politics, 1815-1850 : Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders, Chartists.

French Revolution and Aftermath, 1789-1815.

American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery.

European States System.

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 the 19th century.

Disintegration of Empires in the face of the emergence of nationalities across the World.

Nationalism : State-building in Germany and Italy.

Imperialism and Colonialism

South and South-East Asia.

Imperialism and free trade: Rise of neo-imperialism

Latin America and South Africa.

Australia.

Revolution and Counter-Revolution

Fascist Counter-Revolution, Italy and Germany.

19th Century European revolutions.

The Chinese Revolution of 1949.

The Russian Revolution of 1917-1921.

World Wars

World War I : Causes and Consequences.

1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars : Societal implications.

World War II : Causes and Consequences

The World after World War II

Emergence of the Third World and non-alignment.

Emergence of Two power blocs.

UNO and the global disputes.

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

Unification of Europe

Post War Foundations ; NATO and European Community.

European Union

Consolidation and Expansion of European Community

Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World

Factors leading to the collapse of Soviet Communism and Soviet Union, 1985-1991

End of the Cold War and US Ascendancy in the World as the lone superpower.

Political Changes in East Europe 1989-2001.

Quick Links: UPSC Mock Tests Series for UPSC

UPSC CSE Preparation Strategy and Best Books
UPSC CSE preparation strategy along with best books for prelims as well as mains exam for sure success.
Download EBook

UPSC Preparation Strategy 2024

Candidates preparing for UPSC IAS 2024 must check the preparation tips and tricks mentioned below.

UPSC History Optional Books 2024

Books

Authors

NCERT Books for History

NCERT

The Wonder that was India by A.L Basham for Ancient History

A.L Basham

Medieval India

Satish Chandra

Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India all three volumes

J.L Mehta

India's Ancient Past

R.S. Sharma

History of Modern India

Bipan Chandra

India's Struggle for Independence: 1857-1947

Bipan Chandra

History of the World

Arjun Dev and Indira Arjun Dev

Also read: Complete guide for UPSC CSE exam preparation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which book should I read for modern history for UPSC?

Candidates must refer to the Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India by J.L Mehta for their preparations.

2. What are the details required to download the IAS admit card?

Candidates will be able to download UPSC IAS admit card 2024 through their registration number and date of birth.

3. How to download UPSC question papers PDF?

Candidates can download IAS question papers 2024 from the official website of UPSC.

4. What is the minimum age to apply for IAS exam?

The minimum age to apply for IAS exam is 21 years.

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Questions related to UPSC CSE

Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?

Hello!
IRAS (Indian Railway Accounts Service) officers can be posted in both cities and rural areas since Indian Railways has offices and operations nationwide. They typically work in divisional offices, zonal offices, workshops, and production units. Transfers do happen but are usually not very frequent and depend on government policies and organizational needs.

Hope this helps!

To become an IAS officer, you must clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and then undergo training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). While any bachelor's degree is acceptable, choosing a degree that aligns with the UPSC syllabus, particularly in humanities and social sciences, can be advantageous.

UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE):

This is the primary exam for becoming an IAS officer, involving three stages: Preliminary, Main, and Personality Test (Interview).

Any Bachelor's Degree:

A graduate degree from a recognized university is the basic requirement to be eligible for the CSE.

Beneficial Degrees:

Degrees in humanities and social sciences, such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), can be helpful due to the syllabus overlap with subjects like History, Political Science, Sociology, and Economics.

Optional Subject:

You can choose an optional subject in the Mains exam, and a BA degree can provide a wide range of options.

Hope it helps!!

Hello!!

That's a great goal—and your background as a research scholar can actually be a big asset in preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE), which is the path to becoming an IAS officer.

Step-by-Step Guide to Become an IAS Officer:

1. Understand the Exam Structure

The UPSC CSE has three stages:

Prelims: Objective (GS Paper + CSAT)

Mains: Descriptive (9 papers)

Interview: Personality Test

2. Check Eligibility

Age: 21 to 32 (for General category)

Degree: Any graduate degree (you already qualify)

3. Choose Your Optional Subject

Choose something you’re comfortable with (can be from your research field if it's available).

Popular optionals: Sociology, Geography, PSIR, Anthropology, etc.

4. Build a Study Plan

Since you're a research scholar, time management is key.

Daily 4–6 hours of focused study can work if you're consistent.

Focus on:

NCERTs (6th–12th)

Standard books (like Laxmikanth for Polity, Spectrum for History)

Current Affairs (The Hindu, Indian Express, or PIB + Monthly compilations)

5. Join a Test Series (Optional but Helpful)

For Prelims and Mains: to build speed, writing skills, and clarity.

6. Practice Answer Writing

Mains is all about articulation. Practice with previous year questions and mock tests.

7. Appear for the Exam

Notification comes out around February.

Prelims is in May/June, Mains in September, and Interview early next year.

How to Align This With Your Research Schedule:

Create a realistic time-table that includes 2–3 hours on weekdays, and more on weekends.

Use your research experience for deeper understanding and essay writing.

If your goal is to become an IAS officer, choose a degree that supports UPSC preparation and also provides a good backup:

BA in Political Science, History, Geography, or Economics is ideal for IAS.
BSc or BCom is fine too, but you'll need to study humanities separately for UPSC.
For backup, pick a subject with good job prospects like BBA or Computer Science.

KCET is required only if you're planning professional courses like Engineering or Agriculture. It's not needed for BA or general degrees.

After 10th for IAS

Hello aspirant,

For becoming IAS , you have to first complete your graduation from any background from any recognised university or college. If you are in your final year, then also you are eligible. After that you have to give an entrance exam name UPSC . If you will clear this exam then according to your marks you may get the IAS position.

To know about UPSC entrance exam, kindly go through the given link:

https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse

All the best!!

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