Civil Service Exam Syllabus for IAS Main Exam – History Syllabus – Paper I

Civil Service Exam Syllabus for IAS Main Exam – History – Paper II

Paper – I

1. Sources :

Archaeological Sources :

Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments

Literary Sources :

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

Foreign Accounts : Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.

2. Pre – history and Proto – history :

Geographical factors; hunting and gathering ( paleolithic and mesolithic ); Beginning of agriculture ( neolithic and chalcolithic ).

3. Indus Valley Civilization :

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

4. Megalithic Cultures :

Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community life, Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry.

5. Aryans and Vedic Period :

Expansions of Aryans in India.

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.

6. 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 Macedonian invasions and their impact.

7. 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.

Disintegration of the empire; Sungas and Kanvas.

8. Post – Mauryan Period ( Indo – Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas ) :

Contact with outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage, development of religions, Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science.

9. 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.

10. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas :

Polity and administration, Economic conditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants, Decline of urban centres, Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women, Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi, Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture.

11. 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 Chalukyas 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. The Thirteenth Century :

• Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate : The Ghurian 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.

16. The Fourteenth Century :

• “The Khalji Revolution”.
• Alauddin Khalji : Conquests and territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measures.
• Muhammad Tughluq : Major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq.
• Firuz Tughluq : Agrarian measures, achievements in civil engineering and public works, decline of the Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta’s account.

17. Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries :

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

18. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century – Political Developments and Economy :

• Rise of Provincial Dynasties : Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids.
• The Vijayanagra Empire.
• Lodis.
• Mughal Empire, First phase : Babur and Humayun.
• The Sur Empire : Sher Shah’s administration.
• Portuguese Colonial enterprise.
• Bhakti and Sufi Movements.

19. The Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Century – Society and Culture :

• Regional cultural specificities.
• Literary traditions.
• Provincial architecture.
• Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.

20. Akbar :

• Conquests and consolidation of the Empire.
• Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems.
• Rajput policy.
• Evolution of religious and social outlook, theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy.
• Court patronage of art and technology.

21. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century :

• Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb
• The Empire and the Zamindars
• Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb
• Nature of the Mughal State
• Late Seventeenth century crisis and the revolts
• The Ahom Kingdom
• Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.

22. Economy and Society in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries :

• Population, agricultural production, craft production.
• Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies : a trade revolution.
• Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance and credit systems.
• Condition of peasants, condition of women.
• Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth.

23. Culture in the Mughal Empire :

• Persian histories and other literature.
• Hindi and other religious literature.
• Mughal architecture.
• Mughal painting.
• Provincial architecture and painting.
• Classical music.
• Science and technology.

24. The Eighteenth Century :

• Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire.
• The regional principalities : Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh.
• Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas.
• The Maratha fiscal and financial system.
• Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat :1761.
• State of politics, culture and economy on the eve of the British conquest.