UPSCNotes
History & Culture

History & Culture

UPSC History and Art & Culture notes — ancient, medieval and modern India, the freedom struggle, post-independence India and world history, mapped to GS Paper I.

History is the one subject that appears in every stage of the Civil Services Examination: Prelims GS Paper I asks art-and-culture and modern-history facts every year, Mains GS Paper I asks the freedom struggle, post-independence consolidation and world history, and history supplies examples for the Essay and Ethics papers.

What UPSC asks

  • Prelims: modern India (governors-general, sessions of the Congress, acts and movements), art and culture (temple styles, dance and music forms, Buddhist and Jain sites), and selected ancient and medieval themes.
  • Mains GS I: Indian culture from ancient to modern times; modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century; the freedom struggle and its contributors; post-independence consolidation; world history from the 18th century.

How to use these notes

Start with modern India — it carries the most marks for the least volume — then art and culture, then ancient and medieval. Each chapter ends with Prelims practice and a Mains question with an answer framework.

Prehistory and the Indus Valley Civilisation Stone Age, Chalcolithic and Harappan India for UPSC — tool cultures, key sites and rivers, town planning, … 4 topics Vedic and Later Vedic Age Vedic India for UPSC — the Rigveda and later Vedic texts, Rigvedic rivers and tribes, polity, economy, … 3 topics Mahajanapadas, Buddhism, Jainism and the Mauryas Sixth century BCE to the Mauryas for UPSC — Mahajanapadas, rise of Magadha, Buddhism and Jainism, Mauryan … 4 topics Post-Mauryan and Gupta Age c. 200 BCE–550 CE for UPSC — Shungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Kushanas, the Sangam age, Gandhara and … 4 topics Early Medieval India c. 600–1200 CE for UPSC — Harsha, the tripartite struggle, Rajput states, Arab and Turkish invasions, … 4 topics The Delhi Sultanate Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526) for UPSC — dynasties, iqta and revenue, Alauddin's and Tughlaq reforms, … 4 topics The Mughal Empire Mughal Empire for UPSC — rulers and battles, Sher Shah, mansabdari and revenue, Akbar's religious policy, … 4 topics Bhakti and Sufi Movements Bhakti and Sufi movements for UPSC — Alvars and Nayanars, Acharyas, nirguna and saguna saints, regional … 3 topics Advent of the Europeans Advent of the Europeans for UPSC — Portuguese, Dutch, English, Danish and French companies, their settlements, … 3 topics British Expansion and Administration British expansion and administration for UPSC — Plassey to Punjab, subsidiary alliance, doctrine of lapse, … 4 topics The Revolt of 1857 The Revolt of 1857 for UPSC — causes, the greased-cartridge spark, centres and leaders, British commanders, … 3 topics Socio-Religious Reform Movements 19th- and 20th-century socio-religious reform movements for UPSC — Brahmo, Prarthana and Arya Samaj, … 4 topics Early Nationalism: Moderates and Extremists Early nationalism for UPSC — pre-Congress associations, founding of the INC, Moderates and drain theory, … 4 topics The Gandhian Era Gandhian phase of the freedom struggle (1915–1934) for UPSC — Champaran to Poona Pact, Non-Cooperation, Civil … 3 topics Towards Independence and Partition Freedom struggle 1935–1947 for UPSC — Government of India Act 1935, Cripps, Quit India, INA, Cabinet Mission, … 3 topics Post-Independence Consolidation Consolidation of India after 1947 for UPSC — integration of princely states, linguistic reorganisation of … 3 topics Indian Art and Architecture Indian art and architecture for UPSC — temple styles (Nagara, Dravida, Vesara), rock-cut caves, sculpture … 4 topics Performing Arts, Literature and Philosophy Indian performing arts, literature and philosophy for UPSC — classical dances, Hindustani and Carnatic music, … 4 topics World History World history from the 18th century for UPSC Mains GS I — revolutions, industrialisation, ideologies, world … 4 topics