50+ Dictionary terms of Ancient, Medieval and Modern India

for UPSC Prelims 2023 and 2024 by Anuj Garg

Table of Content :
Administration Related Keywords - UPSC, CDS, CAPF 2
Trade, Economy Related Keywords- UPSC, CDS, CAPF 3
Land Revenue Related Keywords - UPSC, CDS, CAPF 6
Religion Related Keywords - UPSC, CDS, CAPF 9
Literature Related Keywords - UPSC, CDS, CAPF 14
Society Related Keywords - UPSC, CDS, CAPF 15

Why this handout?

1. UPSC has a habit of asking random words from random books

2. This PDF covers all the Key words that has been asked in CDS, CAPF and
UPSC examination in the past years along with detailed explanation
3. Questions that are asked in CDS, CAPF and also asked in UPSC has been marked
in Blue color, there are a total of 4 Questions (Words) which has been asked in
CDS/CAPF and UPSC too
4. This means it is important to read words asked in CDS/CAPF too, which are
covered in this PDF
5. The majority of questions asked in UPSC exam are keywords related to Jainism
and Buddhism

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 Administration Related Keywords - UPSC, CDS, CAPF

Historical term Meaning

1.Bandagan-i-khas 1. Period - Delhi Sultanate

(CAPF 2012) 2. Tagging - Administration
3. Bandas meant slaves and a department of Diwan I Bandagan
(Department of Slaves) was setup during the time of Firoz
Shah Tuglaq
4. ✋🛑 Don’t confuse it with word Banjaras who were traders and played
a great role in trade during Alal Ud Din Khilji (UPSC 2016)

2. Manjaniq (CDS 2022) 1. Period : Medieval

2. Tagging : Administration
3. Catapult (गल
ु ेल)
4. More information here

3. Ahadis (CAPF 2014) 1. Period - Mughals

2. Tagging - Administration
3. They were the emperor's own troops, which were directly
recruited by the Mughal emperor himself.
4. They were also called Gentleman troopers and their salary
was higher than other troopers and less than Mansabdars

4. Mahattara and 1. Period : Medieval India

pattakila (UPSC 2014) 2. Tagging : Administration
3. Village headmen : Mahattaras were in northern India and
Pattakilas were in western India.

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5. Banjaras (UPSC 1. Period - Delhi Sultanate
2016) 2. Tagging - Administration
3. Banjaras who were traders and played a great role in trade during Alal
Ud Din Khilji

Trade, Economy Related Keywords- UPSC, CDS, CAPF

Historical term Meaning

6. Dadni system (CDS 1. Period : Mughals

2022) 2. Tagging : Trade
3. Loan Payment/Advance money given to officials

7. Manigramam and 1. Period : Hoysalas, South India

Nanadesi (CDS 2022) 2. Tagging : Trade
3. Guild of Indian merchants

8. Mauza (CAPF 2017) 1. Period : Mughals

2. Tagging : Trade/ Revenue
3. Revenue collection unit in Pargana district

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9. Araghatta (UPSC 1. Period : Early Medieval History
2016) 2. Tagging - Agriculture / Economy
3. Persian Water wheel used in the irrigation of land
4. ✋🛑 Don’t confuse it with Agrahara which is a type of land
grant

10. Aurang (UPSC 1. Period : Mughals

2020) 2. Tagging : Economy
3. During the Mughal period, the Aurang was a type of warehouse or
godown where goods were collected, stored, and distributed.

11. Banian (UPSC 2020) 1. Period : British (Modern India)

2. Tagging : Economy
3. Indian Agent/Merchant of east India company

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12. Shreni (UPSC 2012) 1. Period : Guptas and Sangam both mentions Shrenis
2. Tagging : Economy
3. Professional bodies of jewelers, weavers, ivory carvers, and
salt-makers formed to regulate production quality, establish
ethical business practices, ensure fair wages and prices,
operate cooperatively

13. Hundi (UPSC 2020) 1. Period : Pre Medieval

2. Tagging : Economy
3. A bill of exchange
4. As remittance instruments (to transfer funds from one place to
another)
5. As credit instruments (to borrow money)
6. Trade transactions (as bills of exchange)

14. Fanam (UPSC 2022) 1. Period : Vijayanagra Empire

2. Tagging : Economy
3. Coins
4. The Fanam coins were the regular unit of currency in
medieval Travancore and appear to have been extensively
used for trading in the region of South India.
5. The words Fanam and Panam literally mean money and are
still used as a synonym for wealth in Kerala in the native
language of Malayalam.

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 Land Revenue Related Keywords - UPSC, CDS, CAPF

Historical term Meaning

15. Pahi-kashta (CDS 1. Period : Mughals

2016) 2. Tagging : Land
3. Pahi Kashta were the farmers who did not have lands of
their own.
4. Khud Kashta had their own farm lands in the village. They
stayed there permanently in villages and did agricultural work.

16. Upari (CDS 2016) 1. Period : Marathas

2. Tagging : Land

✋🛑
3. A category of tenancy tenure held under the Maratha regime
4. Don’t confuse it with word Uparika of Gupta Period,
who use to rule over Bhuktis (Provinces)

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17. Iqta (CDS 2016)
18. Khuntkatti (CDS
2019)
19. Damin-i-koh (CDS
2019)
20. Puncai, Nancai,
Tottakal (CDS 2020)
21. Eripatti (UPSC
2016)
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1. Period : Delhi Sultanate
2. Tagging : Land
3. Iltutmish Introducted the system. Division of empire into
Iqtas, which were assigned to the nobles and officers in lieu of
salary
4. Land revenue from different territorial units assigned to
army officers. Just like feudal system (CDS)
5. Iqta system was introduced by Turks in India, it was not an
ancient indigenous institution (UPSC 2020)
1. Period : British
2. Tagging : Land
3. Joint ownership of land by tribal lineage in Chota nagpur
plateau
4. This was in news in 2022, link
1. Period : British (Tribals)
2. Tagging : Land
3. A large area of land demarcated for the Santhals around areas
of Rajmahal hills
1. Nancai, Puncai and Tottakal are land classifications.
2. Nancai - Wet fields
3. Puncai - Dry fields
4. Tottakal - Garden Lands
5. Technically this is not a question related to History, these are
cultivation systems in South India
1. Tagging : Land
2. Revenue for maintenance of village tank
Page 7
 3. A special category of land, eripatti or tank land was known only in
south India. This land was donated by individuals, the revenue from
which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank

22. Taniyurs (UPSC 1. Period : Cholas

2016) 2. Tagging : Land
3. Large village and distincts revenue units under cholas

23. Mirasidar (UPSC 1. Period : Modern India

2020) 2. Tagging : Land Revenue
3. Community ownership of land before advent of British in
Madras, that community ownership system was known as
Miyasi
4. And person who holded land within that community right
system was called Miyasidaar
5. He was designated as revenue payer to the state
6. This has been mentioned in NCERT

Religion Related Keywords - UPSC, CDS, CAPF

Historical term Meaning

24. Theris (CDS 2016) 1. Period : Buddhism

2. Tagging : Religion
3. Women Nuns in Buddhism
4. Related words : Therigatha (Verses of the Elder Nuns), you
can find some Therigathas in NCERT books

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25. Ibadat khana (CAPF 1. Period - Akbar (Mughals)
2013) 2. Tagging - Religion
3. In 1575, Akbar built Ibadat Khana (House of worship) at his
new capital Fatepur Sikri
4. The hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of
various religions like Christianity, Hinduism, Jainism, and
Zoroastrianism (UPSC 2014)

26. Sant Bhasha (CAPF 1. Period : Bhakti Movement

2019) 2. Tagging : Religion
3. Language of Nirguna mystics

27. Bhumisparsha 1. Period : Buddhism

Mudra (UPSC 2012) 2. Tagging : Religion
3. Symbolises Buddha’s calling of the Earth to witness his purity
and chastity despite the temptations of Mara

28. Nirvana (UPSC 1. Period : Buddhism

2013) 2. Tagging : Religion
3. Nirvana : Best explanation of Nirvana is extinction of the
flame of desire

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 4. ✋🛑Some learners might be tempted that Nirvana means
Salvation, Nirvana means Knowledge but please note the best
explanation of Nirvana is extinction of the flame of desire/
end of desires

29. Ibadat khana (UPSC 1. Period - Akbar (Mughals)

2014) 2. Tagging - Religion
3. In 1575, Akbar built Ibadat Khana (House of worship) at his
new capital Fatepur Sikri
4. The hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of
various religions like Christianity, Hinduism, Jainism, and
Zoroastrianism. Asked in CAPF too

30. Siddhas(sittars) 1. Period - Bhakti Movement

(UPSC 2016) 2. Tagging - Religion
3. Siddhas in Tamil regions were monotheistic and condemned
idolatry

31. Ghatika (UPSC 1. Period : Pallavas

2016) 2. Tagging - Religion
3. Ghatika", a famous education & learning center during the
Pallava period, was situated at Kanchipuram.

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32. Maitreya (UPSC 1. Period : Buddhism
2018) 2. Tagging : Religion
3. You might have heard about Boddhisatvas in Buddhism
4. Maitreya is a bodhisattva who will appear on Earth in the
future, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure
dharm

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33. Paramitas (UPSC 1. Period : Buddhism
2020) 2. Tagging : Religion
3. Perfection whose attainment led to the bodhisattva path
4. The Noble Eightfold Path leads to enlightenment and Nibbana
in Buddhism, while the Paramis/Paramitas represent qualities
for becoming a self-Enlightened Universal Buddha, varying
across traditions (Southern: Paramis, Eastern/Northern:
Paramitas) on the Bodhisattva path.

34. Parivrajaka (UPSC 1. Period : Jainism and Buddhism

2020) 2. Tagging : Religion
3. The word Parivrajaka means “Roaming ascetic” or a
wandering religious mendicant.
4. Although this term occurs in the early Brahmanic tradition of
the Upaniṣhads, it is also applicable to Buddhist and Jain
monks, as well as to Hindu sannyasins. The Pāli equivalent is
Paribbajaka.

35. Upasaka (UPSC 1. Period : Jainism and Buddhism

2020) 2. Tagging : Religion
3. Lay follower of buddhism
4. Monks renounced social obligations to take on an alternative
life when they joined the Buddhism Order. They lived as
equal members of the Order, denying the caste distinctions.
5. They lived in monasteries near villages and towns so that they
could draw on the support of the lay community, namely those
who were Buddhists or Jainas but were not initiated into
renunciatory groups.
6. Lay followers were referred to as upasaka and upasika.

36. Shramana (UPSC 1. Period : Jainism and Buddhism

2020) 2. Tagging : Religion

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 3. Shramana refers to a practitioner or ascetic in Buddhism who
follows a path of renunciation and self-discipline. Shramanas,
including Buddhist monks and nuns, renounce worldly
attachments and strive for spiritual awakening through
meditation, ethical conduct, and the pursuit of wisdom.
4. They live a monastic life dedicated to the teachings of the
Buddha and the liberation from suffering.

Literature Related Keywords - UPSC, CDS, CAPF

Historical term Meaning

37. Tolkappiyam (CDS 1. Period : Sangam Period

2022 and CAPF 2022) 2. Tagging : Literature
3. Tamil grammar text developed by Tolkappiyam during 2nd
Sangam assembly

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38. Bhavabhuti, 1. Period : Ancient and Medieval History
Hastimalla, 2. Playwrights
Kshemeshwara (UPSC 3. Bhavabhuti was a famous Indian dramatist, poet and scholar
2021) during the 8th century.
4. Hastimalla was a Jain poet in the court of the Solanki rulers.
5. Kshemeshwara was the court poet of Mahipala of Kannauj.

Society Related Keywords - UPSC, CDS, CAPF

Historical term Meaning

39. Kulah darans 1. Period : Delhi Sultanate (Sayyids)

(UPSC 2022) 2. Tagging : Society
3. The Sayyids put on a pointed cap (Kulah) known as Kulah
Darans

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40. Vishti (CAPF 2017 1. Period : Guptas
and UPSC 2019) 2. Tagging : Economy
3. Forced Labour, it was considered a source of income for the
State, a sort of tax paid by the people (UPSC Prelims 2019)

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