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UPSC
History
UPSC Optional Syllabus
Syllabus for
IAS Optional
Subject
Paper 2022

The Union Public Service Commission allows the candidates to choose optional subjects for themselves.
UPSC History is a theoretical subject and focuses on major and remarkable global historical events.
Optional subjects must be chosen wisely as it plays a crucial role in the candidate’s overall score. UPSC
History Syllabus is a widely chosen optional subject as it is mostly theoretical and interlinks our ancestor’s
past to the present world.

• IAS History Optional Syllabus has Paper 1 and Paper 2 in UPSC Mains. Each paper is of 250
marks with a total of 500 marks. Time alloted is 3 Hours.
• History can be a quite scoring optional subject as it mainly consists of Indian Culture, India’s
Freedom Structure and the world’s history.
• Reference books for History and other study materials are easily available for the UPSC exam.
• History is a part of the Mains as well as the Prelims exam and plays a vital role in General
Studies-1 of the UPSC civil services exam.
• History Optional Syllabus for UPSC demands a methodological and objective approach from the
candidates.

In this article, we will find comprehensive information about the UPSC History Syllabus, which will
include its Syllabus, Paper Pattern, a few Reference Books, and some Preparation Tips. All these
dimensions are important for civil services examinations. Considering this, the Testbook provides the best
quality notes for UPSC Exams.

UPSC History Syllabus for IAS Exam - Paper I & II

History Syllabus for UPSC: Optional Paper- I
SR.
TOPIC SUB-TOPIC
NO.
Archaeological Sources, Pre-History
1 & Proto-History, Indus Valley • Archaeological sources: Exploration, excavation,
Civilization epigraphy, numismatics, monuments
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• Literary sources: Indigenous: Primary and

secondary, poetry, scientific literature, literature,
literature in regional languages, religious literature
• Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers
• Pre-History & Proto-History: Geographical factors,
hunting and gathering (palaeolithic and mesolithic)
• Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic)
• Indus Valley Civilization: Origin, date, extent,
characteristics, decline, survival and significance,
art and architecture

• Megalithic Cultures: Distribution of pastoral and

Megalithic Cultures, Aryans & Vedic
2 Period
farming cultures outside the Indus
• Development of community life, Settlements,
Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and
Iron industry
• Aryans & 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.

• Period of Mahajanapadas: Formation of States

Period of Mahajanapadas & Mauryan
3 Empire
(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.
• 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
• The disintegration of the empire, Sungas and
Kanvas

• Post - Mauryan Period: Contact with the outside

world, growth of urban centres, economy, coinage
Post - Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, • Development of religions, Mahayana, social
Sakas, Kushanas, Western conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and
Kshatrapas) & Early State and science.
4
Society in Eastern India, Deccan and • Early State and Society:
South India 0. Kharavela, The Satavahanas, the Tamil
States of the Sangam Age
1. Administration, economy, land grants,
coinage, trade guilds and urban centres

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2. Buddhist centres, Sangam literature and

culture, art and architecture

• Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas: The

Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas &
5 Regional States during Gupta Era
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.
• The regional States during Gupta Era:
0. Languages and texts
1. Major stages in the evolution of art and
architecture
2. Major philosophical thinkers and schools,
ideas in Science and Mathematics

• 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.
Early Medieval India, 750-1200: Polity
& Cultural Traditions in India, 750- • Cultural Traditions: Philosophy: Skankaracharya
6
1200 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: • The Thirteenth Century: Establishment of the Delhi

Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate Sultanate: The Gurian invasions – factors behind
7
& The Fourteenth Century. Ghurian success, Economic, social and cultural
consequences

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• Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish

Sultans, Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and
Balban.

• The Fourteenth Century: “The Khalji Revolution”,

Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and territorial
expansion, agrarian and economic measures
• Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects, agrarian
measures, the 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

• Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes,

Society, Culture and Economy in the
Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries
8 & The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth
Century- its culture.
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, the evolution of a composite culture
• Economy: Agricultural production, the rise of urban
economy and non-agricultural production, trade
and commerce.
• The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century- its
culture: Political Developments and Economy: Rise
of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul
Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids
• The Vijayanagara Empire, Lodis, Mughal Empire,
First phase: Babur and Humayun
• The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration,
Portuguese Colonial enterprise, Bhakti and Sufi
Movements.

• Culture & Society: Regional cultural specificities,

Literary traditions, Provincial architecture, Society,
culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara
Empire.

• Akbar: Conquests and consolidation of the Empire,

Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems,
Rajput policy
• Evolution of religious and social outlook, theory of
Akbar, Mughal Empire in Sulh-i-kul and religious policy, Court patronage of
Seventeenth-Century, Economic art and technology.
9
Society & Culture
• Mughal Empire in 17th Century: Major
administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and
Aurangzeb
• The Empire and the Zamindars, Religious policies
of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb

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• Nature of the Mughal State, Late Seventeenth

century crisis and the revolts, The Ahom Kingdom,
Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.

• Economic Society & Culture: 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. Persian histories and other literature, Hindi
and other religious literature
• Mughal architecture, Mughal painting, Provincial
architecture and painting, Classical music, Science
and technology

• 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,
10 The Eighteenth Century Emergence of Afghan Power
• Battle of Panipat: 1761
• State of politics, culture and economy on the eve of
the British conquest

Download History Syllabus for UPSC: Optional Paper- II

UPSC History
optional
Syllabus PDF
for IAS
Exams Here!

Download
UPSC History
optional
Syllabus PDF
in Hindi for
IAS Exams
Here!
Sr.
TOPIC SUB-TOPIC
No
• European Penetration into India: The Early
European Penetration into India & British European Settlements, The Portuguese and the
Expansion in India & Early Structure of Dutch, The English and the French East India
1
British Raj & Economical Impact of Companies, Their struggle for supremacy,
British Colonial Rule. Carnatic Wars, Bengal -The conflict between the
English and the Nawabs of Bengal, Siraj and the
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Social and Cultural Developments &
2 Social and Religious Reform movements
in Bengal and Other Areas
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English, The Battle of Plassey, Significance of
Plassey.
• British Expansion in India: Bengal – Mir Jafar and
Mir Kasim
• The Battle of Buxar, Mysore, The Marathas, The
three Anglo-Maratha Wars, Punjab.
• Early Structure of British Raj: The early
administrative structure, From diarchy to direct
control
• The Regulating Act (1773), The Pitt’s India Act
(1784), The Charter Act (1833)
• The voice of free trade and the changing
character of British colonial rule, The English
utilitarian and India.
• Impact of British Colonial Rule: Land revenue
settlements in British India
• The Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari Settlement,
Mahalwari Settlement
• The economic impact of the revenue,
arrangements, Commercialization of agriculture
• Rise of landless agrarian labourers,
Impoverishment of the rural society
• Dislocation of traditional trade and commerce,
De-industrialisation
• The 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.
• 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, The
Brahmo Movement, Devendranath Tagore,
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
• The Young Bengal Movement, Dayananda
Saraswati
• The social reform movements in India including
Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage etc.
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Indian Response to British Rule &
Factors leading to the birth of Indian
3 Nationalism & Rise of Gandhi &
Constitutional Developments in Colonial
India between 1858 and 1935
Other strands in the National Movement
4 The Revolutionaries & Politics of
Separatism, the Muslim League &
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• The contribution of Indian renaissance to the
growth of modern India, Islamic revivalism – the
Feraizi and Wahabi Movements.
• Indian Response to British Rule: Peasant
movements and tribal uprisings in the 18th and
19th centuries including the Rangpur Dhing
(1783), the Kol Rebellion (1832)
• The Mopla Rebellion in Malabar (1841-1920), the
Santal Hul (1855), Indigo Rebellion (1859-60),
Deccan Uprising (1875) and the Munda Ulgulan
(1899- 1900)
• The Great Revolt of 1857 - Origin, character,
causes of failure, the consequences
• The shift in the character of peasant uprisings in
the post-1857 period, the peasant movements of
the 1920s and 1930s.
• Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism:
Politics of Association, The Foundation of the
Indian National Congress
• The Safety-valve thesis relating to the birth of the
Congress
• Programme and objectives of Early Congress, the
social composition of early Congress leadership
• The Moderates and Extremists, The Partition of
Bengal (1905), The Swadeshi Movement in
Bengal, the economic and political aspects of
Swadeshi Movement
• The beginning of revolutionary extremism in India.
• Rise of Gandhi: Character of Gandhian
nationalism, Gandhi’s popular appeal, Rowlatt
Satyagraha
• The Khilafat Movement, the Non-cooperation
Movement, National politics from the end of the
Non-cooperation movement to the beginning of
the Civil Disobedience Movement
• The two phases of the Civil Disobedience
Movement, Simon Commission, The Nehru
Report, the Round Table Conferences
• Nationalism and the Peasant Movements,
Nationalism and Working-class movements
• Women and Indian youth and students in Indian
politics (1885-1947), the election of 1937 and the
formation of ministries
• Cripps Mission, the Quit India Movement, the
Wavell Plan, The Cabinet Mission
• Other strands in the National Movement The
Revolutionaries: Bengal, the Punjab,
Maharashtra, U.P, the Madras Presidency,
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Consolidation as a Nation, Nehru’s Outside India. The Left, The Left within the
Foreign Policy, India and her neighbours Congress: Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra
(1947-1964) & Caste and Ethnicity after Bose, the Congress Socialist Party, the
1947 Communist Party of India, other left parties.

• Politics of Separatism: the Hindu Mahasabha,

Communalism and the politics of partition,
Transfer of power, Independence.

• Muslim League & Consolidation as a Nation: The

linguistic reorganisation of States (1935-1947),
Regionalism and regional inequality, Integration
of Princely States, Princes in electoral politics, the
Question of National Language.

• Caste: Backward castes and tribes in postcolonial

electoral politics, Dalit movements.

• Economic development and political change:

Economic development and political
5 change & Enlightenment and Modern
ideas
Land reforms, the politics of planning and rural
reconstruction, Ecology and environmental policy
in post-colonial India, Progress of science.
• Enlightenment and Modern ideas: Major ideas of
Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau, Spread of
Enlightenment in the colonies, Rise of socialist
ideas (up to Marx), the spread of Marxian
Socialism

• Origins of Modern Politics: European States

System, American Revolution and the
Constitution, French revolution and aftermath,
1789- 1815, American Civil War with reference to
Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery,
British Democratic Politics, 1815- 1850,
Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders,
Chartists.
Origins of Modern Politics &
6 Industrialization & Nation-State 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 19th

century, Nationalism: state-building in Germany
and Italy, Disintegration of Empires in the face of
the emergence of nationalities across the world.

Imperialism and Colonialism & • Imperialism and Colonialism: South and South-
7
Revolution and Counter-Revolution & East Asia, Latin America and South Africa,

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World Wars & The World after World War Australia, Imperialism and free trade: Rise of neo-
II imperialism.

• Revolution and Counter-Revolution: 19th Century

European revolutions, The Russian Revolution of
1917- 1921, Fascist Counter-Revolution, Italy and
Germany, The Chinese Revolution of 1949.

• World Wars: 1st and 2nd World Wars as Total

Wars: Societal implications, World War I: Causes
and consequences, World War II: Causes and
consequences.

• The World after World War II: Emergence of two

power blocs, Emergence of Third World and non-
alignment, UNO and the global disputes.

• Liberation from Colonial Rule: Latin America-

Bolivar
• Arab World-Egypt, Africa-Apartheid to
Liberation from Colonial Rule & Democracy, South-East Asia-Vietnam.
8 Decolonization and Underdevelopment
• Decolonization and Underdevelopment: Factors
constraining development: Latin America, Africa.

• Post War Foundations: NATO and European

Community.
9 Unification of Europe • Consolidation and Expansion of European
Community, European Union.

• The disintegration of the Soviet Union and the

Rise of the Unipolar World: Factors leading to the
collapse of Soviet communism and the Soviet
The disintegration of the Soviet Union Union.
10 and the Rise of the Unipolar World
• 1985-1991, Political Changes in Eastern Europe
1989-2001, End of the cold war and US
ascendancy in the World as the lone superpower.

Check the detailed UPSC IAS Mains Syllabus here.

UPSC History Exam Pattern 2022

UPSC Recruitment is based on three stages i.e., Prelim Exam, Mains Exam and an Interview.

• There will be two papers for the History Optional Subject.

• Each paper would comprise 250 marks, which makes it 500 marks in total.
• There is no negative marking.
• There are 9 papers total in the UPSC Mains Exam.
• Each Paper would have objective answer type questions.
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Sr. No. IAS Mains Papers Subject Marks

1. Paper VI Optional Subject Paper-I 250
2. Paper VII Optional Subject Paper-II 250
TOTAL 500
Time Duration 3 hours

Check the detailed UPSC IAS exam pattern here.

How to Prepare for UPSC History Optional Subject ?

It is recommended to select history as the optional subject only if the candidate is certain about their
performance in the subject. History demands a lot of learning power and the ability to link past events
with the present. As History is a subject allocated to us since our school, even history is a scoring subject.

1. If the candidate has chosen History as their optional subject, they should list down all the major
historical events and solve UPSC civil services test series.
2. When it comes to History, it is important to remember dates, names and events.
3. The candidates must cling to a few but better reference books.
4. It is mandatory to understand, learn and revise concepts daily as History is a vast subject.
5. History is generally theoretical and focuses more on India’s History.
6. The NCERT books from class 6th to 11th must be reffered in order to gain an advantage over
the rest of the candidates.
7. Also, the students must analyse the previous year question papers in a very analytical and
thoughtful manner in order to better align their preparation strategy according to the demands of
the exam.
8. Moreover, the candidates also need to solve a lot of history subject specific mocks, write a lot of
mains answers and compare them with model answers/toppers' answers so as to better hone
their answer writing capabilities.

Prepare for the exam using the UPSC IAS mains strategy here.

UPSC History Syllabus Previous Years’ Question Papers

Candidates must keep on solving the question papers regularly. Solving UPSC history previous years’
question papers helps to analyze the time management and the level of the questions.

IAS History Paper 1 History Paper-I PDF Download

IAS History Paper 2 History Paper-II PDF Download

Check some more UPSC IAS Previous Year’s Question Papers for other subjects here!

Books to Refer for UPSC History Syllabus

Some of the best books to study the complete UPSC History optional subject are mentioned below:
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• India’s Ancient Past – R.S. Sharma

• India’s Struggle For Independence (Bipan Chandra)
• History Of Modern India (Bipan Chandra)
• Mastering Modern World History (Norman Lowe)
• History NCERT books

Check Related UPSC Syllabus for Other Subjects

UPSC Physics Optional Syllabus UPSC Statistics Optional Syllabus
UPSC Psychology Syllabus UPSC Zoology Syllabus
UPSC Botany Syllabus UPSC Chemistry Syllabus
UPSC Animal Husbandry And Veterinary Science UPSC Commerce And Accountancy
Syllabus Syllabus
UPSC Medical Science Syllabus UPSC Anthropology Optional Syllabus

This was a detailed article about the syllabus. To start the preparation for your examination, download
the Testbook App and get access to world-class educations, mock tests, etc.

UPSC History Syllabus 2022 FAQs

[faq_accordion]

[mks_accordion_item title="UPSC History Syllabus comprises National or International Historical

Events? " number=1]

UPSC history optional syllabus mainly comprises National Historical Events i.e. National Movements,
Contribution of the National Leaders, Politics & Development.

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title="Which is the best reference book for UPSC History syllabus?" number=2]

It’s highly recommended to refer to History NCERT books for the UPSC civil services exam.

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title="What are the total marks for the UPSC IAS History paper?" number=3]

The UPSC History optional paper for civil services exam is divided into Paper 1 & 2. Each paper carries
250 marks each for a total of 500 marks.

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title="What does the UPSC History syllabus focus more on? " number=4]

The UPSC History syllabus focuses more on intertwining historical events with the present world such as
the consequences of World Wars, Revolutionaries and Industrialization.
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[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title="Is UPSC History paper 1 and paper 2 a part of the General Studies-I paper?
" number=5]

Yes, every optional subject in UPSC would be a part of General Studies-I paper

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title="What’s the difficulty level of the UPSC History paper in the IAS Exam?
" number=6]

History is part of both UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains syllabus so preparing the optional subject will
help with the GS part as well. However, the syllabus of history is quite vast so candidates often find it
hard.

[/mks_accordion_item]

[/faq_accordion]

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