Important Topics of History for UPSC

Last Updated : 22 Sep, 2022

Important Topics of History for UPSC: History is one of the important subjects that UPSC put stress on in their Prelims and Mains exams. History is the knowledge of and study of the past and it’s utmost need to understand what went in the past to create the future. Every year, the UPSC conducts Civil Service exams to select candidates for various Civil Services of the Government of India. The study of Indian history is crucial for these selected individuals in order to comprehend the nature of the past and the challenges that India as a nation may face.

This is why the UPSC Prelims and Mains exams stress on the history subject. If you want to ace your UPSC exam, you need to strengthen your history basics first. GeeksforGeeks‘ Important Topics of History is curated with all the important topics of history for UPSC that will help you in the UPSC Prelims.

UPSC Prelims History Syllabus

The history syllabus for UPSC Prelims can be divided into:

Ancient India
Medieval India
Modern India

In the below table, you can check the UPSC Prelims History syllabus:

Indian Heritage & Culture	Indian Art Forms	Indian Paintings Classical Dance Forms Folk Dance Forms Classical Music Puppetry Pottery Drama/Theatre Martial Arts
	Literature	Ancient Indian Literature Classical Sanskrit Literature Literature in Pali and Prakrit Early Dravidian Literature Medieval Literature Women Poets of Bhakti Trends in Medieval Literature Modern Indian Literature
	Architecture	Harappan Architecture Temple Architecture Cave Architecture Indo-Islamic Architecture Medieval Architecture Modern Architecture Contribution of Buddhism & Jainism to the Development of Indian Architecture Rock-Cut Architecture Colonial Architecture & the Modern Period
Modern Indian History	Middle of the Eighteenth Centurytillthe Present	Socio-economic Condition of the People European Penetration of India British Conquest of India Socio-economic Condition of the People European Penetration of India British Conquest of India
The Freedom Struggle	The Revolt of 1857
	Growth of Nationalism in India (1858–1905)	Political, Economic & Administrative Unification of the Country Role of Western Education Role of the Press Rediscovery of India’s Past Early Political Movements Formation of INC Era of Moderates
	Growth of Militant Nationalism & Revolutionary Activities (1905–18)	Swadeshi & Boycott Movement Surat Split International Influence Morley-Minto Reforms Growth of Communalism
	Beginning of Mass Nationalism (1919–39)	Mahatma Gandhi – His Ideas & Leadership Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms Rowlatt Act, Satyagraha, and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Non-Cooperation & Khilafat Movements Swarajists & No-Changers Emergence of New Forces – Socialistic Ideas, Youth & Trade Unionism Revolutionary Activities Simon Commission & Nehru Report Civil Disobedience Movement Round Table Conferences Communal Award & Poona Pact Participation in Elections to Central Legislature (1934) & Provincial Assemblies (1937) Government of India Act, 1935
	Towards Freedom & Partition (1939–47)	National Movement during World War II August Offer Individual Satyagraha Growth of Communalism Peasant Movements State People’s Struggle Cripps Mission Quit India Movement Wavell Plan INA & Subhash Chandra Bose Cabinet Mission Nationalist Upsurge Post-World War II Independence with Partition
Post-Independence Consolidation	Nation Building	Partition and its Aftermath Integration of Princely States Reorganization of States Issue of Official Language Tribal Consolidation Regional Aspirations
	Foreign Policy	Non-Aligned Movement PanchsheelWars with Pakistan & China Nuclear Policy
	Economy	Planned Development Green Revolution Operation Flood & Cooperatives Agrarian & Land Reforms Industrial Reforms LPG Reforms
	Polity	The Era of One-Party Dominance The Emergence of Opposition Parties Emergency: Crisis of Democratic Order Rise of Regional Parties Coalition Era
	Social	Popular Movements Communalism Indian Women since Independence Naxalism
History of the World	The outbreakIndustrial Revolution	Renaissance Discovery of Sea Routes Reformation Counter-Reformation European Nations Settle North America Rise of the Slave Trade American War of Independence French Revolution Nationalism in Europe Rise of Capitalism, Colonialism, and Imperialism
	World War I	Causes of the War Scope & Course of the War Russian Revolution End of the War, and Peace Treaties Consequences of the War League of Nations
	World Between the Two Wars	Europe After the War – Fascism & Nazism The Great Depression Emergence of the Soviet Union Nationalist Movements in Asia & Africa The US as a Strong Power
	World War II	Fascist Aggression & Response of Western Democracies Outbreak of the War Theatres of the War US Entry into the War Global Nature of the War The Holocaust Resistance Movements After-effects of the War
	Decolonization & Redrawing of National Boundaries	Europe after World War II The Cold War Rise of Asia & Africa Developments in West Asia & North Africa Spread of Communism The Korean War The Vietnam War The Cuban Crisis The Collapse of the Soviet Union
	Concept, Types, and Social Impact of Political Philosophies	Communism Capitalism Socialism