This A–Z list of History Optional Map Places gives all 349 places named in the Paper 1 map question (1995–2011) or identified for 2020–2025, with the years each was asked.
Note: Up to 2011, UPSC named the places in the map question itself. Since 2012, the question gives only locational hints (for example, “A Neolithic site”) and candidates must identify the place. Years marked with an asterisk (*), all from 2020–2025, are our identifications of those hints, not names printed in the question paper. Use them to revise, but treat them as likely answers rather than official ones.
History Optional Map Places Index (A–Z)
A
Place
Years asked
Times
Ahar
2008
1
Ahicchatra (also Achichhatra)
2004, 2007
2
Ahmadnagar (also Ahmednagar)
1995, 2001
2
Aihole
1998
1
Aizawl
2000
1
Ajanta
2002
1
Ajmer
1996, 2001
2
Alamgirpur
2025*
1
Allahabad
2001
1
Amaravati
1998, 2003, 2004
3
Amarkantak
2011
1
Amarkot
1997
1
Ambari
2008
1
Ambek
1999
1
Amber
2006
1
Amritsar
2000
1
Anegondi
2006
1
Anhilawara
1995
1
Antichak
2008
1
Anuradhapura
2005, 2007
2
Arikamedu (also Arikmedu)
2000, 2006, 2023*
3
Ashmaka
2025*
1
Asirgarh
1997
1
Attirampakkam
2021*
1
Attock
1996
1
Aurangabad
1997
1
Ayodhya
2025*
1
B
Place
Years asked
Times
Badami
2001, 2003
2
Badaun
2011
1
Badgara
1995
1
Badrinath
1999
1
Bagasra
2009
1
Bagor
2025*
1
Bairat
1999, 2010
2
Balasore
1995
1
Balathal
2009
1
Balbrahmeshwar
1999
1
Bamiyan
2022*
1
Banamali
2003
1
Banawali
2008
1
Bangalore
2000
1
Barsur
2024*
1
Barudih
2024*
1
Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa
2022*
1
Basohli
2011
1
Bayana
1995, 2008, 2021*, 2023*
4
Begram
2021*
1
Behmanabad
1999
1
Belur
1997
1
Benares
1996
1
Besnagar
1998, 2022*
2
Bhadrawati
1999
1
Bhadreshwar
2008
1
Bhagawanpura
1998
1
Bhaja
2000, 2022*
2
Bhatner
1996
1
Bheetargaon
1999
1
Bhimbetka (also Bhimbaitka)
2004, 2007, 2023*
3
Bhoramdeo
2020*
1
Bhrigukachchha (also Bharuch, Bharukachha)
1998, 2000, 2021*, 2022*
4
Bhubaneshwar
2001
1
Bicholim
2020*
1
Bidar
1995
1
Bijapur
1999, 2005
2
Birbhanpur
2010
1
Bodh Gaya
2002
1
Brahmagiri
2008
1
Bundi
2008
1
Burhanpur
1997, 1999
2
Burzahom
2005, 2008, 2022*, 2023*
4
C
Place
Years asked
Times
Calicut
2003, 2007
2
Champa
2004
1
Champaner
1996
1
Chanderi
1997, 2006
2
Chandernagar
1997
1
Chandigarh
2001
1
Chandraketugarh
2008, 2021*, 2025*
3
Chandrapuram
2024*
1
Chanhudaro
2010
1
Chidambaram
1999
1
Chinsura
1995
1
Chirand
2011, 2022*
2
Chitrakuta
2001
1
Chittagong
2005, 2007
2
Chittor (also Chitore)
1995, 2001, 2005, 2007
4
Cutch
1996
1
From the Optional Province team
Preparing for Prelims too?
Our UPSC Prelims Topic-wise PYQ eBook covers every Prelims question with detailed explanations, so you can see exactly where UPSC asks from.
1995–2011 (names given) and 2020–2025 (identifications, marked *)
Places asked 3 or more times
44
Places asked 4 or more times
14
Most asked places
Kannauj, Nalanda and Vallabhi – 5 times each
Spelling variants of the same place are grouped in one entry. In all, 44 places have been asked three times or more, led by Kannauj, Nalanda and Vallabhi (5 times each).
Unit-wise weightage of Ancient India (Paper 1, Section A) in History Optional – share of marks, 2013–2026 vs 2022–2026 (map question included).
The map question accounted for about 26% of all marks asked in Paper 1, Section A over 2013–2026 and 27% in 2022–2026 – more than any single Ancient India unit.
How to use this index
Start with the places asked three or more times and be able to locate each on a blank map.
Group the places by period (prehistoric, Harappan, early historic, medieval) to revise them along with the syllabus units.
Since hint-based questions describe a site rather than name it, note one distinguishing feature for every place you revise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places are asked most often in the History Optional map question?
By the index, the most repeated places are Kannauj (5 times), Nalanda (5 times), Vallabhi (5 times), Bayana (4 times), Bhrigukachchha (4 times), Burzahom (4 times).
How many places are there in the History Optional map places index?
The index has 349 entries covering 1995–2011 and the identifications for 2020–2025; 44 of them have been asked three times or more.
Why are 2012–2019 and 2026 missing from the index?
From 2012 UPSC gives only locational hints instead of place names. Identifications are included only for 2020–2025, so the other hint-based years cannot be indexed by place.
We classify every PYQ with care, but mistakes can slip in. If a question is in the wrong topic, has a typo, the wrong year, or is missing, let us know. We review every report and update the page.
