History Optional Syllabus

Here is the official UPSC History Optional syllabus for Paper I and Paper II, arranged paper by paper and unit by unit. Under each unit we give the official text first, then break it into numbered topics, so you can track your preparation and match every previous year question to its topic.

Source. UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 notification (Notif-CSP-2026-Engl-060226Rev.pdf, pp. 69–72), upsc.gov.in. The syllabus has been unchanged in recent years.

Scheme. Two papers of 250 marks each (total 500), 3 hours each. Paper I: Ancient India (Section A, units 1–12) and Medieval India (Section B, units 13–24). Paper II: Modern India (Section A, units 1–15) and World History (Section B, units 16–27). The A/B split follows the way the question papers are set.

Syllabus at a glance

Paper	Section	Unit	Topics
Paper I	Ancient India	1. Sources	3
Paper I	Ancient India	2. Pre-history and Proto-history	3
Paper I	Ancient India	3. Indus Valley Civilization	4
Paper I	Ancient India	4. Megalithic Cultures	3
Paper I	Ancient India	5. Aryans and Vedic Period	6
Paper I	Ancient India	6. Period of Mahajanapadas	6
Paper I	Ancient India	7. Mauryan Empire	7
Paper I	Ancient India	8. Post-Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas)	5
Paper I	Ancient India	9. Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India	7
Paper I	Ancient India	10. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas	7
Paper I	Ancient India	11. Regional States during Gupta Era	10
Paper I	Ancient India	12. Themes in Early Indian Cultural History	4
Paper I	Medieval India	13. Early Medieval India, 750–1200	9
Paper I	Medieval India	14. Cultural Traditions in India, 750–1200	4
Paper I	Medieval India	15. The Thirteenth Century	4
Paper I	Medieval India	16. The Fourteenth Century	5
Paper I	Medieval India	17. Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries	6
Paper I	Medieval India	18. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century – Political Developments and Economy	7
Paper I	Medieval India	19. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century – Society and Culture	4
Paper I	Medieval India	20. Akbar	5
Paper I	Medieval India	21. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century	7
Paper I	Medieval India	22. Economy and Society in the 16th and 17th Centuries	5
Paper I	Medieval India	23. Culture during Mughal Empire	7
Paper I	Medieval India	24. The Eighteenth Century	6
Paper II	Modern India	1. European Penetration into India	4
Paper II	Modern India	2. British Expansion in India	4
Paper II	Modern India	3. Early Structure of the British Raj	4
Paper II	Modern India	4. Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule	8
Paper II	Modern India	5. Social and Cultural Developments	7
Paper II	Modern India	6. Social and Religious Reform Movements in Bengal and Other Areas	7
Paper II	Modern India	7. Indian Response to British Rule	4
Paper II	Modern India	8. Birth of Indian Nationalism and the Early Congress	6
Paper II	Modern India	9. Gandhian Phase of the National Movement	8
Paper II	Modern India	10. Constitutional Developments	1
Paper II	Modern India	11. Other Strands in the National Movement	3
Paper II	Modern India	12. Politics of Separatism and Partition	3
Paper II	Modern India	13. Consolidation as a Nation	4
Paper II	Modern India	14. Caste and Ethnicity after 1947	3
Paper II	Modern India	15. Economic Development and Political Change	5
Paper II	World History	16. Enlightenment and Modern Ideas	3
Paper II	World History	17. Origins of Modern Politics	5
Paper II	World History	18. Industrialization	3
Paper II	World History	19. Nation-State System	3
Paper II	World History	20. Imperialism and Colonialism	4
Paper II	World History	21. Revolution and Counter-Revolution	4
Paper II	World History	22. World Wars	3
Paper II	World History	23. The World after World War II	3
Paper II	World History	24. Liberation from Colonial Rule	4
Paper II	World History	25. Decolonization and Underdevelopment	1
Paper II	World History	26. Unification of Europe	3
Paper II	World History	27. Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World	3

Paper I

Section A – Ancient India

1. Sources

1.1 Archaeological sources

• Exploration
• Excavation
• Epigraphy
• Numismatics
• Monuments

1.2 Literary sources – indigenous

• Primary and secondary
• Poetry
• Scientific literature
• Literature
• Literature in regional languages
• Religious literature

1.3 Foreign accounts

• Greek writers
• Chinese writers
• Arab writers

2. Pre-history and Proto-history

2.1 Geographical factors

2.2 Hunting and gathering

• Paleolithic
• Mesolithic

2.3 Beginning of agriculture

• Neolithic
• Chalcolithic

3. Indus Valley Civilization

3.1 Origin, date and extent

3.2 Characteristics

3.3 Decline, survival and significance

3.4 Art and architecture

4. Megalithic Cultures

4.1 Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus

4.2 Development of community life and settlements

4.3 Development of agriculture, crafts, pottery and iron industry

• Agriculture
• Crafts
• Pottery
• Iron industry

5. Aryans and Vedic Period

5.1 Expansion of Aryans in India

5.2 Vedic period: religious and philosophic literature

5.3 Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period

5.4 Political, social and economic life

• Political life
• Social life
• Economic life

5.5 Significance of the Vedic Age

5.6 Evolution of Monarchy and Varna system

• Monarchy
• Varna system

6. Period of Mahajanapadas

6.1 Formation of States (Mahajanapada): Republics and monarchies

• Republics
• Monarchies

6.2 Rise of urban centres, trade routes and economic growth

• Urban centres
• Trade routes
• Economic growth

6.3 Introduction of coinage

6.4 Spread of Jainism and Buddhism

• Jainism
• Buddhism

6.5 Rise of Magadha and Nandas

• Magadha
• Nandas

6.6 Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact

• Iranian invasion
• Macedonian invasion

7. Mauryan Empire

7.1 Foundation of the Mauryan Empire

• Chandragupta
• Kautilya and Arthashastra

7.2 Ashoka: Concept of Dharma; Edicts

• Concept of Dharma
• Edicts

7.3 Polity, Administration, Economy

• Polity
• Administration
• Economy

7.4 Art, architecture and sculpture

7.5 External contacts

7.6 Religion, spread of religion and literature

• Religion
• Spread of religion
• Literature

7.7 Disintegration of the empire; Sungas and Kanvas

• Disintegration
• Sungas
• Kanvas

8. Post-Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas)

8.1 Contact with outside world

8.2 Growth of urban centres, economy and coinage

• Urban centres
• Economy
• Coinage

8.3 Development of religions; Mahayana

• Development of religions
• Mahayana

8.4 Social conditions

8.5 Art, architecture, culture, literature and science

• Art
• Architecture
• Culture
• Literature
• Science

9. Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India

9.1 Kharavela

9.2 The Satavahanas

9.3 Tamil States of the Sangam Age

9.4 Administration, economy, land grants, coinage, trade guilds and urban centres

• Administration
• Economy
• Land grants
• Coinage
• Trade guilds
• Urban centres

9.5 Buddhist centres

9.6 Sangam literature and culture

9.7 Art and architecture

10. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas

10.1 Polity and administration

10.2 Economic conditions, coinage of the Guptas, land grants

• Economic conditions
• Coinage of the Guptas
• Land grants

10.3 Decline of urban centres

10.4 Indian feudalism

10.5 Caste system and position of women

• Caste system
• Position of women

10.6 Education and educational institutions: Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi

• Nalanda
• Vikramshila
• Vallabhi

10.7 Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture

• Literature
• Scientific literature
• Art
• Architecture

11. Regional States during Gupta Era

11.1 The Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami: polity and administration, trade guilds, literature

• Kadambas
• Pallavas
• Chalukyas of Badami
• Polity and administration
• Trade guilds
• Literature

11.2 Growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions

11.3 Tamil Bhakti movement

11.4 Shankaracharya; Vedanta

11.5 Institutions of temple and temple architecture

11.6 Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras: polity and administration; cultural aspects

• Palas
• Senas
• Rashtrakutas
• Paramaras
• Polity and administration
• Cultural aspects

11.7 Arab conquest of Sind; Alberuni

• Arab conquest of Sind
• Alberuni

11.8 The Chalukyas of Kalyana, Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas: polity and administration; local government

• Chalukyas of Kalyana
• Cholas
• Hoysalas
• Pandyas
• Polity and administration
• Local government

11.9 Growth of art and architecture, religious sects, institution of temple and Mathas, Agraharas

• Art and architecture
• Religious sects
• Temple and Mathas
• Agraharas

11.10 Education and literature, economy and society

• Education and literature
• Economy
• Society

12. Themes in Early Indian Cultural History

12.1 Languages and texts

12.2 Major stages in the evolution of art and architecture

12.3 Major philosophical thinkers and schools

12.4 Ideas in Science and Mathematics

Section B – Medieval India

13. Early Medieval India, 750–1200

13.1 Polity: major political developments in Northern India and the peninsula

• Northern India
• The peninsula

13.2 Origin and the rise of Rajputs

13.3 The Cholas: administration, village economy and society

• Administration
• Village economy
• Society

13.4 “Indian Feudalism”

13.5 Agrarian economy and urban settlements

• Agrarian economy
• Urban settlements

13.6 Trade and commerce

13.7 Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order

13.8 Condition of women

13.9 Indian science and technology

14. Cultural Traditions in India, 750–1200

14.1 Philosophy

• Shankaracharya and Vedanta
• Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita
• Madhva and Brahma-Mimansa

14.2 Religion

• Forms and features of religion
• Tamil devotional cult
• Growth of Bhakti
• Islam and its arrival in India
• Sufism

14.3 Literature

• Literature in Sanskrit
• Growth of Tamil literature
• Literature in the newly developing languages
• Kalhan's Rajtarangini
• Alberuni's India

14.4 Art and architecture

• Temple architecture
• Sculpture
• Painting

15. The Thirteenth Century

15.1 The Ghurian invasions – factors behind Ghurian success

15.2 Economic, social and cultural consequences

15.3 Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans

15.4 Consolidation: the rule of Iltutmish and Balban

• Iltutmish
• Balban

16. The Fourteenth Century

16.1 “The Khalji Revolution”

16.2 Alauddin Khalji

• Conquests and territorial expansion
• Agrarian and economic measures

16.3 Muhammad Tughluq

• Major projects
• Agrarian measures
• Bureaucracy

16.4 Firuz Tughluq

• Agrarian measures
• Civil engineering and public works
• Decline of the Sultanate

16.5 Foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta's account

17. Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries

17.1 Society

• Composition of rural society
• Ruling classes
• Town dwellers
• Women
• Religious classes
• Caste and slavery under the Sultanate

17.2 Bhakti movement and Sufi movement

• Bhakti movement
• Sufi movement

17.3 Culture: literature

• Persian literature
• Literature in the regional languages of North India
• Literature in the languages of South India

17.4 Culture: Sultanate architecture and new structural forms, painting

• Sultanate architecture and new structural forms
• Painting

17.5 Evolution of a composite culture

17.6 Economy

• Agricultural production
• Rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production
• Trade and commerce

18. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century – Political Developments and Economy

18.1 Rise of Provincial Dynasties

• Bengal
• Kashmir (Zainul Abedin)
• Gujarat
• Malwa
• Bahmanids

18.2 The Vijayanagara Empire

18.3 Lodis

18.4 Mughal Empire, first phase

• Babur
• Humayun

18.5 The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration

18.6 Portuguese colonial enterprise

18.7 Bhakti and Sufi Movements

19. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century – Society and Culture

19.1 Regional cultures specificities

19.2 Literary traditions

19.3 Provincial architecture

19.4 Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire

20. Akbar

20.1 Conquests and consolidation of empire

20.2 Establishment of jagir and mansab systems

• Jagir
• Mansab

20.3 Rajput policy

20.4 Evolution of religious and social outlook; theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy

• Religious and social outlook
• Sulh-i-kul
• Religious policy

20.5 Court patronage of art and technology

21. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century

21.1 Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb

21.2 The Empire and the Zamindars

21.3 Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb

21.4 Nature of the Mughal State

21.5 Late seventeenth century crisis and the revolts

21.6 The Ahom kingdom

21.7 Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom

22. Economy and Society in the 16th and 17th Centuries

22.1 Population, agricultural and craft production

• Population
• Agricultural production
• Craft production

22.2 Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies: a trade revolution

• Towns
• Commerce with Europe
• Trade revolution

22.3 Indian mercantile classes; banking, insurance and credit systems

• Mercantile classes
• Banking, insurance and credit

22.4 Conditions of peasants, condition of women

• Peasants
• Women

22.5 Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth

23. Culture during Mughal Empire

23.1 Persian histories and other literature

23.2 Hindi and religious literatures

23.3 Mughal architecture

23.4 Mughal painting

23.5 Provincial architecture and painting

23.6 Classical music

23.7 Science and technology

24. The Eighteenth Century

24.1 Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire

24.2 The regional principalities

• Nizam’s Deccan
• Bengal
• Awadh

24.3 Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas

24.4 The Maratha fiscal and financial system

24.5 Emergence of Afghan power; Battle of Panipat, 1761

24.6 State of politics, culture and economy on the eve of the British conquest

Paper II

Section A – Modern India

1. European Penetration into India

1.1 The early European settlements

• The Portuguese
• The Dutch

1.2 The English and the French East India Companies: their struggle for supremacy; Carnatic Wars

• English East India Company
• French East India Company
• Carnatic Wars

1.3 Bengal – the conflict between the English and the Nawabs of Bengal; Siraj and the English

• Nawabs of Bengal
• Siraj and the English

1.4 The Battle of Plassey and its significance

2. British Expansion in India

2.1 Bengal – Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim; the Battle of Buxar

• Mir Jafar
• Mir Kasim
• Battle of Buxar

2.2 Mysore

2.3 The Marathas: the three Anglo-Maratha Wars

2.4 The Punjab

3. Early Structure of the British Raj

3.1 The early administrative structure; from diarchy to direct control

• Early administrative structure
• Diarchy to direct control

3.2 Regulating Act (1773), Pitt's India Act (1784), Charter Act (1833)

• Regulating Act (1773)
• Pitt's India Act (1784)
• Charter Act (1833)

3.3 The voice of free trade and the changing character of British colonial rule

3.4 The English utilitarian and India

4. Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule

4.1 Land revenue settlements

• Permanent Settlement
• Ryotwari Settlement
• Mahalwari Settlement

4.2 Economic impact of the revenue arrangements; commercialization of agriculture

• Economic impact of revenue arrangements
• Commercialization of agriculture

4.3 Rise of landless agrarian labourers; impoverishment of the rural society

• Landless agrarian labourers
• Impoverishment of rural society

4.4 Dislocation of traditional trade and commerce; de-industrialisation; decline of traditional crafts

• Dislocation of trade and commerce
• De-industrialisation
• Decline of traditional crafts

4.5 Drain of wealth

4.6 Economic transformation of India; railroad and communication network

• Economic transformation
• Railroad
• Telegraph and postal services

4.7 Famine and poverty in the rural interior

4.8 European business enterprise and its limitations

5. Social and Cultural Developments

5.1 The state of indigenous education, its dislocation

5.2 Orientalist-Anglicist controversy

5.3 The introduction of western education in India

5.4 The rise of press, literature and public opinion

• Press
• Literature
• Public opinion

5.5 The rise of modern vernacular literature

5.6 Progress of Science

5.7 Christian missionary activities in India

6. Social and Religious Reform Movements in Bengal and Other Areas

6.1 Ram Mohan Roy and the Brahmo Movement; Devendranath Tagore

• Ram Mohan Roy
• Brahmo Movement
• Devendranath Tagore

6.2 Iswarchandra Vidyasagar

6.3 The Young Bengal Movement

6.4 Dayananda Saraswati

6.5 Social reform movements: Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage etc.

• Sati
• Widow remarriage
• Child marriage

6.6 Contribution of Indian renaissance to the growth of modern India

6.7 Islamic revivalism – the Feraizi and Wahabi Movements

• Feraizi Movement
• Wahabi Movement

7. Indian Response to British Rule

7.1 Peasant movements and tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries

• Rangpur Dhing (1783)
• Kol Rebellion (1832)
• Mopla Rebellion in Malabar (1841–1920)
• Santal Hul (1855)
• Indigo Rebellion (1859–60)
• Deccan Uprising (1875)
• Munda Ulgulan (1899–1900)

7.2 The Great Revolt of 1857

• Origin
• Character
• Causes of failure
• Consequences

7.3 Shift in the character of peasant uprisings in the post-1857 period

7.4 Peasant movements of the 1920s and 1930s

8. Birth of Indian Nationalism and the Early Congress

8.1 Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism; politics of association

• Birth of Indian nationalism
• Politics of association

8.2 Foundation of the Indian National Congress; the Safety-valve thesis

• Foundation of the Congress
• Safety-valve thesis

8.3 Programme, objectives and social composition of the early Congress

• Programme and objectives
• Social composition of leadership

8.4 The Moderates and Extremists

8.5 Partition of Bengal (1905) and the Swadeshi Movement

• Partition of Bengal
• Swadeshi Movement in Bengal
• Economic and political aspects of Swadeshi

8.6 The beginning of revolutionary extremism in India

9. Gandhian Phase of the National Movement

9.1 Rise of Gandhi; character of Gandhian nationalism; Gandhi's popular appeal

• Rise of Gandhi
• Gandhian nationalism
• Popular appeal

9.2 Rowlatt Satyagraha; Khilafat Movement; Non-cooperation Movement

• Rowlatt Satyagraha
• Khilafat Movement
• Non-cooperation Movement

9.3 National politics between Non-cooperation and Civil Disobedience; Simon Commission; Nehru Report

• National politics 1922–1930
• Simon Commission
• Nehru Report

9.4 The two phases of the Civil Disobedience Movement; the Round Table Conferences

• Civil Disobedience Movement
• Round Table Conferences

9.5 Nationalism and the peasant and working class movements

• Peasant movements
• Working class movements

9.6 Women and Indian youth and students in Indian politics (1885–1947)

• Women
• Youth and students

9.7 The election of 1937 and the formation of ministries

9.8 Cripps Mission; Quit India Movement; Wavell Plan; Cabinet Mission

• Cripps Mission
• Quit India Movement
• Wavell Plan
• Cabinet Mission

10. Constitutional Developments

10.1 Constitutional developments in colonial India between 1858 and 1935

11. Other Strands in the National Movement

11.1 The Revolutionaries

• Bengal
• The Punjab
• Maharashtra
• U.P.
• The Madras Presidency
• Outside India

11.2 The Left: the Left within the Congress

• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Subhas Chandra Bose
• Congress Socialist Party

11.3 The Communist Party of India and other left parties

12. Politics of Separatism and Partition

12.1 Politics of separatism: the Muslim League; the Hindu Mahasabha

• Muslim League
• Hindu Mahasabha

12.2 Communalism and the politics of partition

12.3 Transfer of power; Independence

13. Consolidation as a Nation

13.1 Consolidation as a nation; integration of Princely States; princes in electoral politics

• Consolidation as a nation
• Integration of Princely States
• Princes in electoral politics

13.2 Nehru's foreign policy; India and her neighbours (1947–1964)

• Nehru's foreign policy
• India and her neighbours

13.3 Linguistic reorganisation of States; the question of national language

• Linguistic reorganisation
• National language

13.4 Regionalism and regional inequality

14. Caste and Ethnicity after 1947

14.1 Caste and ethnicity after 1947

14.2 Backward Castes and Tribes in post-colonial electoral politics

14.3 Dalit movements

15. Economic Development and Political Change

15.1 Economic development and political change

15.2 Land reforms

15.3 The politics of planning and rural reconstruction

15.4 Ecology and environmental policy in post-colonial India

15.5 Progress of Science

Section B – World History

16. Enlightenment and Modern Ideas

16.1 Major ideas of Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau

• Kant
• Rousseau

16.2 Spread of Enlightenment in the colonies

16.3 Rise of socialist ideas (up to Marx); spread of Marxian Socialism

• Pre-Marxian socialism
• Marxian Socialism

17. Origins of Modern Politics

17.1 European States System

17.2 American Revolution and the Constitution

17.3 French Revolution and Aftermath, 1789–1815

• French Revolution
• Napoleon and aftermath

17.4 American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery

17.5 British Democratic politics, 1815–1850

• Parliamentary Reformers
• Free Traders
• Chartists

18. Industrialization

18.1 English Industrial Revolution: causes and impact on society

18.2 Industrialization in other countries

• USA
• Germany
• Russia
• Japan

18.3 Industrialization and Globalization

19. Nation-State System

19.1 Rise of Nationalism in 19th century

19.2 Nationalism: state-building in Germany and Italy

• Germany
• Italy

19.3 Disintegration of Empires in the face of the emergence of nationalities across the World

20. Imperialism and Colonialism

20.1 South and South-East Asia

20.2 Latin America and South Africa

• Latin America
• South Africa

20.3 Australia

20.4 Imperialism and free trade: rise of neo-imperialism

21. Revolution and Counter-Revolution

21.1 19th century European revolutions

21.2 The Russian Revolution of 1917–1921

21.3 Fascist Counter-Revolution, Italy and Germany

• Italy
• Germany

21.4 The Chinese Revolution of 1949

22. World Wars

22.1 1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars: societal implications

22.2 World War I: causes and consequences

22.3 World War II: causes and consequences

23. The World after World War II

23.1 Emergence of two power blocs

23.2 Emergence of Third World and non-alignment

• Third World
• Non-alignment

23.3 UNO and the global disputes

24. Liberation from Colonial Rule

24.1 Latin America – Bolivar

24.2 Arab World – Egypt

24.3 Africa – Apartheid to Democracy

24.4 South-East Asia – Vietnam

25. Decolonization and Underdevelopment

25.1 Factors constraining development

• Latin America
• Africa

26. Unification of Europe

26.1 Post-war foundations: NATO and European Community

• NATO
• European Community

26.2 Consolidation and expansion of European Community

26.3 European Union

27. Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World

27.1 Factors leading to the collapse of Soviet Communism and Soviet Union, 1985–1991

27.2 Political changes in East Europe 1989–2001

27.3 End of the Cold War and US ascendancy in the world as the lone superpower

Total: 244 numbered topics across 51 units.

Last updated: 30 October 2026