UPSC PYQs: History
Review complete published questions grouped by subject: History.
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Questions
- Analyze the importance of Ashokan inscriptions for reconstructing Mauryan history.2026 · Mains GS1 · History · Ashokan Inscriptions and Mauryan History
- Discuss the impact of Macaulay's Minute on colonial administration and education in India.2026 · Mains GS1 · History · Macaulay Minute and Colonial Education
- The significance of the Gandhian movements lay in the masses they mobilized. Elucidate.2026 · Mains GS1 · History · Gandhian Mass Mobilisation
- Discuss the salient features of the Harappan architecture.2025 · Mains GS1 · History · Harappan Architecture
- Examine the main aspects of Akbar’s religious syncretism.2025 · Mains GS1 · History · Akbar and Religious Syncretism
- Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.2025 · Mains GS1 · History · Jotirao Phule and Social Reform
- Underline the changes in society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the later Vedic period.2024 · Mains GS1 · History · Vedic Period
- Estimate the contribution of the Pallavas of Kanchi to the development of South Indian art and literature.2024 · Mains GS1 · History · Pallava Art and Literature
- What events led to the Quit India Movement? Point out its results.2024 · Mains GS1 · History · Quit India Movement
- Comment on the lasting achievements of the Cholas in art and architecture.2024 · Mains GS1 · History · Chola Art and Architecture
- How far is it correct that the First World War was fought for preservation of the balance of power?2024 · Mains GS1 · History · First World War
- How far was the Industrial Revolution in England responsible for the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India?2024 · Mains GS1 · History · Industrial Revolution and India
- With reference to the Buddhist Councils, consider the following statements and select the correct answer using the code given below.2024 · Prelims GS1 · History · Buddhist Councils
- Explain the role of geographical factors in the development of Ancient India.2023 · Mains GS1 · History · Ancient India
- Compare Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore in their approaches to education and nationalism.2023 · Mains GS1 · History · Nationalism and Education
- Bring out the socio-economic effects of the introduction of railways in different countries.2023 · Mains GS1 · History · Railways and Society
- What are the main features of Vedic society and religion? Do some of these features still persist in Indian society?2023 · Mains GS1 · History · Vedic Society
- What major technological changes were introduced during the Sultanate period, and how did they influence Indian society?2023 · Mains GS1 · History · Sultanate Technology
- How did colonial rule affect Indian tribes, and what was the tribal response to colonial oppression?2023 · Mains GS1 · History · Tribal Resistance
- With reference to the Indian national movement, which of the following best explains the Surat Split of 1907?2023 · Prelims GS1 · History · Moderates and Extremists
- How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of those days?2022 · Mains GS1 · History · Temple Sculpture
- Why did the armies of the British East India Company, mostly comprising Indian soldiers, win consistently against the more numerous and better equipped armies of the Indian rulers? Give reasons.2022 · Mains GS1 · History · British East India Company
- Why was there a sudden spurt in famines in colonial India since the mid-eighteenth century? Give reasons.2022 · Mains GS1 · History · Colonial Famines
- The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples.2022 · Mains GS1 · History · State Reorganisation
- Discuss the main contributions of Gupta period and Chola period to Indian heritage and culture.2022 · Mains GS1 · History · Gupta and Chola
- Discuss the significance of the lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art and architecture.2022 · Mains GS1 · History · Mythology and Art
- Evaluate the nature of Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture.2021 · Mains GS1 · History · Bhakti Literature
- Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young Bengal and Brahmo Samaj.2021 · Mains GS1 · History · Socio Religious Reform
- Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of Indian Princely States.2021 · Mains GS1 · History · Princely States Integration
- To what extent did the role of the moderates prepare a base for the wider freedom movement? Comment.2021 · Mains GS1 · History · Moderates and Freedom Movement
- Bring out the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi during Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement.2021 · Mains GS1 · History · Gandhian Constructive Programme
- There arose a serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars. Evaluate the statement.2021 · Mains GS1 · History · Inter War Democracy
- The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss.2020 · Mains GS1 · History · Rock-cut Architecture
- Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate.2020 · Mains GS1 · History · Buddhism
- Evaluate the policies of Lord Curzon and their long term implications on the national movements.2020 · Mains GS1 · History · Colonial Policy
- Indian Philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss.2020 · Mains GS1 · History · Indian Philosophy And Tradition
- Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment.2020 · Mains GS1 · History · Medieval Sources
- Since the decade of the 1920s, the national movement acquired various ideological strands and thereby expanded its social base. Discuss.2020 · Mains GS1 · History · National Movement — Ideological Strands
- Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in Gandhara art.2019 · Mains GS1 · History · Gandhara Art
- The 1857 Uprising was the culmination of the recurrent big and small local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule. Elucidate.2019 · Mains GS1 · History · Revolt of 1857
- Examine the linkages between the 19th century Indian Renaissance and the emergence of national identity.2019 · Mains GS1 · History · Indian Renaissance
- Many voices had strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase. Elaborate.2019 · Mains GS1 · History · National Movement
- Assess the role of British imperial power in complicating the process of transfer of power during the 1940s.2019 · Mains GS1 · History · Transfer of Power
- Explain how the foundations of the modern world were laid by the American and French Revolutions.2019 · Mains GS1 · History · World Revolutions
- Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Comment.2018 · Mains GS1 · History · Indian Art Heritage
- Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India.2018 · Mains GS1 · History · Travellers Accounts
- Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times.2018 · Mains GS1 · History · Gandhian Thought
- The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Discuss.2018 · Mains GS1 · History · Bhakti Movement
- Why was indentured labour taken by the British from India to their colonies? Have they been able to preserve their cultural identity there?2018 · Mains GS1 · History · Indentured Labour
- How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of the Gupta numismatic art is not at all noticeable in later times?2017 · Mains GS1 · History · Gupta Numismatic Art
- Why did the Moderates fail to carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed ideology and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century?2017 · Mains GS1 · History · Moderates
- Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy.2017 · Mains GS1 · History · Colonial Economy
- Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian Independence since the twenties of the last century.2017 · Mains GS1 · History · Indian Independence
- Krishnadeva Raya, the king of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss.2016 · Mains GS1 · History · Vijayanagara Empire
- Explain how the uprising of 1857 constitutes an important watershed in the evolution of British policies towards colonial India.2016 · Mains GS1 · History · Revolt of 1857
- Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase.2016 · Mains GS1 · History · Women in Freedom Struggle
- Highlight the differences in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom.2016 · Mains GS1 · History · Gandhi and Bose
- Regarding the taxation system of Krishna Deva, the ruler of Vijayanagar, consider the following statements: 1. The tax rate on land was fixed depending on the quality of the land. 2. Private owners of workshops paid an industries tax. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Vijayanagara Administration
- With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements: 1. Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry. 2. Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Medieval Religious Movements
- Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Medieval Economy
- Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Mauryan Epigraphy
- The Swadeshi and Boycott were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Swadeshi Movement
- Satya Shodhak Samaj organized2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Social Reform Movements
- The Montagu-Chelmsford Proposals were related to2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Constitutional Developments
- Consider the following: 1. Calcutta Unitarian Committee 2. Tabernacle of New Dispensation 3. Indian Reform Association. Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Socio-religious Reform
- In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs: 1. Eripatti : Land, revenue from which was set apart for maintenance of the village tank 2. Taniyurs : Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins 3. Ghatikas : Colleges generally attached to temples. Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Early Medieval Institutions
- With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term Araghatta refers to2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Medieval Technology
- With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was the profession of who of the following?2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Ancient Cultural Traditions
- What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Surat Split
- The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War2016 · Prelims GS1 · History · Cripps Mission
- The ancient civilization in Indian sub continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without breakdown to the present day. Comment.2015 · Mains GS1 · History · Ancient Indian Civilization
- How difficult would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss.2015 · Mains GS1 · History · Freedom Struggle
- Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B R Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate.2015 · Mains GS1 · History · Gandhi and Ambedkar
- The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat?2014 · Mains GS1 · History · Third Battle of Panipat
- Examine critically the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth century till independence.2014 · Mains GS1 · History · British Economic Policies
- In what ways did the naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British colonial aspirations in India?2014 · Mains GS1 · History · Naval Mutiny
- Though not very useful from the point of view of a connected political history of South India, the Sangam literature portrays the social and economic conditions of its time with remarkable vividness. Comment.2013 · Mains GS1 · History · Sangam Literature
- Is The Colonial Mentality Hindering India’s Success?2013 · Essay · History · Colonial Mentality
- Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, the Indian women became the torch bearer during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss.2013 · Mains GS1 · History · Women in Freedom Struggle
- Several foreigners made India their homeland and participated in various movements. Analyze their role in the Indian struggle for freedom.2013 · Mains GS1 · History · Foreigners in Freedom Struggle
- In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the founder of modern India. Elaborate.2013 · Mains GS1 · History · Lord Dalhousie