Indian History as per UPSC syllabus could be divided into four parts:
This surely makes History a ‘vast’ subject. But the recent trend shows that at least 15-20% weight age is given to this ‘vast subject’. The key here is to work smart with a tailored strategy for all the sub parts. Looking at the analysis below it is clear that Modern India weighs ~45-50% of total questions from History.
Modern India in itself is a complete subject. It includes various sub parts like
- Emergence of Europeans.
- Regional Kingdoms.
- Social-Religious movements.
- Governor-Generals and their reign.
- British administration, Economic policies.
- Peasants and Tribal Revolts.
- Role of congress and Freedom struggle
Further trends and analysis shows that Freedom struggle movements, tribal and peasant movements (like Pabna to Santhal), Socio-religious movements are UPSC’s favorite pie. The targeted approach particularly for freshers should be to focus on these areas not only factually but analytically as well.
Thus the bottom line while reading a particular movement, revolt the key area to focus on
- The purpose of movement/revolt.
- Reasons
- Consequences
- Important personality/Newspaper/Books associated.
The next area of focus should be on Governor-Generals/Viceroys and their important policies, legislation, acts, committees etc. This will help you get chronological order of events and also to eliminate wrong options.
Acts, Committees etc….
A Scoring area and a sure shot area from where question pops-up. All important acts example Regulating act to Government of India act, 1935 has to read thoroughly. All important committees like Macaulay’s to Hunter committee have to be learnt by heart.
Social and Religious Reform movements
This is another important section from where both analytical and factual question have and can appear in Prelims examination.
The area to be focused on this section should be
- Organizations, their founders and popular leaders involved.
- Their ideologies
- Important newspaper, books or any literary work like Samvad Kaumudi by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
- Analysis of their impact on freedom struggle
Sources:
- India’s Struggle for Independence- Bipin Chandra.
- Modern India- by Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum Publications.
Note– With dynamic pattern of UPSC no single book will suffice. The act smart strategy will be to be through with standard static areas and keep tab on current affairs which then could be mapped to the modern India syllabus (example of Champaran Satyagraha 2018 prelims).
Revision will be the key to your success and to make your life easy to revise this vast syllabus
- Make a brief timeline of the subject. It could be date wise-Governor-General wise etc.
- Example- Lord Dalhousie
- Doctrine of Lapse
- 1853 first Railway
- First PWD department
- Wood’s dispatch etc.
- Workout all the previous questions to give yourself additional knowledge and know the focus area.
- Last but not the least join Xaam's Prelims 2019 test series (Online) to help you better analyze your progress, areas to concentrate on, trending nature of questions and boost your confidence.
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