History | Art and Culture for UPSC IAS Mains 2024 Examination

History | Art and Culture Updates for UPSC IAS Mains 2024 Examination

On this page you will find all the updates related to the subject History, Art and Culture for UPSC IAS Mains 2024 examination.

On Tamil indentured labour in Sri Lanka – An under-discussed facet of colonial history

Source: This post on Tamil indentured labour in Sri Lanka has been created based on the article “An under-discussed facet of colonial history” published in The Hindu on 9th November 2023. UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 1 Indian History – Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant… Continue reading On Tamil indentured labour in Sri Lanka – An under-discussed facet of colonial history

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Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s 125th birth anniversary: His record on women’s rights

Source: The post is based on the article “Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s 125th birth anniversary: His record on women’s rights” published in “Indian Express” on 17th October 2023. Syllabus: GS1- History- Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities. News: The article discusses Sir Syed Ahmed… Continue reading Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s 125th birth anniversary: His record on women’s rights

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How Gandhi crafted his own public image

Source: The post is based on the article “How Gandhi crafted his own public image” published in The Indian Express on 5th October 2023. Syllabus: GS 1 – Modern Indian History – Famous Personalities Relevance: About Mahatma Gandhi News: The article explores Gandhi’s willingness to be photographed. What are some of the details of Gandhi’s fondness… Continue reading How Gandhi crafted his own public image

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Bhagat Singh’s Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

Source– The post is based on the article “Bhagat Singh’s Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” published in “The Indian Express” on 29th September 2023. Syllabus: GS1- Modern Indian history and personalities News– The article explains the Bhagat Singh ideas about the principle of vasudhaiva kutumbakam What are Bhagat Singfh ideas about the ideal of vasudhaiva kutumbakam? Early in… Continue reading Bhagat Singh’s Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

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A dictionary to prevent a language from vanishing

Source: The post is based on the article “A dictionary to prevent a language from vanishing” published in “The Hindu” on 29th September 2023. Syllabus: GS1- Art and culture News: The article is about a rare language, Toto, spoken by 1,600 people near West Bengal and Bhutan. A professor from the University of Calcutta is… Continue reading A dictionary to prevent a language from vanishing

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Santiniketan chronicles: Unesco tag adorns the idyllic haven

Source: The post is based on the article “Santiniketan chronicles: Unesco tag adorns the idyllic haven” published in Business Standard on 25th September 2023. Syllabus: GS 1 – Art and Culture – Indian Heritage Site Relevance: About Santiniketan receiving UNESCO’s World Heritage site status News: Santiniketan was recently granted UNESCO World Heritage site status. It’s now the 41st site… Continue reading Santiniketan chronicles: Unesco tag adorns the idyllic haven

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Express View on Santiniketan’s world heritage status: At home in the world

Source: The post is based on the article “Express View on Santiniketan’s world heritage status: At home in the world” published in The Indian Express on 19th September 2023. Syllabus: GS 1 – Indian History – Modern Indian History News: Santiniketan, the home of late Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage… Continue reading Express View on Santiniketan’s world heritage status: At home in the world

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Opium, history and economics

Source: The post is based on the article “Opium, history and economics” published in Business Standard on 14th September 2023. Syllabus: GS 1 – History – Modern Indian History Relevance: About opium production in India during the colonial period News: The West usually credits its economic growth to factors like science, tech, entrepreneurship, and trade. However, recent scholars argue… Continue reading Opium, history and economics

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A scientific survey at Gyanvapi, its limits”

Source: The post is based on the article “A scientific survey at Gyanvapi, its limits” published in “The Hindu” on 14th August 2023. Syllabus: GS1- The salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. News: The article discusses the Supreme Court of India’s order for a non-invasive survey of the… Continue reading A scientific survey at Gyanvapi, its limits”

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Express View on ‘award wapsi’: Writer’s choice

Source: The post is based on the article “Express View on ‘award wapsi’: Writer’s choice” published in “The Indian express” on 28th July 2023. Syllabus: GS1- Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. News: A parliamentary panel, constituted after the 2015 award return controversy, wants Sahitya Akademi awardees to… Continue reading Express View on ‘award wapsi’: Writer’s choice

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‘Only by recognising the power & intelligence of the opium poppy can we even begin to make peace with it’

Source– The post is based on the article “Only by recognising the power & intelligence of the opium poppy can we even begin to make peace with it” published in “The Times Group” on 8th July 2023. Syllabus: GS1- Modern history Relevance: Opium trade and Opium war News-The article is about new book of Amitav… Continue reading ‘Only by recognising the power & intelligence of the opium poppy can we even begin to make peace with it’

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Choose a new palette for India’s creative economy

Source: The post is based on the article “Choose a new palette for India’s creative economy” published in “The Hindu” on 6th July 2023. Syllabus: GS 1 – Art and culture News: The article discusses the challenges faced by Indian artists in promoting their art. What is creative economy and what is its significance? The… Continue reading Choose a new palette for India’s creative economy

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The Lotus Position – on Yoga

Source- The post is based on the article “The Lotus Position” published in “The Times of India” on 23rd June 2023. Syllabus: GS1- Indian culture Relevance– Ancient Indian system of medicine News– The article explains the threat to universal reach of yoga from present system of patent How can the universal reach of Yoga can… Continue reading The Lotus Position – on Yoga

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[Yojana June 2023 Summary] Yoga for Global well-being – Explained, pointwise

For 7PM Editorial Archives click HERE → Contents1 Introduction2 What is yoga?3 What are the key Yogic practices for health and well-being?4 What are the benefits of yoga?5 What does the research say about Yoga and Well-being?6 How does Yoga contribute to Global Well-being? Introduction Yoga, a centuries-old practice, offers more than just physical exercise. It embodies a… Continue reading [Yojana June 2023 Summary] Yoga for Global well-being – Explained, pointwise

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New Parliament building – Explained, pointwise

For 7PM Editorial Archives click HERE → Contents1 Introduction2 About the history of the New Parliament building3 What is the need for the New Parliament building?4 What are the main features of the New Parliament building?5 What are the arguments supporting the development of the New Parliament building?6 What are critics’ arguments against the construction of the New… Continue reading New Parliament building – Explained, pointwise

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Sengol: History and relevance – Explained, pointwise

For 7PM Editorial Archives click HERE → Contents1 Introduction2 What is Sengol?3 What is the significance of Sengol in Indian history?3.1 What are the arguments supporting the installation of Sengol in Parliament?4 What are the arguments of critics against the installation of Sengol in Parliament?5 What are similar global and local examples like Sengol and their reasons behind… Continue reading Sengol: History and relevance – Explained, pointwise

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How to Read History for UPSC IAS – for beginners

History for UPSC is divided into three parts Ancient, Medieval and Modern India. History is significant part of both UPSC Prelims and Mains Syllabus. History questions are asked in UPSC Prelims General Studies Paper- I and UPSC Mains General Studies Paper-I. History is very important subject as every year around 15-20% questions are asked in UPSC Prelims and 2-5 questions are asked in UPSC Mains. With little hard work and right strategy, you can score well in this subject.

In this article, we will discuss the trend analysis of History, overview of the syllabus and preparation strategy for the same.

Trend analysis of History for UPSC

Subject: History20202019201820172016
UPSC Prelims General Studies-Paper I20 Qs17 Qs22 Qs14 Qs15 Qs
UPSC Mains General Studies Paper- I2 Qs4 Qs3 Qs5 Qs4 Qs

Prelims – 2021 – 10

2022- 14

2023 – 14

Mains – 2021 – 8

2022 – 6

2023 –

 

 

Overview of the Syllabus of History for UPSC:

Subject: HistorySyllabus
UPSC Prelims General Studies Paper-I· History of India and Indian National Movement.
UPSC Mains General Studies Paper-I· Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues.

· The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.

· Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

· History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society.

Preparation Strategy of History for UPSC:

  • Start with syllabus:To read History for UPSC, you must go through the syllabus twice or thrice of both UPSC Prelims and Mains. The syllabus of History for UPSC Prelims has mentioned just one line and for Mains, syllabus has explained little more. Syllabus will help you to analyze and identify what all you have to study.
  • Segregate the syllabus:As mentioned above, syllabus of History for UPSC is not given in detail. So, your next task before you start your preparation is to segregate the syllabus in to sub parts:
    • Ancient History- Initial period (stone age) to mid of 8thCentury AD.
    • Medieval History- Mid of 8thCentury AD to beginning of 18th Century AD.
    • Modern History- Mid of 18thCentury till Independence of India.
    • History of Post-Independence
  • Basic reading of NCERT textbooks:History is a subject which requires interlinkages of topics. For that you must start your preparation with NCERT textbooks of Class VI and Class XI. It is related to Ancient India. It would be better if you will read old NCERT textbooks. You should focus on topics like, Stone age, Paleolithic age, Mesolithic age, Neolithic age, Chalcolithic age, Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic period, Later Vedic period, Buddhism and Jainism etc. Your focus should be on timeline, social system, religion etc. From this section, questions are asked in both UPSC Prelims and Mains.
    • After that you must read Medieval India- Class VII, Class IX-Story of Civilization Part-I (Old), Class X-Story of Civilization Part-II (Old), Class XI NCERT textbooks. Old NCERT textbooks will be preferred. In Medieval History, you should focus on timeline, religious movements, Rulers and their reign, Art and Architecture, Sufi and Bhakti movements etc. Every year, around 1-3 questions in UPSC Prelims are asked from Medieval India. Still this subject is very important as it provides linkages in History.
    • Just after completing Medieval India, you should start reading Modern India. Modern India includes history about emergence of foreign power in India till India achieved Independence. This section is very important as many questions are asked in both UPSC Prelims and Mains. To understand Modern History, you must read Class VIII and Class XII NCERT textbooks (both Old).In Modern History for UPSC, you must focus on Indian Freedom Struggle and Indian Independence movements, their causes and consequences. Here also Chronology is very important to remember. Instead of wasting time in making notes, you can highlight the important points and read them multiple times.
  • Read standard books:After reading basic NCERT textbooks, you must towards reading standard book of History for UPSC. You must read History of Modern India by Bipin Chandra. After that the most important book for Modern India, which you should read is, Spectrum of Modern India. You should read this book’s each line word by word. Highlight it, learn it byheart, do anything but you must have full command over this book. You should read this book in such a way that, if any question is asked from this book, then you will be able to give answer. This book will also help you create interlinkages of various topics.
    • For post-independence, you can refer India Since Independence by Bipin Chandra and India After Gandhi by Ramchandra Guha.
  • Refer past years’ question papers: Past years’ question papers are very important to prepare History for UPSC. It helps you to analyze nature of the questions asked in both UPSC Prelims and Mains exam. Instead of just referring questions, you must try to solve them. It will help you to analyze your preparation.
  • Solve mock tests:After completing the whole syllabus once, you must solve as many mock tests as possible. It will help you to identify where you get stuck and where you need to enhance your preparation.
  • Answer writing practice:Daily answer writing of History for UPSC is very important to write quality answers in limited span of time. It will also help you in understanding the questions, writing to the point answers etc.
  • Revision:Revision is mandatory in case of History. It will help you to corelate the topics starting from Ancient till Modern History. As the syllabus of History is vast, revision will be important for you to remember the things.

 

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