Indian History Notes for UPSC Exam - Download Notes PDF

Ancient History of India Notes for UPSC

Ancient Indian history deals with the ancient civilizations, and it explains the true nature of the past and also nature of the obstacles that hinder India’s progress as a nation. This section is covered in the UPSC Prelims Syllabus, Mains syllabus, and History optional syllabus. Below we have provided a link to download the Ancient Indian History Notes for UPSC.

• Timeline of Indian History
• Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)
• Early Vedic Period (1500 BC - 1000 BC)
• Later Vedic period (1000 BC - 500 BC)
• Buddhism & Jainism
• Mahajanapadas, Haryanka Dynasty, Shishunaga Dynasty, Nanda Dynasty
• Maurya Period
• Kushana Empire
• Indo-Greek Rule
• Gupta Period

Medieval History of India Notes for UPSC

The Medival Indian history is an important part of the UPSC History Optional Syllabus, and it is also included in the UPSC Prelims. Candidates must check out the Medieval Indian History Notes and start their preparation for the upcoming UPSC exams. We have provided the link to download the Medieval History of India PDF for UPSC below.

• Chalukya Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty
• Sangam Age
• States in North India (Palas, Pratiharas, and Rashtrakutas)
• The Rajput States
• Vijaynagar and Bahmani Kingdoms
• Delhi Sultanate Part-1
• Delhi Sultanate Part-2
• Mughal Empire Part-1
• Mughal Empire Part-2
• Mughal Empire Part-3
• Mughal Empire Part-4
• Bhakti and Sufi Movement

Modern India Notes for UPSC

Modern Indian history is considered the history of India after 1850. A major topic in modern Indian history was the British Rule in India. The Modern Indian History Notes cover the core points of that period, and it would definitely help the candidates to cover the Modern Indian section in the UPSC Syllabus.

• Advent of Europeans in India
• Peasant Movements in India: Civil Uprising
• Tribal Revolts in India
• Revolt of 1857
• Political & Socio-religious Organization Before INC
• Governor-General and Viceroy of India
• Land Revenue System
• Indian National Movement (1885-1905)
• Indian National Movement (1905-1917)
• Newspapers and Journals during British India
• Indian National Movement (1917-1947)
• INA and the freedom struggle
• Mountbatten Plan(1947)
• Indian Freedom Movement: Socio-Cultural Organisations
• Education during the British Period
• Revolutionary Movements During British Period
• Development of Press during the British Period
• Women Participation In Indian Freedom Struggle
• Evolution of Civil Services
• Role of India in World War-1
• Post Independence Consolidation of India
• Emergency in India (1975-1977)

Art and Culture Notes for UPSC

A serious UPSC aspirant would know that art and culture is a part of the UPSC Mains Syllabus, and it is covered in the General Studies-1. Art and Culture notes for UPSC include key points about the topics namely, Indian monuments and their builders (state-wise), Ancient Indian Architecture, Famous Temples in India, Classical Dances, Folk Dances, Martial Arts, etc. candidates can download the Art and Culture Indian History Notes directly from the given link below. 

• Indian monuments and their builders (state-wise)
• Ancient Indian Architecture
• Mughal Architecture
• Architecture During Delhi Sultanate
• Famous Temples in India
• Classical Dances, Folk Dances and Martial Arts
• Indian Paintings
• Indian schools of Ancient Indian Philosophy
• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Sites in India
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• GI Tag
• Puppetry, Theatre Forms, Musical Instrument

How to make Indian History Notes for UPSC?

Indian History is all about the history behind the Indian culture, art, tale of wars and peace, literature, society, and so much more. To prepare Indian History Notes for UPSC, you don’t just have to mug up the events and dates, but also you need to go in-depth to see what led to those situations. Candidates can check the UPSC Previous Year Question Paper to see what types of questions are coming from Indian history. Let’s see how you can prepare the best Indian History Notes from books.

• Indian history includes ancient, modern, medieval, and art & culture. You need to follow different books, and make separate notes for these sections.

• While covering the book note down the core points, but make sure you don’t end up writing the whole book. The main purpose of the notes is to help you out during the revision period as it is not ideal to go through the whole book at the last moment.

• Ensure to note down the main events, and dates and keep revising them every day. The Indian history section for UPSC is vast and you need to memorize so much in a limited period of time so that’s why regular revision of the Indian History Notes for UPSC is important.

Books for Indian History Notes for UPSC

To make the Indian History Notes for UPSC candidates must have their hands on the selected UPSC Indian history books. As we have mentioned above it is not feasible or wise to go through the Indian history books again and again during the revision. That’s why you must note down the important points that would come in quite handy during the revision process. Below we have compiled a list of all the highly recommended Indian History Books for UPSC.

• India After Independence: Bipan Chandra
• India’s Ancient Past by RS Sharma
•  History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra
• History of Modern India by Bipan Chandra
• The Wonder That Was India: AL Basham
• India After Gandhi: Ramachandra Guha
• Ancient and Medieval India: Poonam Dalal Dahiya