1 Topic 1
Prehistoric Cultures in India - Indus Valley Civilization - Vedic Culture - Mahajanapadas -
Emergence of New Religions - Jainism, Buddhism - The Rise of the Magadha and the Age
of the Mauryas - Ashoka Dharma - Foreign Invasions on India - The Kushans. The
Satavahanas, the Sangam Age in South India - the Sungas - the Guptas- the Kanauj and
their Contributions Historical Accounts of Foreign travellers - Early Educational Institutions.
Compare and contrast the salient features of Early Vedic and Later Vedic
2008
civilizations in political, social, economic, and religious fields.
2008 Analyse the factors that contributed for the growth of Magadhan imperialism.
Bring out the salient features of the Indus and Vedic Civilizations in a comparative
2011
perspective.
2011 Examine the factors responsible for the rise and growth of Jainism and Buddhism.
Compare Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism. Why did Buddhism become popular
2016
and decline subsequently?
What are the important features of major schools of art that flourished during post
2016
Mauryan period?
Explain in what respects the Harappan civilization differed from that of the later
2017
Vedic civilization?
What do you know about Sangam age? How does Sangam age literature help us in
2017
knowing the political and cultural life of that age?
2020 Critically explain the salient features of urban planning of Harappan Civilization
2020 Critically explain he causes of the emergence of Buddhism in ancient India
2 Topic 2
The Pallavas, the Eastern Chalukyas, the Badami Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas, the Kalyani
Chalukyas and the Cholas - SocioCultural Contributions, Language, Literature, Arts and
Architecture - The Delhi Sultanates - The Advent of Islam and its Impact - Religious
Movements like Bhakti and Sufi and Its Influence. Growth of Vernacular Languages, Scripts,
Literature, Fine Arts - Socio-Cultural Conditions of the Kakatiyas, the Vijayanagaras, the
Bahmanis, the Qutub Shahis, and their contemporary South Indian kingdoms.
2008 Bring out the nature and significance of Bhakti Movements in Medieval India.
2008 Discuss the social and economic conditions under the Vijayanagar rulers.
2011 Discuss the impact of Islam on Indian culture, with special reference to the Bhakti
movements.
2011 Assess the contribution of Mughals to Indian Art and Architecture with examples.
2016 Describe major contributions of Great Moghals to Indian Architecture.
2016 What is the cultural contribution of Vijaynagar Empire?
2017 Analyse the cultural contribution of Cholas and explain their contribution for the
cultural expansion in South East Asia.
2017 Explain Sufism and discuss its main principles, important orders and their influence
on the Indian society.
2020 Draw an outline of society under the Eastern Chalukyas
2020 Vividly examine the impact of Bhakti Movement during medieval India
3 Topic 3
The Mughal Administration, Socio-Religious life and Cultural developments - Shivaji and the
Rise of the Maratha Empire - The Advent of Europeans in India. Trade practices - The Rise
of East India Company its Hegemony- Changes in Administration, Social and Cultural
spheres- Role of Christian Missionaries.
2008 Critically examine the impact of British colonial rule on the Indian economy.
Examine the objectives, methods and the impact of the Moderates vis-a-vis the
2008
Extremists during the course of the Indian Freedom Struggle from 1885 to 1920
2011 Critically examine the Economic, Political and Administrative reforms introduced by
the British in Modern India.
2011 Trace the evolution of Indian Nationalism with reference to the three phases of the
Freedom Struggle between the years 1885 – 1947.
2016 “The period between 1885-1905 is the period of moderates in Indian freedom
struggle” In light of the above statement, describe the contribution of early
nationalists (moderates) in organizing the national movement?
2016 Describe the nature and significance of revolt of 1857? Explain whether it can be
termed as “First War of Independence”?
2017 State the reasons for the rise of Chhatrapati Shivaji and also describe the
administrative, military and land revenue systems of his empire.
2017 Describe the impact of the Revolt of 1857 on British Rule in India. What were the
major changes in the British policies and rule after the revolt?
2020 Critically evaluate the central administration under Akbar.
2020 Draw an outline of the rise of Maratha Empire with special reference to Shivaji’s
contribution.
4 Topic 4
The Rise of the British rule in India from the year 1757 to 1856 - Land Revenue Settlements,
Permanent Settlements, Ryotwari, and Mahalwari - The 1857 Revolt and its Impact -
Education, Press, Cultural changes - The Rise of National Consciousness and Changes-
Socio-Religious Reform Movements in 19th century- Rajaram Mohan Roy, Dayananda
Saraswathi, Swami Vivekananda, Annie Besant, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, and so on. The Rise
of Indian Nationalism - The Activities of the Indian National Congress INC) - Vandemataram,
The Self Respect Movement - Jyothiba Phule, Narayana Guru, and Periyar Ramaswamy
Naicker - Home Rule Movements - The Role of Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose,
and Sardar Vallabhai Patel - Satyagraha- Quit India Movement - Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and his
Contributions to India.
What was the contribution of the Socio-religious Reform Movements of the 19th
2008
century for the upliftment of women in Modern India ?
Bring out the nature and characteristic features of the anti-Brahmin movements in
2008
Modern India.
2011 Describe the rise and growth of scio-religious reforms movements in modern India
with special reference to Raja Ram Mohan Ray, Jyotiba Phule and Narayana Guru.
2011 Compare and contrast the views of Mahatma Gandhi and Ambedkar with regard to
the abolition of untouchability and Harijan upliftment.
2016 Comment on the effectiveness of the methods employed by Mahatma Gandhi to
mobilize masses?
2016 “We must hold fast to constitutional methods for achieving our social and economic
objectives”. Briefly explain the significance of this statement of Dr B. R. Ambedkar
with reference to his achievements. Also explain its relevance in the present to
protect democracy?
2017 Describe the impact of the teachings of Swami Vivekananda in arousing
nationalistic feeling and the spirit of service in Indians.
2017 Describe the contribution of Narayana Guru in social awakening and the result of his
teachings on society.
2020 Critically explain the role of Subsidiary Alliance system in the rise and expansion of
British Raj in India.
2020 Delineate the contribution of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar with special reference to the
conditions of untouchables and labourers in colonial India?
5 Topic 5
Indian Nationalism in its three phases - The Freedom Struggle 1885 to 1905, 1905 to 1920
and Gandhi Phase 1920 to 1947- The Peasant, Women, Tribal and Workers Movements -
The Role of Different parties in the Freedom Struggle - The Local and Regional Movements -
The Inter-Religious Unity and Communalism. The Independence and Partition of India - India
after Independence - Rehabilitation after partition- Linguistic Reorganization of States -
Integration of the Indian States - Indian Constitution- Economic policies - Foreign Policy
Initiatives.
Trace the important Peasant Movements ‘in Modern India and their characteristic
2008
features.
Examine the salient features of the Indian Foreign Policy during the post-
2008
independence period up to 1989.
2011 Account for the rise and growth of peasant and working-class movements and their
contribution in anti-feudal andante-colonial struggles.
2011 Trace the course of events leading to the Partition of India in 1947.
2016 Comment on the contribution of peasant movements in freedom struggle.
2016 Analyse the role of communalism in the partition of the country.
2017 Discuss the contribution of the Revolutionary Nationalists to the Freedom Movement
and their impact on the British Rule.
2017 “Gandhi was a politician among saints and a saint among politicians.” Discuss.
2020 Examine the recommendations of the Cabinet Mission plan.
2020 Critically evaluate the impact of Quit India Movement of 1942
