UPSC Mains Syllabus 21 (Decoded Syllabus)

Jul 17, 2026

Decoded UPSC Mains History syllabus covering Ancient India—from pre-historic cultures, Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic society, and dynasties up to the post-Mauryan period, to the growth of Jainism and Buddhism, Guptas, and Harshavardhana—followed by Medieval India topics on Central Asian politics, establishment and struggle for empires in North India, and the Mughal era including Akbar’s consolidation, administration, religious views, Deccan and Mughal relations, and foreign policy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages64

Reading Time2 h 41 min

AccessFree to download

HISTORY ANCIENT HISTORY 1. Pre Historic Cultures In India " Vedic Texts 􀂅 " Periodization of Indian pre history" Sources of pre history " Stone age 􀀇 Paleolithic (2 million BC – 10,000 BC) 􀀇 Mesolithic (10,000 BC – 8,000 BC) 􀀇 Neolithic (8000 BC – 4000 BC)" Chalcolithic Age (4000 BC – 1500 BC)" Iron age (1500 BC-200 BC)" Impact of Iron 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 2. Pastoral and Farming Communities " Neolithic Phase " Chalcolithic Phase " Early Iron Phase " Geographical Distribution and Characteristics 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 3. Indus Valley Civilization " Major Cities Town Planning" Harappan Trade " Agriculture " Domestication of animals " Crafts " Religion " Harappan Pottery " Weights and Measures " Script and Language " Images " Decline of Harappan Culture 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 4. Vedic Society " Original Home of Aryans" Features of Aryan Culture 􀂅 􀂅 " Sources for Reconstructing Vedic Society and Culture " Geography of the Rig Vedic Period and geography of the later Vedic Phases " Economic Conditions " Political Organisation and Evolution of Monarchy " Social Organisation and Varna System" Religion and Thought 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 5. Pre Mauryan Period " Formation of states " The Sixteen Mahajanapadas " Republics " Rise of urban centres" Haryanka dynasty " Shishunaga dynasty " Nanda dynasty 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 6. The Mauryan Empire " Chandragupta and Bindusara " Megasthenes " Asoka and His Successors" Asoka’s Inscriptions and Sites" Asoka’ a Dhamma " Mauryan. Administration, Economy, Society and Art " The Arthasastra 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 7. Post-Mauryan India (sc 200-AD 300) " Society: Evolution of Jatis" Sangam Texts-and Society " Satavahanas and Other Indigenous Dynasties " Foreign Dynasties 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 | GS SCORE | [www.iasscore.in](www.iasscore.in) |
3 | | --- | --- | --- | " Commercial Contacts with the Outside World 􀂅 " Schools of Art 􀂅 8. Growth of Jainism and Buddhism " Jainism " Buddhism 􀂅 􀂅 9. Imperial Guptas 10. Harshavardana " Sources for Harsha’s Period" Early life of Harsha" Harsha’s Administration" Important Ofﬁcials of the empire" Economy under Harsha " Society" Religion 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 " Sources of Gupta Rule" Political history of Guptas" Fahien " Gupta Administration " Gupta Culture " Urban centres in Gupta period " Economic Conditions 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 11. The Southern Dynasties " The Shathavahanas (230 BC TO AD 225)" The Pallavas (AD 330–796) " The Chalukyas (AD 535–1190) " The Pandyas of Madurai (AD 590–1323)" The Chola Dynasty (AD 850–1310)" Rashtrakutas (AD 753–973) 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 􀂅 MEDIEVAL INDIA 1. Central Asian Politics and the Advance of Babur towards India 4. The Establishment of the North Indian Empire " The Timurids " The Timurid-Uzbek and Uzbek-Iran Conﬂict and Babur " Babur’s

Jul 17, 2026

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