UPSC History NCERT Notes & Study Material for UPSC Exam 2024

Last Updated : 19 Mar, 2024

NCERT History Notes for UPSC Exam: History is one of the important subjects that UPSC put stress on in their Prelims and Mains exams. History is the knowledge of and study of the past and it’s utmost need to understand what went in the past to create the future. Every year, the UPSC conducts Civil Service exams to select candidates for various Civil Services of the Government of India. The study of Indian history is crucial for these selected individuals in order to comprehend the nature of the past and the challenges that India as a nation may face.

This is why the UPSC Prelims and Mains exams stress on the history subject. If you want to ace your UPSC exam, you need to strengthen your history basics first by covering NCERT History Notes. GeeksforGeeks‘ Important Topics of History is curated with all the important topics of history for UPSC that will help you in the UPSC Prelims.

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UPSC History Notes for UPSC Prelims & Mains Exam 2024

The NCERT history syllabus for the UPSC Exam is divided into three parts. i.e. Ancient, Medieval, and Modern:

UPSC History Syllabus-Wise Study Materials For Prelims and Mains Exam 2024

In the below table, you can check the UPSC Prelims & Mains History Syllabus:

Ancient History	Archaelogical and Literary Sources	Source Of Ancient Indian History Historians and their Sources History of Metallurgy in India Major Sites in Indus Valley Civilization and Archaeological Discoveries Mohenjo Daro Archaeological Sites and Discoveries
	Indus Valley Civilization	Harappan Civilization : History, Sites, and Culture Indus Valley Civilization and its Contemporary Civilization Harappan Civilization Important Sites Religion of Indus Valley Civilization Economic Life of Harappan Civilization Town Planning and Drainage System Art of Indus Valley Civilization Dholavira: Harappan Civilization Amri – A Pre-Harappan Site in Sindh Sinauli – A Harappan Site Was Lipstick Found In Chanhudaro? Who Destroyed Mohenjo-Daro?
	Architecture	Harappan Architecture Temple Architecture Cave Architecture Indo-Islamic Architecture Medieval Architecture Modern Architecture Contribution of Buddhism & Jainism to the Development of Indian Architecture Rock-Cut Architecture Colonial Architecture & the Modern Period
Modern Indian History	Middle of the Eighteenth Centurytillthe Present	Socio-economic Condition of the People European Penetration of India British Conquest of India Socio-economic Condition of the People European Penetration of India British Conquest of India
The Freedom Struggle	The Revolt of 1857
	Growth of Nationalism in India (1858–1905)	Political, Economic & Administrative Unification of the Country Role of Western Education Role of the Press Rediscovery of India’s Past Early Political Movements Formation of INC Era of Moderates
	Growth of Militant Nationalism & Revolutionary Activities (1905–18)	Swadeshi & Boycott Movement Surat Split International Influence Morley-Minto Reforms Growth of Communalism
	Beginning of Mass Nationalism (1919–39)	Role of Mahatma Gandhi in National Movement Gandhian Principles or Philosophy in the 21st Century Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms Rowlatt Act, Satyagraha, and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Non-Cooperation & Khilafat Movements Swarajists & No-Changers Emergence of New Forces – Socialistic Ideas, Youth & Trade Unionism Revolutionary Activities Simon Commission & Nehru Report Civil Disobedience Movement Round Table Conferences Communal Award & Poona Pact Participation in Elections to Central Legislature (1934) & Provincial Assemblies (1937) Government of India Act, 1935
	Towards Freedom & Partition (1939–47)	National Movement during World War II August Offer Individual Satyagraha Growth of Communalism Peasant Movements State People’s Struggle Cripps Mission Quit India Movement Wavell Plan INA & Subhash Chandra Bose Cabinet Mission Nationalist Upsurge Post-World War II Independence with Partition
Post-Independence Consolidation	Nation Building	Partition and its Aftermath Integration of Princely States Reorganization of States Issue of Official Language Tribal Consolidation Regional Aspirations
	Foreign Policy	Non-Aligned Movement Panchsheel Wars with Pakistan & China Nuclear Policy
	Economy	Planned Development Green Revolution Operation Flood & Cooperatives Agrarian & Land Reforms Industrial Reforms LPG Reforms
	Polity	The Era of One-Party Dominance The Emergence of Opposition Parties Emergency: Crisis of Democratic Order Rise of Regional Parties Coalition Era
	Social	Popular Movements Communalism Indian Women since Independence Naxalism
History of the World	The outbreakIndustrial Revolution	Renaissance Discovery of Sea Routes Reformation Counter-Reformation European Nations Settle North America Rise of the Slave Trade American War of Independence French Revolution Nationalism in Europe Rise of Capitalism, Colonialism, and Imperialism
	World War I	Causes of the War Scope & Course of the War Russian Revolution End of the War, and Peace Treaties Consequences of the War League of Nations
	World Between the Two Wars	Europe After the War – Fascism & Nazism The Great Depression Emergence of the Soviet Union Nationalist Movements in Asia & Africa The US as a Strong Power
	World War II	Fascist Aggression & Response of Western Democracies Outbreak of the War Theatres of the War US Entry into the War Global Nature of the War The Holocaust Resistance Movements After-effects of the War
	Decolonization & Redrawing of National Boundaries	Europe after World War II The Cold War Rise of Asia & Africa Developments in West Asia & North Africa Spread of Communism The Korean War The Vietnam War The Cuban Crisis The Collapse of the Soviet Union
	Concept, Types, and Social Impact of Political Philosophies	Communism Capitalism Socialism

Free Study Materials For UPSC Exam 2024

UPSC Notes on History (Updated)

UPSC Notes no Geography (Updated)

UPSC Notes on Political Science (Full Syllabus – Updated)

UPSC Notes on Economics (Full Syllabus- Updated)

UPSC Notes on Science & Technology (Updated)

Most Important History Notes for UPSC Prelims and Mains Exams 2024

You can find the important topics of ancient history for UPSC, important topics of medieval history for UPSC, and important topics of modern history for UPSC – everything in the below list for your easy read:

Since a substantial portion of the subject overlaps between Prelims and Mains, it is best to learn the UPSC history syllabus comprehensively. Make sure to keep these 2 points in your mind while preparing for the UPSC History exam:

To create a solid foundation in History, read NCERTs from Classes VIII to XII. Reading NIOS/IGNOU notes can help you improve your knowledge. The material presented in little boxes in the NCERTs must also be read because direct questions from those snippets are asked in the Prelims.
It is necessary to study the events of history in order; thus, cover them chronologically. Maintain a strict commitment to the syllabus, especially on this topic. Even while perusing reference materials, it is critical to study just the portions pertinent to the UPSC CSE curriculum. Because the UPSC history syllabus is so broad, it must be taught exactly according to the syllabus offered for the Mains test.