UPSC MAINS QUESTIONS (2015-2024)

INDIN HISTORY – CULUTRE & WORLD HISTORY

2024 UPSC MAINS

1. UNDERLINE THE CHANGES IN THE FEILED OF SOCIETY AND ECONOMY FROM
THE RIGVEDIC TO LATER VEDIC PERIOD.
2. Estimate the contributions of Pallavas of Kanchi for their development to art and literature of
south India.
3. What were the events that led the Quit india Movement? Point out its results.
4. Though the great Cholas are no more yet their name is still remembered with great pride because
of their highest achievements in the domain of art and architecture." Comment. (Answer in 250
words)
5. How far is it correct to say that the First World War was fought essentially for the preservation
of balance of power? (Ans in 250 words)
6. How far was the Industrial Revolution in England responsible for the decline of handicrafts and
cottage industries in India? (Answer in 250 words)

2023 UPSC MAINS

1. Explain the role of geographical factors towards the development of Ancient India. (Answer in
150 words)
2. What was the difference between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore in their approach
towards education and nationalism? (Answer in 150 words)
3. Bring out the socio-economic effects of the introduction of railways in different countries of the
world. (Answer in 150 words)
4. What are the main features of Vedic society and religion? Do you think some of the features are
still prevailing in Indian society? (Answer in 250 words)
5. What were the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate period? How did
those technological changes influence the Indian society? (Answer in 250 words)
6. How did the colonial rule affect the tribals in India and what was the tribal response to the
colonial oppression? (Answer in 250 words)
7. Discuss the impact of post-liberal economy on ethnic identity and communalism. (Answer in
250 words)
2022 UPSC MAINS
1. How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of those
days? (Answer in 150 words)
2. Why did the armies of the British East India Company mostly comprising of Indian soldiers win
consistently against the more numerous and better equipped armies of the then Indian rulers /
Give reasons. (Answer in 150 words)
3. Why was there a sudden spurt in famines in colonial India since the mid-eighteenth century?
Give reasons. (Answer in 150 words)
4. Discuss the main contributions of Gupta period and Chola period to Indian heritage and culture.
(Answer in 250 words)
5. Discuss the significance of the lion and bull figures in Indian mythology, art and architecture.
(Answer in 250 words)
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2021 UPSC MAINS
1. Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti literature and its contribution to Indian culture. (Answer in
150 words)
2. Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young
Bengal and Brahmo Samaj. (Answer in 150 words)
3. Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of
Indian Princely States. (Answer in 150 words)
4. To what extent did the role of the Moderates prepare a base for the wider freedom movement?
Comment. (Answer in 250 words)
5. Bring out the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi during Non-Cooperation
Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement. (Answer in 250 words)
6. "There arose a serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars."
Evaluate the statement. (Answer in 250 words)

2020 UPSC MAINS

1. The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of
early Indian art and history. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
2. ‘’Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India’ ’Enumerate.
(Answer in 150 words)
3. Evaluate the policies of Lord Curzon and their long-term implications on the Indian national
movement. (Answer in 150 words)
4. Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the
monuments and their art in India. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)
5. Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment. (Answer in
250 words)
6. Since the decade of the 1920s, the national movement acquired various ideological strands and
thereby expanded its social base. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)

2019 UPSC MAINS

1. Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in Gandhara art. (Answer in 150
words)
2. The 1857 Uprising was the culmination the recurrent big and small local rebellions that had
occurred in (H) the preceding hundred years of British rule. Elucidate (Answer in 150 words)
3. Examine the linkages between nineteenth centuries 'Indian Renaissance' and the emergence of
national identity. (Answer in 150 words)
4. Many voices had strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian
phase. Elaborate (Answer in 250 words)
5. Explain how the foundations of the modern world were laid by the American and French
revolution. (Answer in 250 words)

2018 UPSC MAINS

1. Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
2. Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction
of the history of India. (Answer in 150 words)
3. Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times.
(Answer in 150 words)
4. How the Indian concept of secularism is different from the western model of secularism?
Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)

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5. The Bhakti movement received a remarkable re-orientation with the advent of Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu, Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)
6. Why indentured labour was taken by the British from India to other colonies? Have they been
able to preserve their cultural identity over there? (Answer in 250 words) "
7. 'Women's movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.'
Substantiate your view. (Answer in 250 words)
8. Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation." Elaborate by giving
suitable illustrations. (Answer in 250 words)

2017 UPSC MAINS

1. How do you justify the view that the level of excellence of the Gupta numismatic art is not at
all noticeable in later times? (150 words)
2. Clarify how mid-eighteenth-century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity.
(150 words)
3. 3.Why did the 'Moderates' fail to carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed
ideology and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century? (150 words))
4. What problems were germane to the decolonization process in the Malay Peninsula? (150
words)
5. Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural
economy. (250 words)
6. Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian
independence since the twenties of the last century. (250 words)
7. The women's questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform
movement. What were the major issues and debates concerning women in that period? (250
words),
8. "The growth of cities as I.T. hubs have opened up new avenues of employment, but has also
created new problems." Substantiate this statement with examples. (250 words)

2016 UPSC MAINS

1. Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives successfully [expounds
Buddhist ideals. Elucidate.
2. Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but
was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss.
3. Explain how the Uprising of 1857 constitutes an important watershed in the evolution of British
policies towards colonial India.
4. Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase.
5. Highlight the differences in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the
struggle for freedom.
6. Has the formation of linguistic States strengthened the cause of Indian Unity?
7. The anti-colonial struggles in West Africa were led by the new elite of Western-educated
Africans, Examine,

2015 UPSC MAINS

1. The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and
Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present
day. Comment.
2. Mesolithic rock cut architecture of India not only reflects the cultural life of the times but also
a fine aesthetic sense comparable to modern painting. Critically evaluate this comment.

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3. How different would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma
Gandhi? Discuss.
4. Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies.
had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate.
5. It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting
the Constitution for Independent India in just three years but for the experience gained with the
Government of India Act, 1935. Discuss.
6. Why did the industrial revolution first occur in England? Discuss the quality of life of the people
there during the industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at present?
7. To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss
critically.
8. Debate how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation
of caste.?

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