A Brief History of Modern India — Ultra

In-Depth UPSC GS-1/Prelims Master Summary

Edition used: Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum), Revised & Enlarged 2019. This master
summary follows the book’s sweep, expands subtopics and sub-subtopics,
preserves chronology and cause–effect, and adds text-only
timelines/flowcharts. Formatting: relaxed line spacing, 2-inch right margin for
notes, bolded important titles, numbered structure, and chapter-end summaries.
Each chapter ends with PYQs & Practice.
1. Sources for the History of Modern India
Why Sources Matter (Prelims + GS-1)
• Primary sources: archival files (revenue/political/military/education), judicial
records, private papers, maps/surveys, newspapers, creative works, oral
histories.
• Secondary sources: scholarly monographs, thematic syntheses,
historiographical debates (colonial, nationalist, Marxist, subaltern, feminist,
Cambridge).
• UPSC angle: always indicate source type + cross-check; comment on
bias/intent; triangulate evidence.

Major Repositories & Types

Archival
• National Archives of India; state/presidency archives; foreign repositories
(India Office Records, British Library).
• Departmental series: Revenue/Settlement, Police/Intelligence, Home/Political,
Education, Military; value for policy intent + social effect.

Press & Periodicals

• Indian vernacular press; English-language dailies; journals (moderate,
extremist, socialist, communal, reformist).
• Use to gauge public opinion, organisation strategies, government responses.

Private Papers, Memoirs, Travelogues

• Leaders’ diaries, correspondence; administrators’ memoirs; travellers’
accounts; rich detail + strong bias → contextualise.

Creative Sources & Oral History

• Paintings (Kalighat, Bengal School), theatre, songs; folk memory and oral
narratives—capture subaltern experiences.

Flowchart
1 Identify theme → choose best source type(s).
2 Collect & corroborate → triangulate across genres.
3 Analyse bias → who wrote, why, when.
4 Synthesise → state how evidence shapes inference.

Timeline (selected)
• 1767: Survey of India begins systematic mapping.
• 1780s–1900s: Explosion of newspapers and journals.
• 1891–1947: Committees/Commissions create dense published records.
Chapter Summary
Modern Indian history relies on archives, press, private papers, and cultural/oral
sources. For UPSC, always name the source type, note bias/context, and
corroborate facts across at least two categories.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• Which among the following are primary sources for Modern Indian History?
(Year: ____)
• With reference to the India Office Records, consider the following
statements… (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Discuss the strengths and limits of newspapers as sources for studying the
national movement. (Year: ____)
• How do oral histories alter our understanding of subaltern participation?
(Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain how different source categories (archives, press, private papers) can
be triangulated in a GS-1 answer on social reform.
• Given an extract from a government resolution (primary source), identify its
limitations and how you would corroborate it.
2. Major Approaches to Modern Indian History
Colonial/Imperialist
• Narratives by officials/sympathisers (James Mill, Vincent Smith) emphasise
‘civilising mission’, Pax Britannica, and Indian ‘stagnation’.
• Method: administrative focus; teleological progress; legitimises empire.

Nationalist
• Frames movement as anti-colonial response; unifies diverse regions/classes;
early economic critique (Naoroji, Ranade, R. C. Dutt, Gokhale).

Marxist & Subaltern

• Marxist: primacy of imperialism–colony contradiction; class alliances; classic
texts by R. P. Dutt, A. R. Desai.
• Subaltern: critiques elite-centric narratives; foregrounds peasants, workers,
women, lower castes (Ranajit Guha).

Other Strands
• Cambridge School: elite competition; brokerage politics.
• Liberal/Neo-liberal: re-evaluates economic ‘benefits/costs’ of empire.
• Feminist: gendered experiences; law/economy shaping women’s lives.

Flowchart
1 Identify the question’s dimension → economy/politics/society/gender.
2 Apply 2–3 lenses → compare insights & blind spots.
3 Synthesis → reasoned conclusion with evidence.

Chapter Summary
Use approaches as analytical tools, not dogma. In answers, combine lenses and
acknowledge limits.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the Cambridge School, consider the following
statements… (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• How do Marxist and Nationalist interpretations diverge on the causes of
deindustrialisation? (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Illustrate how a subaltern reading of 1857 differs from a nationalist one.
• ‘Nationalism was as much an idea as it was a coalition of
interests’—comment.
3. India on the Eve of British Conquest (18th
Century)
Political Fragmentation and Successor States
• Post-1707 Mughal decline; rise of Awadh, Bengal, Hyderabad; Marathas as
over-arching power; Afghan incursions (Nadir Shah 1739; Abdali 1748–67).
• Company diplomacy leverages internal rivalries; revenue-military capacity
varies by region.

Economy, Society, and Military

• Handicrafts (textiles/metal), inland trade networks, moneylending; jagirdari
crisis and revenue farming.
• European artillery/naval superiority; uneven adoption of modern drill/logistics
by Indian polities.

Timeline (selected)
• 1707: Aurangzeb dies → succession crisis.
• 1739: Sack of Delhi by Nadir Shah → fiscal shock.
• 1746–63: Carnatic Wars (Anglo–French rivalry in the south).

Chapter Summary
A decentralised subcontinent with robust regional states but lacking pan-Indian
fiscal–military integration enabled European companies to mediate and then
dominate.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• Which of the following were successor states of the Mughal Empire? (Year:
____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Account for the success of the British in the Carnatic Wars. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Assess the relative strengths of successor states vis-à-vis the Marathas.
• Explain how military-fiscal structures shaped diplomatic outcomes in the 18th
century.
4. Advent of Europeans & British Ascendancy
European Contenders and Company-State Formation
• Portuguese (Goa, 1510), Dutch (VOC), English (EIC, 1600), French
(Compagnie des Indes).
• Company militarisation and revenue claims → shift from trade to territory.

Turning Points: Plassey (1757), Buxar (1764), Diwani (1765)

• Plassey: coalition-building and betrayal (Mir Jafar) → political leverage.
• Buxar: defeat of Awadh + Bengal + Mughal → legitimacy and consolidation.
• Diwani: Bengal/Bihar/Orissa revenue rights → finance for expansion.

Timeline (selected)
• 1600: Charter of the English East India Company.
• 1757: Plassey; 1764: Buxar; 1765: Diwani.
• 1770s–1790s: Administrative reorganisation & revenue experiments.

Chapter Summary
Commercial rivalry evolved into territorial rule as revenue rights funded a modern
army–bureaucracy.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the Diwani of Bengal, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• How did the Plassey–Buxar–Diwani sequence transform the Company?
(Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain the commercial-to-territorial transition of the EIC.
• Critically analyse the dual government experiment in Bengal.
5. Expansion & Consolidation of British Power
Instruments of Paramountcy
• Subsidiary Alliance (Wellesley): stationing troops; control of foreign policy;
fiscal burden on states.
• Doctrine of Lapse (Dalhousie): annexation sans natural heir; Satara, Jhansi,
Nagpur among others.

Wars and Diplomacy

• Anglo–Mysore (Hyder Ali/Tipu Sultan), Anglo–Maratha (treaties of Salbai,
Bassein), Anglo–Sikh (two wars).
• Logistics, artillery, spycraft, and coalition diplomacy secured British edge.

Chapter Summary
Treaty frameworks and decisive wars neutralised rival sovereignties, yielding
British paramountcy.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• Which of the following states were annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse?
(Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Discuss the relative significance of subsidiary alliances versus war in British
expansion. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Evaluate the Doctrine of Lapse as a cause of 1857.
• Was the Treaty of Bassein (1802) the real turning point against the
Marathas?
6. Colonial Administration & Institutions
Civil Services, Law and Courts
• ICS: recruitment evolution; role as ‘steel frame’; racial hierarchies and pay
scales.
• Codification: IPC, CPC, CrPC; hierarchy from mofussil to High Courts; Privy
Council appeals.

Military & Police

• European officer dominance; ‘martial races’ policy; cantonments and
cantonment boards.
• Police centralisation post-1857; intelligence networks and surveillance.

Chapter Summary
A modern centralised bureaucracy and legal system enabled extractive and
regulatory control.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the Indian Civil Service, consider the following
statements… (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Explain how the legal system underpinned the revenue–police state. (Year:
____)

Practice (Drill)
• Critically assess the image of the ICS as a ‘steel frame’.
• How did codification reshape colonial society?
7. Economic Impact of Colonial Rule
Land Revenue Systems
• Permanent Settlement (Zamindari): fixed assessment; zamindar as revenue
intermediary; effects on peasants/agriculture.
• Ryotwari: direct settlement with cultivator; periodic revision; regional
outcomes in Madras/Bombay.
• Mahalwari: village-based assessment; North-West Provinces focus.

Deindustrialisation, Trade & Drain

• Decline of artisanal industries; import of Manchester textiles; export of raw
cotton/jute/indigo/opium.
• Drain of Wealth (Naoroji): remittances, home charges, exchange policy;
capital scarcity in India.

Transport & Commercialisation

• Railways integrated markets but served export priorities; cash-crop risk;
recurring famines tied to price/speculation and policy.

Flowchart
1 Revenue regime → pressure on peasantry/credit.
2 Trade policy → deindustrialisation + primary export bias.
3 Outcome → poverty/famines; regional unevenness.

Chapter Summary
Revenue structures, trade policy, and capital outflows impoverished the
countryside despite infrastructure growth.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• Match the following: Ryotwari—regions; Mahalwari—features; Permanent
Settlement—outcomes. (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• How did the railways alter India’s economic geography under colonialism?
(Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Distinguish Permanent, Ryotwari, and Mahalwari with regional examples
and effects.
• Explain mechanisms of the colonial drain with data points.
8. Education, Social Policy, and Law
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
9. Social & Religious Reform Movements
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
10. Peasant, Tribal & Popular Movements
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
11. The Revolt of 1857
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
12. Aftermath of 1857: Policy Shifts
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
13. INC Formation & Early Nationalism
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
14. Moderates (1885–1905)
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
15. Extremists & Swadeshi (1905–1917)
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
16. Revolutionary Nationalism (1907–1930s)
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
17. WWI & Home Rule (1914–1918)
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
18. Gandhi & Non-Cooperation (1919–1922)
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
19. Civil Disobedience (1930–34) & RTCs
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
20. Congress Ministries (1937–39) &
Communal Politics
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
21. WWII, Cripps, Quit India, INA
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
22. Independence, Partition & Integration
(1947–49)
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
23. Constitutional Development (1909–1950)
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
24. Peasant & Working-Class Movements; Left
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
25. Women in the Freedom Struggle & Reform
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
26. Press, Literature, Art & Culture in
Awakening
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
27. Science, Industry & Economy (Late
Colonial)
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
28. Frontier & Foreign Policy of British India
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
29. Communalism, Minorities & the National
Question
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
30. Legacies, Debates & Historiography
Wrap-Up
Core Themes & Subtopics
• Detailed evolution of policies, organisations, and social bases.
• Cause–effect chains emphasised for GS-1 analytical answers.
• Interplay of economy–society–politics highlighted with examples.

UPSC Takeaways
• Precisely defined terms, dates, personalities, committees, and laws.
• Contrasting viewpoints (historiography) where relevant.
• Model conclusions that balance evidence and interpretation.

Chapter Summary
Comprehensive coverage with analytical hooks and micro-examples to frame
high-scoring answers.

PYQs & Practice

Prelims — Sample/Topic-Mapped
• With reference to the chapter’s core topic, consider the following statements…
(Year: ____)
• Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (Year: ____)

GS-1 (Mains) — Sample/Topic-Mapped

• Critically analyse the chapter’s central development with reference to social
base and ideology. (Year: ____)

Practice (Drill)
• Explain one cause–effect chain from this chapter using 5 crisp bullets.
• Frame a 250-word GS-1 answer using two lenses (e.g., Nationalist +
Subaltern).
Glossary of Key Terms
• Diwani: right to collect revenue from specified territories.
• Doctrine of Lapse: annexation policy in absence of a natural heir.
• Dyarchy: dual government at the provincial level under the 1919 Act.
• ICS: Indian Civil Service, elite administrative cadre.
• Khadi: hand-spun/hand-woven cloth central to Gandhian strategy.
• Separate Electorates: community-wise electoral rolls.
• Satyagraha: non-violent resistance/philosophy of truth-force.
Short Index — People, Events, Concepts
• Ambedkar, B. R. — Constituent Assembly; Constitution (Ch.23)
• Bose, Subhas Chandra — INA/Azad Hind; RIN Mutiny impact (Ch.21)
• Clive, Robert — Plassey & Company ascendancy (Ch.4)
• Dalhousie — Doctrine of Lapse; public works (Ch.5)
• Dutt, R. C. — Economic nationalism (Ch.2, Ch.7)
• Gandhi — NCM, CDM, Quit India (Ch.18–21)
• Gokhale, G. K. — Moderates; economic critique (Ch.14)
• Naoroji — Drain theory; INC (Ch.2, Ch.7, Ch.13)
• Plassey — 1757 turning point (Ch.4)
• Quit India — 1942 mass upsurge (Ch.21)
• Rani Lakshmibai — 1857 leadership (Ch.11)
• Ranajit Guha — Subaltern studies (Ch.2)
• Sarkar, Sumit — Historiography (Ch.2)
• Swadeshi — 1905 movement (Ch.15)