Optional Pattern & Syllabus

Archaeological sources: Exploration, Excavation, Epigraphy, Numismatics, Monuments. Literary sources: Indigenous (Primary and secondary, poetry, Scientific Literature, Literature in Regional Languages, Religious Literature). Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers.

Geographical factors; Hunting and Gathering (Paleolithic and Mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture (Neolithic and Chalcolithic).

Origin, date, extent, characteristics, decline, survival and significance, art and architecture.

Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community life, Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry.

Expansions of Aryans in India. Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literature; Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period; Political, Social and Economical life; Significance of the Vedic Age; Evolution of Monarchy and Varna system.

Formation of States (Mahajanapada): Republics and monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Trade routes; Economic growth; Introduction of coinage; Spread of Jainism and Buddhism; Rise of Magadha and Nandas. Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact.

Foundation of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta, Kautilya and Arthashastra; Ashoka; Concept of Dharma; Edicts; Polity, Administration, Economy; Art, architecture and sculpture; External contacts; Religion; Spread of religion; Literature. Disintegration of the empire; Sungas and Kanvas.

Contact with outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage, development of religions, Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science.

Kharavela, The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, Economy, Land grants, coinage, Trade guilds and Urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam literature and culture; Art and architecture.

Polity and administration, Economic conditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants, Decline of urban centres, Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women, Education and educational institutions (Nalanda, Vikramshila, Vallabhi), Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture.

Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami; Polity and administration, Trade guilds, Literature; growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions. Tamil Bhakti movement, Shankaracharya; Vedanta; Institutions of temple and temple architecture; Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras; Arab conquest of Sind; Alberuni, Chalukyas of Kalyana, Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas.

Languages and texts, major stages in evolution of art and architecture, major philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and Mathematics.

Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula, origin and rise of Rajputs. The Cholas: administration, village economy and society. Indian Feudalism; Agrarian economy and urban settlements; Trade and commerce; Society: status of Brahman and new social order; Condition of women; Indian science and technology.

Philosophy: Shankaracharya and Vedanta, Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and Brahma-Mimansa. Religion: Tamil devotional cult, growth of Bhakti, Islam and its arrival, Sufism. Literature: Sanskrit, Tamil, newly developing languages, Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, Alberuni’s India. Art and Architecture: Temple architecture, sculpture, painting.

Establishment of Delhi Sultanate: Ghurian invasions, factors behind Ghurian success. Economic, social and cultural consequences. Foundation of Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans. Consolidation: rule of Iltutmish and Balban.

The Khalji Revolution; Alauddin Khalji: conquests, territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measures. Muhammad Tughluq: major projects, agrarian measures, bureaucracy. Firuz Tughluq: agrarian measures, public works, decline of Sultanate, foreign contacts and Ibn Battuta’s account.

Society: rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under Sultanate, Bhakti and Sufi movements. Culture: Persian literature, regional languages of North and South India, Sultanate architecture, painting, composite culture. Economy: agricultural production, urban economy, trade and commerce.

Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids. The Vijayanagara Empire. Lodis. Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun. The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration. Portuguese colonial enterprise. Bhakti and Sufi movements.

Regional cultural specificities; Literary traditions; Provincial architecture; Society, culture, literature and the arts in Vijayanagara Empire.

Conquests and consolidation of Empire; Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems; Rajput policy; Evolution of religious and social outlook, theory of Sulh-i-kul and religious policy; Court patronage of art and technology.

Administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb; Empire and Zamindars; Religious policies; Nature of Mughal State; Late 17th century crisis and revolts; Ahom Kingdom; Shivaji and early Maratha Kingdom.

Population, agricultural production, craft production; Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies: a trade revolution. Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance and credit systems. Condition of peasants and women. Evolution of Sikh community and Khalsa Panth.

Persian histories and other literature; Hindi and other religious literature; Mughal architecture; Mughal painting; Provincial architecture and painting; Classical music; Science and technology.

Factors for decline of Mughal Empire; Regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh; Maratha ascendancy under Peshwas; Maratha fiscal and financial system; Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat (1761); State of politics, culture and economy on the eve of British conquest.

Early European Settlements; Portuguese and Dutch; English and French East India Companies; Struggle for supremacy; Carnatic Wars; Conflict between English and Nawabs of Bengal; Siraj and English; Battle of Plassey and significance.

Bengal – Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim; Battle of Buxar; Mysore; Marathas; Three Anglo-Maratha Wars; Punjab.

Early administrative structure; Diarchy to direct control; Regulating Act (1773); Pitt’s India Act (1784); Charter Act (1833); Free trade voice and changing character of British rule; English Utilitarians and India.

Land revenue settlements: Permanent, Ryotwari, Mahalwari; Economic impact and commercialization of agriculture; Rise of landless labourers; Impoverishment of rural society; De-industrialisation and decline of crafts; Drain of wealth; Railroads and telegraph; Famines in rural interior; European enterprise.

Indigenous education and dislocation; Orientalist-Anglicist controversy; Introduction of Western education; Press, literature and public opinion; Modern vernacular literature; Science progress; Christian missionary activities.

Ram Mohan Roy, Brahmo Movement; Devendranath Tagore; Vidyasagar; Young Bengal; Dayananda Saraswati; Social reforms (Sati, widow remarriage, child marriage); Indian renaissance; Islamic revivalism (Feraizi & Wahabi).

Peasant & tribal uprisings: Rangpur Dhing (1783), Kol Rebellion (1832), Mopla (1841-1920), Santal Hul (1855), Indigo (1859-60), Deccan (1875), Munda Ulgulan (1899-1900); Great Revolt of 1857 (origin, failure, consequences); Peasant movements of 1920s and 1930s.

Factors leading to Indian Nationalism; Foundation of INC; Safety-valve thesis; Programme of early Congress; Moderates and Extremists; Partition of Bengal (1905); Swadeshi Movement; Revolutionary extremism.

Gandhian nationalism and popular appeal; Rowlatt Satyagraha; Khilafat and Non-cooperation Movement; Swarajists and Simon Commission; Nehru Report; Civil Disobedience; Round Table Conferences; Peasant and working-class movements; Women & students in politics; 1937 elections; Cripps Mission; Quit India; Wavell Plan; Cabinet Mission.

Constitutional Developments in Colonial India between 1858 and 1935.

Revolutionaries in Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra, UP, Madras, outside India. The Left: Nehru, Subhas Bose, Congress Socialist Party, CPI, and other left parties.

Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha; Communalism and politics of partition; Transfer of power; Independence.

Nehru’s Foreign Policy; Relations with neighbours (1947–1964); Linguistic reorganization of States; Regionalism; Integration of Princely States; Question of National Language.

Backward castes and tribes in postcolonial electoral politics; Dalit movements.

Land reforms; Politics of planning and rural reconstruction; Ecology and environmental policy; Progress of science in post-colonial India.

Major ideas of Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau; Spread of Enlightenment in colonies; Rise and spread of socialist ideas and Marxian Socialism.

European States System; American Revolution and Constitution; French Revolution and aftermath (1789–1815); American Civil War & abolition of slavery; British Democratic Politics (1815–1850), Chartists.

English Industrial Revolution: Causes and Impact on Society; Industrialization in USA, Germany, Russia, Japan; Industrialization and Globalization.

Rise of Nationalism in 19th century; State-building in Germany and Italy; Disintegration of empires before emerging nationalities.

South and South-East Asia; Latin America and South Africa; Australia; Imperialism and free trade: rise of neo-imperialism.

19th Century European revolutions; Russian Revolution of 1917–1921; Fascist Counter-Revolution in Italy and Germany; Chinese Revolution of 1949.

1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars: societal implications; World War I: Causes and consequences; World War II: Causes and consequences.

Emergence of two power blocs; Emergence of Third World and Non-Alignment Movement; UNO and global disputes.

Latin America (Bolivar); Arab World (Egypt); Africa (Apartheid to Democracy); South-East Asia (Vietnam).

Factors constraining development in Latin America and Africa.

Post-War Foundations: NATO and European Community; Consolidation and expansion; European Union.

Collapse of Soviet communism and USSR (1985–1991); Political changes in Eastern Europe (1989–2001); End of Cold War and US ascendancy as lone superpower.