History - As an Optional Subject for Civil Services Examination

Strategy For History:: Main Examination (Mains Exam) Preliminary Exams (Prelims Exam)

Strategy For History As Optional In Main Examination

I f the prelim's is to be compared with one day match, mains could be described as test match. The temperament and technique to play it is different then prelims.
Prelim is mainly factual study, many times without knowing how or why. On the other hand main's is analytical study, knowing the essence of the story.
Writing an answer for 60 marks question is challenging. It is as good as writing a short essay. Here you cannot bluff if you don't know; you get exposed from second paragraph onwards.

As it is rightly said that history is not a study of facts, but interpretation of facts. Facts are just raw material with which interpretation is done. Answers in the main's are about your interpretation of History. Here you have to balance different viewpoints. For that purpose you have to know different viewpoints. At least three main currents i.e. leftist, centrist and rightist. The angle of focus on history has constantly changed. From Political to Cultural to Economic. Now the subaltern approach is in vogue.

How Much Scoring History Is?

History is most popular option is U.P.S.C. examination for obvious reasons. It has synergy with General studies. 90 marks questions of modern India get covered in optional history. It is also useful in writing essay. Since at least one socio-cultural issue comes as a topic, historic vision gives depth to the arguments.

History complements with any combination of optional but goes best with political science. Second best combination is Public Administration.
Percentile method is not applied in the mains. History is directly compared with other subjects.

History is highly subjective subject. Suppose the question was given ‘Evaluate the Gandhi', then all candidates will write different answers. Who of them is right & who is wrong? No one. It depends on how arguments are pushed. This makes the subject safe. Generally it is not possible that you don't know anything about the answer. Ultimately you fetch some minimum marks in each question. That way nobody goes below 200 in history.

But going by same logic history also does not give very high marks. There is nothing called perfect answer. Because of this phenomenon marks do not go above 380. That doesn't mean that history is not a scientific subject or cannot be studied scientifically. It is as scientific as physics or mathematics, only since it is from humanities side, things are open ended.

For those who are having History as first optional in prelim, - Be cautious, don't overestimate your knowledge of History. Prepare separately for mains.
For those who are having History as second optional, - Be cautious, you have to compete with candidates who are having history as a first optional in prelims.
For prelim's following syllabus may not be a fruitful exercise, but for mains it is.

The vast syllabus cannot be covered without the pointers. Especially they have made work easy by giving some points in bold, for e.g. Kitab-ul-Hind. It means short note or long answer question is expected. Indeed on Kitab-ul-Hind both came in different years.

The compulsory map question should be solved first and prepared first. Fifteen sites are given & you have to mark the site in given map and describe its importance in four lines. Two marks for marking site and two for description. All sites are compulsory. Fortunately they give only important sites, and that has made it scoring. Mapping has to be practiced daily. On the given map they use to give rivers in the beginning then they started giving states and now they give blank map with only India's international boundaries. It is safer to make blocks and practice. Sites from Ancient and medieval India are asked. Spectrum has published the book about Ancient Indian places. Ensemble has come out with History through maps, a well researched and royally presented work. It is useful from both prelims and mains point of view.

In paper II world history is to be targeted. On modern India now so much research is available that there is no end of interpretation. Comparatively world history is straight and neutral. There are controversies in France about how the fall of Napoleon took place, but there are no such controversies in India. As it is, if world history questions are difficult you can jump to modern India in the last movement but reverse is not true.

IGNOU books are useful for mains too. Publication Division has published a book on Ancient India. Each of its 16 article's is like long answer of mains.
For world History good work is done by Jain & Mathur. Their book for world History mains is excellent. It has covered our syllabus topic wise. World History by L.Mukherjee is lucid and will make answers readable.

If you analyze the past papers you will be surprised to find that most of the questions are repeated from the last ten year papers. So that's the hint. Here some analysis of past papers from 2001 onwards.

Ancient India

Topic	Sub-topic	Brief Description	Long Ans
1		Sources
	i)	Archeological sources	2003
	ii)	Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments	2007
2		Pre-history and Proto-history
3		Indus Valley Civilization	2002
4		Megalithic Cultures	2008
5		Aryans and Vedic Period	2004
6		Period of Mahajanapadas
	i)	Economic growth; Introduction of coinage	2003
	ii)	Spread of Jainism and Buddhism	2007
	iii)	Rise of Magadha and Nandas	2001
7		Mauryan Empire
	i)	Polity, Administration	2005
	ii)	Religion; Spread of religion; Literature	2004
8		Post - Mauryan Period	2008
9		Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India	2008
10		Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas
	i)	Polity and administration	2006/05
	ii)	Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women	2007/05
	iii)	Education and educational institutions	2003
11		Regional States during Gupta Era
	i)	Chalukyas of Badami
	ii)	Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas
12		Themes in Early Indian Cultural History
	i)	major stages in the evolution of art and architecture	2004
	ii)	ideas in Science and Mathematics	2001

Medieval India

Topic	Brief Description	Short Note	Long Ans
13	Early Medieval India, 750-1200
	The Cholas: administration, village economy and society			2004/07
	“Indian Feudalism”		2005
14	Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200
	Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta		2001	2008
	Growth of Bhakti		2002
	Sufism		2003
	Kalhan's Rajtarangini		2003
	Alberuni's India		2007	2003
15	The Thirteenth Century
	Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban		2004/08
16	The Fourteenth Century
	“The Khalji Revolution”		2006
	Alauddin Khalji			2001
	Muhammad Tughluq		2003/04
17	Society, Culture and Economy in the 13 th & 14 th Centuries
	Sufi movement		2006
18	The 15 th & Early 16 th Century – Political Developments and Economy
	Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun		2001
	The Sur Empire: Sher Shah's administration			2006
	Bhakti and Sufi Movements		2005	2001/03/04/05/07
	Portuguese Colonial Enterprise		2008
19	The 15 th & Early 16 th Century – Society and Culture
	Literary traditions		2002
20	Akbar
	Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems		2002
	Rajput policy			2003/07
	Evolution of religious and social outlook		2004/06	2002
21	Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century
	Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb			2004
	Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb		2006
	Ahom Kingdom		2008
22	Economy and Society in the 16 th & 17 th Centuries
	Agriculture & craft			2008
	Towns, commerce with Europe			2006
	Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance and credit systems			2005
	Evolution of Khalasa		2008
23	Culture in the Mughal Empire
	Hindi and other religious literature			2006
	Mughal architecture		2001	2002
	Mughal painting		2005/07
	Science and technology		2001
24	The Eighteenth Century
	Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire			2005
	Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas			2001
	The Maratha fiscal and financial system		2003/04/07
	Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat:1761		2002	2008

Modern India

Topic	Sub-topic	Brief Description	Short Note	Long Ans
1		European Penetration into India	2002/6	2002
2		British Expansion in India	2001/4/5	2006
3		Early Structure of the British Raj	2004	2005
	1	English Utilitarian	2008
4		Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule	2001/3/4/5/6	2001/3/4/6/7
	1	Famine and poverty in the rural interior	2003	2002/5/8
	2	Drain of wealth		2008
5		Social and Cultural Developments	2008	2004
6		Social and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas	2005/7
7		Indian Response to British Rule	2001
	1	The Great Revolt of 1857	2005/7
8		Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism		2001
	1	National Congress	2002
	2	the Moderates and Extremists	2006	2003
9		Rise of Gandhi	2002
	1	the Khilafat Movement; the Non-cooperation Movement	2008	2007
	2	beginning of the Civil Disobedience movement		2005
	3	Quit India Movement;	2001/3
	4	The Cabinet Mission	2004
10		Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India	2007
11		Other strands of the National Movement
	1	The Revolutionaries	2008	2003
	2	The Left		2002/6
	3	Subhas Chandra Bose	2002
12		Politics of Separatism	2006
13		Consolidation as a Nation; Nehru's Foreign Policy
	1	Integration of Princely States		2007
	2	Nehru's Foreign Policy		2001/4
14		Caste and Ethnicity after 1947	2008
15		Economic development and political change

World History

Topic	Sub-topic	Brief Description	Short Note	Long Ans
16		Enlightenment and Modern ideas
	(i)	Major Ideas of Enlightenment	2004	2008
	(ii)	Spread of Enlightenment
	(iii)	Rise of socialist ideas	2001/8
17		Origins of Modern Politics
	(i)	European States System
	(ii)	American Revolution and the Constitution.	2006	2005
	(iii)	French revolution and after math, 1789-1815.	2002/3/4/5/6/7	2001
	(iv)	American Civil War
	(v)	British Democratic Politics, 1815-1850;	2005	2004
18		Industrialization
	(i)	English Industrial Revolution:
	(ii)	Industrialization in other countries:
	(iii)	Industrialization and Globalization.
19		Nation-State System
	(i)	Rise of Nationalism in 19th century
	(ii)	Nationalism : state-building	2001/4/5	2002/3
	(iii)	Disintegration of Empires	2001/6
20		Imperialism and Colonialism
	(i)	South and South-East Asia
	(ii)	Latin America and South Africa		2001
	(iii)	Australia
	(iv)	Imperialism and free trade:	2007
21		Revolution and Counter-Revolution :
	(i)	19th Century European revolutions	2008
	(ii)	The Russian Revolution of 1917-1921	2005	2003
	(iii)	Fascist Counter-Revolution	2005	2004/7
	(iv)	The Chinese Revolution of 1949		2002/5/6
22		World Wars
	(i)	1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars:	2007
	(ii)	World War I : Causes and Consequences	2001/3/4/6
	(iii)	World War II : Causes and consequence	2002/8
23		The World after World War II:
	(i)	Emergence of two power blocs	2008	2005
	(ii)	Emergence of Third World and Non-Alignment
	(iii)	UNO and the global disputes	2003
24		Liberation from Colonial Rule:
	(i)	Latin America-Bolivar
	(ii)	Arab World-Egypt		2001
	(iii)	Africa-Apartheid to Democracy		2006
	(iv)	South-East Asia-Vietnam
25		Decolonization and Underdevelopment
	(i)	Factors constraining Development :
26		Unification of Europe
	(i)	Post War Foundations :	2003/7
	(ii)	Consolidation of European Community
	(iii)	European Union.
27		Disintegration of Soviet Union
	(i)	Collapse of Soviet communism		2002/4/7
	(ii)	Political Changes in Eastern Europe 1989-2001		2008
	(iii)	End of the Cold War and US Ascendancy		2003/8

Study for mains cannot be general like prelims. Reading generally will not do. One has to focus on relevant areas. Guesswork has to be done to what will come and what will not. Nothing likes that if the notes are prepared in question-answer format. If you get ready with say 200-250 questions with outline of answers then you can stuck a jackpot. Chronicle Book and Brilliant Tutorials are such format and will prove useful for reference.

It may sound absurd, but NCERT books on History, both old and new versions are highly useful in writing the mains answers. They present the clue the direction and the structure of the answer.

It is advisable to make notes in question-answer format for mains.
It is very common to say that one has to do writing practice. I repeat it is necessary. Candidates dream that as soon as study is over they will give tests. That's ideal, seldom has this happened. Studies may never get over. Just make a timetable of tests, follow it strictly, and get it checked from competent authority. Handwriting, speed, fluency and structure of answer play a main role in marks.
One should give full attention to the direction of the question like Discuss, Explain, Evaluate, Describe, Compare etc. Each of them connotes different meaning.
Where ever possible the answer should be substantiated with tables, diagrams and flowcharts.

The Changed Syllabus & 2008 Mains

The new syllabus declared in 2007 advertisement is the extension of previous one. It has elaborated on the earlier heads and became more specific.
Sections are removed from the paper. That is has made the paper open ended. Earlier total components were 24, now they are 27.At least in 2008 mains they have followed the old format and equal weightage is given to all the four components.

Sources of history now detailed as indigenous and foreign. Earlier one major question was asked on this section and more could be expected.
Now Megalithic culture is selected as separate head. So one can expect the major question on it. Since sources and histrography is already asked, lithic cultures in general and megalithic culture in particular can become the next choice of examiners. IGNOU can be useful to tackle this part.
Iranian and Macedonian invasions are specified. This indicates towards the broader view taken of the term ‘Indian History'.

‘Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India' is made into separate head. It signals towards shifting focus from main dynasties to regional one.

‘Themes in Early Indian Cultural History' is another new head. It involves dynamic understanding of the people and the time. Answering the question on this part is going to be challenging as well as rewarding in terms of marks. Bhakti and Sufimovement continue to be important themes of Indian history.

2008 mains bypassed the regular mainstream history, and entered into corner areas. Like farming communities and Sangam age. Many students caught by surprise. More of it will be expected.

In the Medieval India , the focus has shifted from general history of sultanat to core rules of Alauddin Khalji, Muhammad Tughlaq and Firuz Tughlaq.
‘Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century' is another new head added. It has drawn attention towards nature of state, relation with Zamindars, crisis and revolts.

Economy, Society and Culture of Mughal Period is divided into two separate heads. It's a common guess work then that major question is expected on this topics.

2008 mains put totally unexpected topics like Tamil devotional cult and agriculture and craft production in Mughal times. But it has to be admitted that they have not deviated from syllabus. Syllabus is scruplessly followed.

In Paper II, Modern India is as it is broad and strategy will remain more or less the same.

Constitutional development should be given attention as separate head is dedicated to it.

Until now maximum questions were asked on economic impact of British rule on India and drain of wealth. Continuing the trend even in 2008 mains two major questions appeared on the same.

In World History very few visible changes are made. Renaissance is omitted from the syllabus. But its importance shifted to enlightenment. (asked immediately in 2008 mains) American Civil War with reference to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery is totally new addition.

The word ‘cold war' is omitted, instead they have used the phrase ‘The World after WW II'.

In imperialism South and South-East Asia, Australia and Neo-imperialism is added. Political changes in Eastern Europe are now extended up to 2001. (Appeared immediately in 2008 mains)

Finally, the changed syllabus has made history more contemporary and interesting.