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UPSC CSE Mains 2021 — History Questions with Answers
All 57 History previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Mains 2021, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.
Practice History as a timed test →- Q1.Socio-Religious Reform
Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young Bengal and Brahmo Samaj.
- Q2.Post-Independence
Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration process of the Indian Princely States.
- Q3.Freedom Struggle
To what extent did the role of the Moderates prepare a base for the wider freedom movement? Comment.
- Q4.Freedom Struggle
Bring out the constructive programmes of Mahatma Gandhi during the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- Q5.World History
"There arose a serious challenge to the democratic state system between the two World Wars." Evaluate the statement.
- Q6.History Optional — Paper I
Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you and write a short note of about 30 words on each of them in your Question-cum-Answer Booklet. Locational hints for each of the places marked on the map are given below seriatim: (i) Paleolithic site (ii) Mesolithic site (iii) Neolithic site (iv) Neolithic-Chalcolithic site (v) Harappan site (vi) Proto-historic and historic site (vii) Inscriptional site (viii) Jain monastic site (ix) Coin hoard (x) Paleolithic site (xi) Terracotta site (xii) Rock-cut caves (xiii) Ancient learning centre (xiv) Political and cultural centre (xv) Buddhist site (xvi) Ancient port (xvii) Early historic site (xviii) Ivory hoard (xix) Buddhist monastic centre (xx) Temple complex
- Q7.History Optional — Paper I
Do you agree that ecological factors influenced the flow and ebb of the Harappan Civilization? Comment.
- Q8.History Optional — Paper I
Do you consider that the Upanishadic principles embody the high point of Vedic religious thought? Comment.
- Q9.History Optional — Paper I
Analyze the significance of external influences and indigenous development on post-Mauryan art.
- Q10.History Optional — Paper I
Will it be proper to consider the Megaliths to represent a single, homogenous or contemporaneous culture? What kind of material life and culture system is revealed in the megalithic cultures?
- Q11.History Optional — Paper I
How would you characterize the nature of Mauryan state on the basis of Kautilya's Arthashastra?
- Q12.History Optional — Paper I
How did the Varnashrama Dharma manifest the increasing social complexities in the Gupta and post-Gupta period arising from social and economic developments?
- Q13.History Optional — Paper I
"The political and economic needs of rulers, combined with economic and status needs of the merchant class, together provided the receptive cultural milieu in which Buddhism flourished," Comment.
- Q14.History Optional — Paper I
Large number of land grants in hitherto non-arable tracts invariably meant expansion of agriculture in early medieval India. How did the management of hydraulic resources (different types of irrigation works) facilitate expansion of agriculture in this period?
- Q15.History Optional — Paper I
Discuss the relationship between emergence of literature in vernacular languages and formation of regional identities in early medieval India.
- Q16.History Optional — Paper I
Discuss the different stages of Indian feudalism and analyze its impact on Indian political system.
- Q17.History Optional — Paper I
Do you consider Sultan Iltutmish to be the real founder of the Delhi Sultanate? Discuss.
- Q18.History Optional — Paper I
Identify the different categories of Persian literature which emerged during the Delhi Sultanate.
- Q19.History Optional — Paper I
Examine the causes of Babur's success against the Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat.
- Q20.History Optional — Paper I
Discuss the attitude of Chishti saints towards the state. How were the Suhrawardi saints different in their attitude towards the government?
- Q21.History Optional — Paper I
Discuss the transformation of Sikh community from a Nirguna Bhakti sect into a politico-military organization.
- Q22.History Optional — Paper I
Give your assessment of Bahlol Lodi's relation with his nobility.
- Q23.History Optional — Paper I
Examine the basic features of Mughal tomb architecture with special reference to the Taj Mahal.
- Q24.History Optional — Paper I
Discuss the importance of Iqta system. How did it help in centralization of administration of the Delhi Sultanate.
- Q25.History Optional — Paper I
Why is the reign of the Khaljis known as the 'Khalji Revolution'?
- Q26.History Optional — Paper I
The late seventeenth century Mughal India is considered to be a period of Jagirdari crisis. Discuss.
- Q27.History Optional — Paper I
"The Chola rulers were not only mighty conquerors, efficient administrators but also builders of fine temples." Comment.
- Q28.History Optional — Paper I
Discuss with relevant illustrations the relations between Akbar and the Rajput states.
- Q29.History Optional — Paper I
How far is it justified to consider the states like Bengal, Awadh and Hyderabad as 'successor states' of the Mughal state?
- Q30.History Optional — Paper II
The introduction of Western education transformed India in unforeseen ways.
- Q31.History Optional — Paper II
Tipu Sultan had little success in setting forth a course of change significantly different from the general experience of 18th century crisis of Indian politics and society where public life tended over and over to become a system of plundering.
- Q32.History Optional — Paper II
The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was designed for better control of the vernacular press and to empower the government with more effective means of punishing and repressing seditious writings.
- Q33.History Optional — Paper II
The rise of Communist Movement in India in the 1920s lent a militant and revolutionary content to the Trade Union Movement.
- Q34.History Optional — Paper II
In the first decade of the 20th century, the atmosphere was ripe for the emergence of revolutionary groups to fill up the vacant space in the political map of the country.
- Q35.History Optional — Paper II
India has been the world leader in the field of hand spun and hand woven yarn and cloth for many centuries. Many nationalist and Marxist critiques considered that the British dominion deliberately shattered the traditional and world famous handicrafts of India. Comment.
- Q36.History Optional — Paper II
What were the various ways in which nationalism manifested itself in India during colonial rule?
- Q37.History Optional — Paper II
The East India Company had thought that they had found an ideal puppet in Mir Kasim. Mir Kasim, however, belied the expectation of the company. Examine critically.
- Q38.History Optional — Paper II
How did the English utilitarian thinking impact India in the British era?
- Q39.History Optional — Paper II
The same Gandhiji who withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement on the issue of violence at Chauri-Chaura, refused to condemn people's violence during the Quit India Movement. Do you think that he was losing faith in the efficacy of non-violence and was willing to deviate from this path? Elucidate.
- Q40.History Optional — Paper II
While individually the Marathas were clever and brave, they lacked the corporate spirit so essential for national independence. Discuss with reasons.
- Q41.History Optional — Paper II
Discuss the major constitutional developments in India after 1858 and their impact on society and polity.
- Q42.History Optional — Paper II
Discuss the changing nature of Dalit assertion in India in the twentieth century.
- Q43.History Optional — Paper II
How were the Princely States integrated in the Indian Union after the partition? What role did Sardar Patel play in it?
- Q44.History Optional — Paper II
There were many reasons why the industrial revolution first happened in England.
- Q45.History Optional — Paper II
Napoleon's continental system may be reckoned as the greatest blunder and may be described as a "monument of misdirected energy".
- Q46.History Optional — Paper II
The Chartist Movement failed to achieve its stated objective, but succeeded in seeding the idea that a representative democracy should include all citizens.
- Q47.History Optional — Paper II
During the Cold War, some important leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement wanted to keep the movement away from the military blocs.
- Q48.History Optional — Paper II
The Arab countries looked up to Nasser as a leader who could withstand the pressure exerted by Western countries on Egypt to make peace with Israel.
- Q49.History Optional — Paper II
What was "enlightened" about the Age of Enlightenment?
- Q50.History Optional — Paper II
What were the causes and consequences of the revolutionary upsurger of the 1840s in Europe?
- Q51.History Optional — Paper II
The white-minority government of South Africa treated the natives very badly by denying them fundamental rights and made Apartheid ad official policy. How were the people able to end Apartheid policy and establish a transitional rule?
- Q52.History Optional — Paper II
The rise of nationalism across nations shattered the chains which held together the empires of modern Europe. Discuss.
- Q53.History Optional — Paper II
In the American civil war, the victory of the North had many consequences. Some of them were direct and obvious. However, its indirect effects on American development were perhaps even more important. Comment.
- Q54.History Optional — Paper II
Revolutions, whether in Russia (1917) or in China (1949), are a disastrous way of transforming a country. Comment.
- Q55.History Optional — Paper II
Europe was at war with itself in the first half of the twentieth century with a long cease-fire. Comment.
- Q56.History Optional — Paper II
The impact of the end of the Cold War and the emergence of the US as the lone superpower has been both, good and bad. Discuss.
- Q57.History Optional — Paper II
Do you think that the United Nations Organisation had played a significant role in resolving international disputes and ensuring peace in the world?
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