Home › UPSC CSE Mains › 2022 › History
UPSC CSE Mains 2022 — History Questions with Answers
All 55 History previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Mains 2022, 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.World History
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.
- Q2.Medieval & Source History
Why was there a sudden spurt in famines in colonial India since the mid-eighteenth century? Give reasons.
- Q3.Post-Independence
The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples.
- Q4.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 with burials (iii) Neolithic pit dwelling (iv) Early village settlement (v) Neolithic site (vi) Neolithic-Chalcolithic site (vii) Harappan UNESCO site (viii) Megalithic burial site (ix) Place of Second Sangam (x) Earliest Satavahana capital (xi) Place of inscribed statue of Ashoka site (xii) First Gupta hoard of coins (xiii) Hoard of metal sculptures (xiv) Ancient port (xv) Oldest Jesuit church (xvi) Centre of Gandhara art (xvii) Buddhist Monastery (xviii) Place of earliest Vishnu temple (xix) Shiva and Buddhist temple complex (xx) Earliest Chaitya Griha
- Q5.History Optional — Paper I
The urban character of the Harappan Civilization was a result of neither of any outside influence nor a sudden act but a gradual evolution of regional socio-economic factors. Comment.
- Q6.History Optional — Paper I
Foreign accounts as a source of ancient Indian history may have some advantages but also have a few shortcomings. Citing appropriate examples, examine the statement.
- Q7.History Optional — Paper I
Though some of the ideas of Buddhism may have had their origin in Vedic-Upanishadic traditions but it was an altogether new religion with its own specific principles and institutions. Discuss.
- Q8.History Optional — Paper I
The economic achievements of the Guptas were the culmination of a process which began during the Kushanas. Comment.
- Q9.History Optional — Paper I
Ashoka's Dhamma was propagated not just for moral upliftment and social harmony but also for the extension of the state's authority. Analyze the statement.
- Q10.History Optional — Paper I
With the help of representative examples, delineate the main differences between the Nagara and Dravida styles of temple architecture.
- Q11.History Optional — Paper I
Evaluate the importance of tripartite struggle for the domination over North India during the eighth and ninth centuries.
- Q12.History Optional — Paper I
Throw light on the chief characteristics of Tamil bhakti Movement during the early medieval period.
- Q13.History Optional — Paper I
Kalhana's Rajatarangini is the best example of history writing tradition in early India. Discuss.
- Q14.History Optional — Paper I
What were 'Brahmdeya' grants? How do you account for the large number of such grants in the early medieval period?
- Q15.History Optional — Paper I
The establishment of large number of urban settlements in North India in the thirteenth century was principally owing to the deployment of Turkish garrisons across the lands. Comment.
- Q16.History Optional — Paper I
Much of the political instability after the death of Iltutmish was the doing of the Chahalgan. Elucidate.
- Q17.History Optional — Paper I
The Rajput School of painting was Mughal in style and Rajput in its content. Comment.
- Q18.History Optional — Paper I
Account for the rise of the Maratha power in the eighteenth century.
- Q19.History Optional — Paper I
The market regulations of Ala-ud-din Khilji were useful for the Sultan's military might but harmful for the economy of the Sultanate. Comment.
- Q20.History Optional — Paper I
Examine the nature of the Mansabdari system during the reign of Akbar.
- Q21.History Optional — Paper I
Chola maritime expansion was driven largely by the concerns of overseas commerce. Elucidate.
- Q22.History Optional — Paper I
The Virsashaiva Movement in Southern Deccan in the twelfth century was essentially an attempt at social reform. Discuss.
- Q23.History Optional — Paper I
The various Gharanas of Hindustani classical music were outcomes of patronage by regional princely courts, rather than central imperial ones. Discuss.
- Q24.History Optional — Paper I
The prolonged conflict between the Vijayanagara Kingdom and the Bahmani successor states was influenced less by cultural factors, and more by strategic and economic considerations. Comment.
- Q25.History Optional — Paper I
Trade and commerce in the Mughal Empire brought about the integration of the Indian subcontinent into a single market. Comment.
- Q26.History Optional — Paper I
Aurangzeb's Deccan policy was a major factor in Mughal decline. Discuss.
- Q27.History Optional — Paper I
The Vaishnava Bhakti tradition of the fifteenth century contributed to the flourishing of provincial literature. Discuss with appropriate examples.
- Q28.History Optional — Paper II
'The Battle of Plassey (1757) was a skirmish while the Battle of Buxar (1764) was a real war'.
- Q29.History Optional — Paper II
'The Treaty of Amritsar (1809) was significant for its immediate as well as potential effects'.
- Q30.History Optional — Paper II
'Famines were not just because of foodgrain scarcity, but were a direct result of colonial economic policies'.
- Q31.History Optional — Paper II
'Penetration of outsiders- called dikus by the Santhals- completely destroyed their familiar world, and forced them into action to take possession of their lost territory'.
- Q32.History Optional — Paper II
'Within a limited scope the Indian Scientists could pursue original scientific research in colonial India'.
- Q33.History Optional — Paper II
Explain how the Permanent Settlement initiated a rule of property in Bengal and what were its consequences?
- Q34.History Optional — Paper II
Was the Western education a harbinger of cultural awakening or an instrument of colonial hegemony ? Discuss.
- Q35.History Optional — Paper II
Can you explain how, after acquiring Diwani, the government of the East India Company functioned like 'an Indian ruler' ?
- Q36.History Optional — Paper II
Do you think that the Indian National Movement was a 'multi class movement' which represented the anti-imperialist interests of all classes and strata ? Give reasons in support of your answer.
- Q37.History Optional — Paper II
The British rule had differential impact on the Indian society. Describe in what ways the Indians responded to the Revolt of 1857.
- Q38.History Optional — Paper II
Analyse how the revolutionaries taught people self confidence and widened the social base of the freedom movement.
- Q39.History Optional — Paper II
Discuss the policies and programmes of the early nationalists (moderates). To what extent they were able to fulfil the aspirations of the people.
- Q40.History Optional — Paper II
In the light of contentions over the McMohon Line, analyse the India-China relations in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Q41.History Optional — Paper II
How did the popular movements help us to understand the nature of environmental crisis in post-colonial India ?
- Q42.History Optional — Paper II
'Rousseau kindled a hope which became the spirit of the Enlightenment'.
- Q43.History Optional — Paper II
'The codification of French Law was perhaps the most enduring of Napoleon's achievements'.
- Q44.History Optional — Paper II
Engels did much more than Marx himself to popularise the ideas of Marxism.
- Q45.History Optional — Paper II
'Roaring Twenties' in Europe and America had many positive points. It helped women to uplift themselves in the region.
- Q46.History Optional — Paper II
'The first Reformation Act (1832) occupies a significant place in the constitutional development of Britain'.
- Q47.History Optional — Paper II
Do you agree then the economic effects of the Industrial Revolution were to add enormously to wealth and capital on the one hand and to degrade the masses to permanent poverty as the other ? Elucidate.
- Q48.History Optional — Paper II
Discuss how Fascism was a response to the post-war situation arising out of political instability, thwarted nationalist hopes and fears of the spread of communism ?
- Q49.History Optional — Paper II
Do you feel that the Vietnamese fought the 20th century's longest and bloodiest was for their liberation and integration of their country ? Analyse.
- Q50.History Optional — Paper II
Do you understand that the lack of statesmanship in London during the 1760's and the 1770's was, an important contributory factor in precipitating the American Revolution. Analyse.
- Q51.History Optional — Paper II
Discuss, how the policies adopted by Mikhail Gorbachev were responsible for the disintegration of the USSR ?
- Q52.History Optional — Paper II
What happened to Malaya after it was liberated from Japanese occupation in 1945? Discuss.
- Q53.History Optional — Paper II
Describe the launching of Non-Alignment Movement. Why the small nations wanted to remain aloof from the powerful nations ?
- Q54.History Optional — Paper II
Why was the apartheid policy introduced in South Africa ? What were its main features ?
- Q55.History Optional — Paper II
How far did Latin American countries overcome centuries of subjugation and foreign intervention ?
UPSC CSE Mains 2022 — other subjects
History — other years
Ready to test yourself on UPSC CSE Mains 2022?
Start the timed mock free →