Syllabus Brief
The UGC NET History syllabus covers various key themes such as Archaeological and Literary Sources, Indus/Harappa Civilization, Vedic and Later Vedic Periods, Mauryan Empire and Asokan Edicts, Post-Mauryan Art and Architecture, Gupta and Vakataka Age, Rise of Regional Kingdoms, Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire, Vijayanagara and Bahmani Kingdoms, Expansion of Maratha Empire, Medieval Indian Society and Culture, Sufism and Bhakti Movement, Sikh Movement and Social Classification, Education and Educational Institutions, Fine Arts and Art Architecture, Rise of British Power and Establishment, Colonial Economy and Trade, Indian Renaissance and Social Reforms, Indian Nationalism and Congress, Gandhian Mass Movements, Left Wing Politics and Depressed Class Movement, Communal Politics and Partition, India after Independence and B.R. Ambedkar, Economic Policies and Planning, Linguistic Reorganization of States, Foreign Policy Initiatives, Historical Method and Research Methodology, Recent Trends in Indian History, Historiography – Berlin Revolution, Marxist Philosophy, Post-Modernism, Thesis Writing, and Plagiarism.
Syllabus Details (UGC Syllabus in Manageable Format)
- Archaeological and Literary Sources:
- Study of sources for reconstructing historical events.
- Archaeological sources: Exploration, Excavation, Epigraphy, and Numismatics.
- Literary sources: Indigenous Literature, Religious and Secular Literature, Foreign Accounts (Greek, Chinese, Arabic).
- Indus/Harappa Civilization:
- Origin, extent, major sites, craft specialization, religion, society, polity.
- Decline of Indus Civilization and trade networks.
- First urbanization in India.
- Vedic and Later Vedic Periods:
- Aryan debates, Political and Social Institutions.
- Emergence of Varnas and Social Stratification.
- Religious and Philosophical Ideas.
- Introduction of Iron Technology, Megaliths of South India.
- Mauryan Empire and Asokan Edicts:
- Rise and Expansion of the Mauryan Empire.
- Asoka’s Dhamma and its Nature.
- Disintegration of the Mauryan Empire.
- Mauryan art, architecture, and language of Asokan edicts.
- Post-Mauryan Art and Architecture:
- Gandhara, Mathura, and Amaravati schools.
- Indo-Greek, Sungas, Satavahanas, Kushanas, and Saka-Ksatrapas.
- Gupta and Vakataka Age: Polity, Society, Economy, and Art.
- Rise of Regional Kingdoms:
- Gangas, Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, and Pallavas.
- Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas, and Eastern Gangas in South India.
- Maitrakas, Chalukyas of Gujarat, and Gurjara-Pratiharas in Western India.
- Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire:
- The Ghorids, Khaljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids, Lodis, and Mughals.
- Decline of Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire.
- Impact of the Sultanate and Mughal rule on India.
- Vijayanagara and Bahmani Kingdoms:
- Rise, Expansion, and Disintegration of the Vijayanagara Empire.
- Deccan Sultanate: Bahmanis, Bijapur, Golkonda, Bidar, and Ahmadnagar.
- Expansion of Maratha Empire:
- Rise of Marathas under Shivaji and expansion under the Peshwas.
- Mughal-Maratha relations, Maratha Confederacy, and Causes of Decline.
- Medieval Indian Society and Culture:
- Social Organization, Caste System, and Position of Women.
- Impact of Sufism and Bhakti Movement on society.
- Sikh Movement and Social Reforms.
- Education and Educational Institutions:
- Centres of Education and Curriculum during medieval times.
- Madarasa Education and its significance.
- Development of Education and regional languages.
- Fine Arts and Art Architecture:
- Major Schools of Painting: Mughal, Rajasthani, Pahari, Garhwali.
- Development of Music and Performing Arts.
- Indo-Islamic Architecture, Mughal Gardens, Maratha Forts, Shrines, and Temples.
- Rise of British Power and Establishment:
- European Traders in India in the 16th to 18th Centuries.
- Establishment and Expansion of British Dominion in India.
- British Relations with Principal Indian States.
- Colonial Economy and Trade:
- Changing Composition, Volume, and Direction of Trade.
- Expansion and Commercialization of Agriculture.
- Decline of Industries, Economic Drain, and World Wars’ impact.
- Indian Renaissance and Social Reforms:
- Contact with Christianity and the role of Missions.
- Critique of Indian Social and Economic Practices.
- Women’s Participation in Social Reforms.
- Indian Nationalism and Congress:
- Birth and Ideologies of the Indian National Congress.
- Swadeshi and Swaraj movements.
- Gandhi’s Mass Movements and role of the Middle Class.
- Gandhian Mass Movements:
- Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India movements.
- Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army (INA).
- Left-Wing Politics and Depressed Class Movement:
- Rise of Communist and Leftist movements in India.
- Dalit movements and leaders.
- Communal Politics and Partition:
- Rise of Muslim League and Genesis of Pakistan.
- Events leading to the Partition of India.
- India after Independence and B.R. Ambedkar:
- Challenges of Partition and Integration of Princely States.
- B.R. Ambedkar’s role in making the Indian Constitution.
- Economic Policies and Planning:
- Development, Displacement, and Tribal Issues.
- Liberalisation, Privatisation & Globalisation of Indian Economy.
- Linguistic Reorganization of States:
- Centre-State Relations and Language-based States.
- Foreign Policy Initiatives:
- Panchsheel, India’s Foreign Policy, and Dynamics of Indian Politics.
- Historical Method and Research Methodology:
- Objectivity and Bias in History, Causation, and Imagination.
- Recent Trends and Post-Modernism in History Writing.
- Historiography – Berlin Revolution, Marxist Philosophy, Post-Modernism:
- Schools of Historical Writing and Evolution of Historiography.
- Thesis Writing and Plagiarism:
- Selection of Topics, Research Methodology, References, and Footnotes.
- Avoiding Intellectual Dishonesty and Ethical Writing
