APSC Prelim Study Materials - Indian History Syllabus, Reference Books & Study Notes

Unit – I (Ancient India) :

(i) Indus Valley Civilisation – Origin, Extent and Principal features.
(ii) Political, Social and Economic life of the Rigvedic, Aryans, Vedic Culture.
(iii) Budhism, Jainism, Bhagabatism and Brahminism.
(iv) Magadhan Ascendancy.
(v) Shandragupta Maurya and Ashoka : Maurya Administration, Downfall of the Mourya Empire.
(vi) The Sungas, The Kanvas, The Kushanas, The Sakas, The Satavahana.
(vii) Samudra Gupta and Chandra Gupta-II, Gupta Golden Age.
(viii) The Pushyabhuties, The Moukharis, The Kingdoms of Kamrupa and Gauda.
(ix) The Chalukyas, The Pallavas, The Rastrakutas.
(x) The Rajputs and their different clans.
(xi) The Tripartie struggle between Palas, Pratiharas and the Rastrakutas.
(xii) The Arab invasion of Sind (India)
(xiii) Sultan Mahmud and Muhammad of Ghor.

Unit – II (The Period of the Delhi Sultanate) :

(i) The foundation of Muslim rule in India under the Slave dynasty Qutubuddin, Iltutmis and Raziya.
(ii) The Khilijis and their bid for imperialism, Alauddin as conqueror and Administrator.
(iii) Mahammad Bin Tughlog and Firuz Tughloq.
(iv) The Bahmani and Vijoynagar Kingdoms of the South.

Unit – III (Mughal Empire in India) :

(i) India on the eve of Babur’s invasion.
(ii) Mughal : Afgan contest for Empire in India (1526, 1556)
(iii) Akbar : Character and achievement policy towards the Rajputs.
(iv) Jahangir and Sahjahan.
(v) Auragjeb’s character and policy : relating with Rajputs, Marathas and Sikhs.
(vi) Decline of the Mughal Empire.

Unit – IV (Modern India) :

(i) The advent of Europeans in India, Cause of British success and French failure.
(ii) The East India Company.
(iii) The Battle of Plassey and British Ascendancy in Bengal.
(iv) Clive and Warren Hastings.
(v) Lord Cornwallis to Lord Hastings, Anglo-Maratha and Anglo-Mysore relations. The Autonomous State of Assam and Punjab.
(vi) Establishment of British Ascendancy under Wellesley and Lord Hastings.
(vii) Lord Amherst to Dalhousie : Expansion of British Dominion in the north-east and northwest (1824-1856).
(viii) Revolt of 1957 Nature, Causes and Effects.
(ix) Lord Lytton : Reactionary legislations.
(x) Lord Ripon : Popular measures, Ilbert Bill, controversy.
(xi) Political awakening and birth of Indian National Congress (1885) : Programme and Method till 1907.
(xii) Lord Curzon and partition of Bengal – effects, rise of extremism in India.
(xiii) The Indian National Congress (1907-1914)
(xiv) Emergence of M.K. Gandhi in India, politics – World War-I and India, Non Co-operation and Khilafat Movement.
(xv) Constitutional developments and Round Table Conferences.
(xvi) Inauguration of Provincial Autonomy and Congress Ministries.
xvii) World War-II and resignation of Congress Ministries.
xviii) India’s National Struggle till the attainment of freedom, Cripps Mission, Quit India Movement, K.N.A. Cabinet Mission, Mount Batten Plan, the Indian Independence Act (1947).

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
  1. India’s Ancient Past by R.S. Sharma
  2. Ancient India by R.C Majumdar
  3. A History of Medieval India by Chandra Satish
  4. India’s Struggle for Independence: 1857-1947 by Bipan Chandra
  5. India After Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha
  6. History – Online Study Materials & Notes
  7. Assam History – Online Study Materials & Notes
  8. Wikipedia.org ( for Concept Clearance )
  9. Assam Ancient History PDF
  10. Assam Modern History PDF
  11. Assam Art and Culture PDF