UPSC Modern History Important Topics and Questions

UPSC Modern History Important Topics: Mastering all the important topics of the UPSC Modern History section is important to excel in both preliminary and main exams. A thorough understanding of modern history with an emphasis on key events and their influence can maximise a candidate’s success chances in the UPSC examination. Besides, they must also check previous year's papers and the weightage of UPSC Modern History important topics for adequate preparation.

UPSC Modern History Important Topics

Modern Indian history is a crucial part of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE). It typically covers topics like the Home Rule Movement (1915–1916), August Declaration, 1917, Champaran Satyagraha (1917), Indian Independence Act, Vernacular Press Act, Anglo Maratha Wars, The Doctrine of Lapse, The Revolt of 1857, etc.  A strong conceptual foundation helps candidates understand historical events and prepare well-organised answers for both Prelims and Mains. In this article, we have discussed the UPSC Modern History important topics along with important questions and weightage analysis of past years.

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UPSC Modern History Important Topics Wise 

Modern History is one of the scoring sections of the UPSC CSE exam as it evaluates candidates' factual knowledge and analytical skills. Going by the past trends and analysis, it is found that this section holds significant weightage in both the Prelims and Mains exams. Most of the UPSC Modern History questions are asked from the following topics:

• The advent of the Portuguese in India
• The Anglo-Maratha Wars
• The Doctrine of Lapse
• The influence of the Danes in India
• The role of the English
• The French occupancy in India
• The Carnatic Wars
• Hunter Education Commission (1882-83)
• Saddler University Commission (1917-19)
• Hartog Committee (1929)
• The Charter Acts
• Land Revenue System
• The Revolt of 1857
• Administrative changes post-1857
• Montford Reforms (1919)
• Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy
• Wood’s Dispatch (1854)
• Wardha Scheme of Basic Education (1937)
• The Dutch presence in India
• Vernacular Press Act, 1878
• Socio-religious reforms
• Peasant Movements
• Early Phase of the Indian National Congress
• The Moderate Congress (1885-1905)
• The Extremist Phase (1905-1920)
• Differences between the Moderates and the Extremists
• Partition of Bengal (1905)
• Swadeshi Movement
• Formation of the Muslim League, 1906
• The Lucknow Pact (1916)
• Home Rule Movement (1915–1916)
• August Declaration, 1917
• Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
• Surat Session of INC, 1907
• Indian Council Act (Morley-Minto Act) 1909
• Ghadar Party, 1913
• Komagata Maru Incident 1914
• Simon Commission (1927)
• Bardoli Satyagraha (1928)
• Nehru Report (1928)
• Lahore Session, 1929
• Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1931)
• Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918)
• Kheda Satyagraha (1918)
• Rajagopalachari Formula, 1945
• Nagpur Session of Congress
• Swaraj Party and its Evaluation
• Muddiman Committee (1924)
• Communal Award
• Poona Pact, 1932
• Government of India Act, 1935
• August Offer of 1940
• Demand for Pakistan (1942)
• Cripps Mission (1942)
• Quit India Movement
• First Round Conference, 1930
• Gandhi-Irwin Pact, 1931
• Cabinet Mission (1946)
• Wavell Plan
• Mountbatten Plan of June 1947
• Indian Independence Act 1947
• Karachi session of 1931
• Second Round Conference, 1931
• Government of India Act, 1919
• Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)
• Khilafat Movement
• Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22)
• Bardoli Resolution
• Civil Disobedience Movement (Second Phase)
• Third Round Conference (17 November 1932)
• I N.A. Trials
• Desai-Liaqat Pact
• Role of Governor generals and viceroys of India

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UPSC Modern History Important Questions-Previous Year

Apart from UPSC Modern History Important Topics, candidates must also check the type of questions asked in the prelims exam. Let’s discuss the important questions asked previously in the UPSC Modern History prelims exam.

Q1. Which ruler of mediaeval Gujarat surrendered Diu to the Portuguese?

(a) Ahmad Shah

(b) Mahmud Begarha

(c) Bahadur Shah

(d) Muhammad Shah

Correct Response: c

Q2. By which Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India?

(a) The Regulating Act

(b) The Pitt's India Act

(c) The Charter Act of 1793

(d) The Charter Act of 1833

Correct Response: d

Q3. Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?

1. The Constituent Assembly would have members nominated by the Provincial Assemblies as well as the Princely States.
2. Any Province, which is not prepared to accept the new Constitution would have the right to sign a separate agreement with Britain regarding its future status.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct response: b

Q4. Regarding 8th August 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.

(b) The Viceroy’s Executive Council was expanded to include more Indians.

(c) The Congress ministries resigned in seven provinces.

(d) Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion Status once the Second World War was over.

Correct response: a

Q5. Who was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be termed as Bethune Female School?

(a) Annie Besant

(b) Debendranath Tagore

(c) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

(d) Sarojini Naidu

Correct response: c

Q6. The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by

(a) Gopal Baba Walangkar

(b) Jyotiba Phule

(c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

(d) Bhimrao Ranji Ambedkar

Correct response: a

UPSC Modern History Important Topics- Weightage

As per the UPSC prelims exam pattern, the exam is divided into two papers i.e. General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II, each comprising 200 marks. The exam duration will be 2 hours for each paper. There shall be a negative marking of one-third (0.33) of the marks for each incorrect answer. Here is the weightage for the UPSC History prelims section from 2013-2024 below for the reference of the candidates.