In which one among the following texts does the term kshetra-patni ('mistress of the field') originate ?
History — UPSC Civil Services Prelims Previous Year Questions
All 158 UPSC Civil Services Prelims History questions asked across 11 exam years, each with the correct answer, a detailed explanation and the source it was drawn from.
History questions from UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026
The artificially fixed rupee-sterling exchange rate prescribed by the Hilton-Young Commission (1926) was adopted by the British Government for which one of the following reasons ?
Which of the following pairs of the king and his dynasty in early historical Tamilakam is/are not correctly matched ?
1. Senguttuvan : Chera
2. Udiyanjeral : Chola
3. Nedunjeliyan : Pandya
Select the answer using the code given below :
Which of the following factors contributed to the formation of the Forward Bloc by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939 ?
1. Bose failed to win the confidence of Mahatma Gandhi.
2. The Congress Left was disunited and failed to support Bose.
3. The Communists did not support Bose in his endeavours.
4. The supporters of M.N. Roy and socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan preferred Congress unity to supporting Bose.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Which of the following statements on the Amaravati Stupa and its relief sculpture is/are correct ?
1. It was located in the lower Krishna valley.
2. In India, it was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size.
3. The Amaravati school of sculpture made a lasting impact on the later South Indian sculpture, and its products were carried to Sri Lanka and South-east Asia.
Select the answer using the code given below :
What does an empty seat represent in early Buddhist iconography ?
Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct ?
1. They acted as army fortresses.
2. They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles.
3. They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles.
4. They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music ?
Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, the famous classical singer from Karnataka, represented the :
Which one of the following statements about the Eka Movement and Bardoli Satyagraha is correct ?
Consider the following assertion :
The genesis of political alliances based on community lay in the very nature of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919.
Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion ?
1. Reforms retained and extended the principle of separate electorates.
2. Separate electorates were supposed to counter Indian nationalism, which was growing stronger.
3. Deprived classes rallied around the favours inherent in separate electorates.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Consider the following statements about the archaeological findings in Harappan towns :
I. There is wide occurrence of spindle-whorls in the houses but absence of spinning wheels.
II. Weights and measurement scales, complete with graduations have been discovered.
III. There are houses built in large part with baked bricks, around relatively spacious courtyards, with their own wells, bathing platforms, and large rooms.
Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above statements ?
1. Statement I suggests that spinning was a laborious activity done at home.
2. Statement II suggests the extent of the scientific knowledge that the Harappans possessed.
3. Statement III suggests the emergence of a common property system.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Which of the following pairs of ancient and modern names of rivers is/are correctly matched ?
1. Vitasta : Chenab
2. Asikni : Jhelum
3. Parushni : Ravi
4. Yavyavati : Beas
Select the answer using the code given below :
Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period :
I. Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface.
II. Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells.
Which of the following information support/supports the above statements ?
1. There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water.
2. Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu / kulisha (axe) and datra / sreni (sickle).
3. There is a history of the use of ox, even before the Rigveda, for ploughing the land and pulling the carts.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Consider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India :
1. The earliest epigraphic use of the place-value system in India is found in the Mankani plates from Gujarat (AD 595 – 596).
2. In the ninth century, place-values become general in inscriptions all over India.
3. The place-values have been found in Sanskrit inscriptions in South-east Asia as early as the seventh century.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
Consider the following statements regarding the British policy in Awadh immediately after its annexation in 1856 :
1. The taluqdars were dispossessed of their estates but allowed to retain their arms and forts.
2. A Summary Revenue Settlement was made in 1856 assuming that the taluqdars were outsiders.
3. The British believed in taking revenue directly from the peasants by removing the taluqdars.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Among the four main forms of existence of life recognized in Jainism, which one of the following is not included ?
The Hallisalasya painting in the Bagh Caves represents :
Which of the following temples has/have a Nagara-style shikhara ?
1. Malegitti Shivalaya, Badami
2. Huchimalligudi Temple, Aihole
3. Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh
4. Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal
Select the answer using the code given below :
Consider the following statements :
I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika.
II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver.
The above statements have been associated with which of the following ?
1. Emergence of urban life
2. Transition to money economy
Select the answer using the code given below :
History questions from UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2025
Consider the following subjects with regard to Non-Cooperation Programme:
I. Boycott of law-courts and foreign cloth
II. Observance of strict non-violence
III. Retention of titles and honours without using them in public
IV. Establishment of Panchayats for settling disputes
How many of the above were parts of Non-Cooperation Programme?
Who among the following led a successful military campaign against the kingdom of Srivijaya?
Consider the following statements in respect of the Non-Cooperation Movement:
1. The Congress declared the attainment of 'Swaraj' by all legitimate and peaceful means to be its objective.
2. It was to be implemented in stages with civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes for the next stage only if 'Swaraj' did not come within a year and the Government resorted to repression.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Ashokan inscriptions suggest that the 'Pradesika', 'Rajuka' and 'Yukta' were important officers at the
The famous female figurine known as 'Dancing Girl', found at Mohenjo-daro, is made of
Consider the following statements about Raja Ram Mohan Roy:
I. He possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical systems of the East.
II. He desired his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific approach and the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following fruits:
I. Papaya
II. Pineapple
III. Guava
How many of the above were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?
Who among the following was the founder of the 'Self-Respect Movement'?
The irrigation device called 'Araghatta' was
Subsequent to which one of the following events, Gandhiji, who consistently opposed untouchability and appealed for its eradication from all spheres, decided to include the upliftment of 'Harijans' in his political and social programme?
Who provided legal defence to the people arrested in the aftermath of Chauri Chaura incident?
With reference to ancient India (600–322 BC), consider the following pairs:
Territorial region – River flowing in the region
I. Asmaka : Godavari
II. Kamboja : Vipas
III. Avanti : Mahanadi
IV. Kosala : Sarayu
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese pilgrim, travelled to India during the reign of
'Sedition has become my religion' was the famous statement given by Gandhiji at the time of
History questions from UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2024
56. Who of the following rulers of medieval India gave permission to the Portuguese to build a fort at Bhatkal ?
62. With reference to the Government of India Act, 1935, consider the following statements :
1. It provided for the establishment of an All India Federation based on the union of the British Indian Provinces and Princely States.
2. Defence and Foreign Affairs were kept under the control of the federal legislature.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
58. Consider the following statements :
1. There are no parables in Upanishads.
2. Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
55. Consider the following information :
Archaeological site | State | Description
1. Chandraketugarh | Odisha |Trading Port town
2. Inamgaon | Maharashtra | Chalcolithic site
3. Mangadu | Kerala | Megalithic site
4. Salihundam | Andhra radesh | Rock-cut Pradesh cave shrines
In which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched ?
63. Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasa ?
57. With reference to revenue collection by Cornwallis, consider the following statements :
1. Under the Ryotwari Settlement of revenue collection, the peasants were exempted from revenue payment in case of bad harvests or natural calamities.
2. Under the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, if the Zamindar failed to pay his revenues to the state, on or before the fixed date, he would be removed from his Zamindari.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
54. With reference to ancient India, Gautama Buddha was generally known by which of the following epithets ?
1. Nayaputta
2. Shakyamuni
3. Tathagata
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
73. Consider the following pairs :
Party | Its Leader
1. |Bharatiya Jana Sangh| Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
2. | Socialist Party | C. Rajagopalachari
3. | Congress for Democracy | Jagjivan Ram
4. |Swatantra Party | Acharya Narendra Dev
How many of the above are correctly matched ?
64. Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a commentary on :
History questions from UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2023
8. Who among the following rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam across the Tungabhadra River and a canal-cum-aqueduct several kilometers long from the river to the capital city?
61. With reference to the Indian History. Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were associated with
10. By which one of the following Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India?
5. Consider the following dynasties
1. Hoysala
2. Gahadavala
3. Kakatiya
4. Yadava
How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in the early eighth century AD?
9. Who among the following rulers of medieval Gujarat surrendered Diu to the Portuguese?
4. Which one of the following explains the practice of ‘Vattakirutal' as mentioned in Sangam poems?
1. In which one of the following regions was Dhanyakataka, which flourished as a prominent Buddhist center under the Mahasanghikas, located?
3. With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar, and Muchiri were well-known as
7. "Souls are not only the property of animal and plant life, but also of rocks running water and many other natural objects not looked on as living by other religious sects'
The above statement reflects one of the core beliefs of which one of the following religious sects of ancient India?
63. Consider the following statements:
Statement-I:7th August is declared National Handloom Day. It was in 1905 that the Swadeshi
Statement-II:The movement was launched on the same day.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
History questions from UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2022
96. The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple?
1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present-day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
52. In medieval India, the term "Fanam" referred to:
92. Consider the following pairs: King Dynasty1. Nannuka – Chandela2. Jayashakti – Paramara3. Nagabhata II – Gurjara-Pratihara4. Bhoja – Rashtrakuta
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
54. With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the following statements:
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
3. Britain regarding its future status.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
60. According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of the following are correct?
1. A person could be a slave as a result of judicial punishment.
2. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.
3. If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master's son.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
56. With reference to Indian history consider the following pairs:Historical person – Known as1. Aryadeva – Jaina scholar2. Dignaga – Buddhist scholar3. Nathamuni – Vaishnava scholar
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
94. "Yogavasistha" was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of:
53. Consider the following freedom fighters:
1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee3. Rash Behari Bose
Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?
55. With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts:
1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan3. Avadanasataka
4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana
Which of the above are Jaina texts?
59. With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements:
1. The Dutch established their factories/warehouses on the east coast on lands granted to them by Gajapati rulers.
2. Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate.
3. The English East India Company established a factory at Madras on a plot of land leased from a representative of the
4. Vijayanagara empire.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
57. With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements:
1. The first Mongol invasion of India happened during the reign of Jalal-ud-din Khalji2. During the reign of Ala-ud-din Khalji, one Mongol assault marched up to Delhi and besieged the city.
3. Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq temporarily lost portions of the northwest of his kingdom to Mongols.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
91. Consider the following pairs:Site of Ashoka's major rock edicts – Location in the State of1. Dhauli – Odisha2. Erragudi – Andhra Pradesh3. Jaugada – Madhya Pradesh4. Kalsi – Karnataka
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
95. The world's second tallest statue in the sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India in Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja?
51. In the Government of India Act 1919, the functions of Provincial Government were divided into "Reserved" and "Transferred" subjects. Which of the following were treated as "Reserved" subjects?
1. Administration of Justice2. Local Self-Government3. Land Revenue4. Police
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
58. With reference to Indian history, who of the following was known as "Kulah-Daran"?
History questions from UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2021
Q95. According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were experts in which of the following areas? (1) Wrestling (2) Astrology (3) Accounting (4) Soothsaying
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Q87. In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as
Q83. With reference to 8th August 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q91. With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements: (1) It is a circular temple built during the reign of the Kachchhapaghata Dynasty. (2) It is the only circular temple built in India. (3) It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region. (4) Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Q100. With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct? (1) Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes. (2) In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim the right to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim the right to the property. (3) The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Q85. With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?
Q45. With reference to India, the terms ‘Halbi, Ho, and Kui' pertain to
Q93. In the first quarter of the seventeenth century, in which of the following was/were the factory/factories of the English East India Company located? (1) Broach (2) Chicacole (3) Trichinopoly
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Q98. Consider the following statements: (1) It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince. (2) It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus. (3) It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of the Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q97. Consider the following pairs :
(Historical place)(Well-known for)
1. Burzahom: Rock-cut shrines
2. Chandra-Ketugarh: Terracotta art
3. Ganeshwar : Copper artefacts
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Q82. Consider the following statements: (1) The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all women above the age of 21. (2) The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in the legislature.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q84. Who among the following is associated with ‘Songs from Prison', a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?
Q86. Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?
Q88. With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct? (1) The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State (2) The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire. (3) The Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Q92. Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?
Q94. From the decline of Guptas until the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, which of the following kingdoms were holding power in Northern India? (1) The Guptas of Magadha (2) The Paramaras of Malwa (3) The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar (4) The Maukharis of Kannauj (5) The Yadavas of Devagiri (6) The Maitrakas of Valabhi
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Q96. With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q99. Consider the following statements: (1) St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order. (2) St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there. (3) The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
History questions from UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2020
Q47. The Gandhi-Irwin pact included which of the following?
Invitation to Congress to participate in the round table conference
Withdrawal of ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement
Acceptance of Gandhiji's suggestion for enquiry into police excesses
Release of those prisoners who were not charged with violence
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Q24. One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is
Q43. Which of the following statements correctly explains the impact of the Industrial revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century?
Q91. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs:
1. Parivrajaka – Renunciant and wanderer
2. Shramana – Priest with a high status
3. Upasaka – Lay follower of Buddhism
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Q16. With reference to the Scholars/literatures of ancient India, consider the following statements:
Panini is associated with Pushyamitra
Amarsimha is associated with Harshavardhana
Kalidasa is associated with chandragupta-II
Which of the above given statements is/are correct-
Q13. Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of
Q57. With references to the history of India, consider the following pairs:
Famous Place Present State
1. Bhilsa -Madhya Pradesh
2. Dwarasamudra -Maharashtra
3. Girinagar -Gujarat
4. Sthanesvara -Uttar Pradesh
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Q41. With reference to the history of India consider the following pairs:
Aurang in-charge Of treasury of the state
Banian Indian agent of the East India Company
Mirasidar designated revenue payer to the state
Which of the pairs above is/are correct?
Q45. Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi' generally referred to in sources of the Post Harsha period?
Q49. With reference to the history of India, the terms Kulyavapa and dronavapa denote
Q12. In the Indian history, The Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around
Women's rights to gain education
Age of consent
Restitution of conjugal rights
Select the correct answer using the given code below-
Q14. Wellesley established the Fort William college at Calcutta because:
Q62. With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, kadura and Chaul were well known as
Q42. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
Sthaviravadins belong to mahayana Buddhism
Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism
The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered the mahayana Buddhism
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q44. Consider the following events in the history of India:
Rise of Pratiharas under king Bhoja
Establishment of pallava power under Mahendravarman-I
Establishment of Chola power under Parantaka-I
Pala dynasty founded by Gopala
What is the correct chronological order of the above events, Starting from the earliest time?
Q46. With reference to the book ‘desher Katha' written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the freedom struggle, consider the following statements
It warned against the colonial states' hypnotic conquest of the mind
It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs
The use of ‘desh' by Deuskar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q48. The Vital Vidhvansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by
Q50. Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?
"Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely "
Q15. With reference to the history of India, ‘ulgulan' or the great tumult is the description of the which of the following?
History questions from UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2019
Q7
4. With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements:
1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of ‘indentured labor'.
2. In Lord Chelmsford's ‘War Conference', Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War.
3. Consequent upon the breaking of the Salt Law by the Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Q55. With reference to Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements:1. It contributed to the revival of indigenous artisan crafts and industries.2. The National Council of Education was established as a part of Swadeshi Movement.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q51. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar?1. Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection.2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Q60. With reference to forced labor (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?
Q58. In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is ‘Ranyo Ashoka' (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?
Q7
2. Consider the following statements:
1. In the revenue administration of Delhi Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue collection was known as ‘Amil'.
2. The Iqta system of Sultans of Delhi was an ancient indigenous institution.
3. The office of ‘Mir Bakshi' came into existence during the reign of Khalji Sultans of Delhi.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q5
4. Consider the following statements about ‘the Charter Act of 1813':
1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China.
2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company.
3. The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Q57. Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?
Q5
9. Consider the following:
1. Deification of the Buddha2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas3. Image worship and rituals
Which of the above is/are the feature/ features of Mahayana Buddhism?
Q75. With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pairs:
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Q77Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait?
Question 1: Consider the following pairs
Movement/organization Leader
All India Anti-Untouchability League: Mahatma Gandhi
All India Kisan Sabha : Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
Self-Respect Movement: E.V.Ramaswami Naicker
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Q56. Consider the following pairs:
Movement/Organization Leader
1. All India Anti-Untouchability League Mahatma Gandhi
2. All India Kisan Sabha Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
3. Self-Respect Movement Naicker E.V. Ramaswami
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
History questions from UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2018
79. In 1920, which of the following changed its name to "Swarajya Sabha" ?
71. With reference to the religious practices in
India, the "Sthanakvasi" sect belongs to
75. Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley?
19. Regarding Wood's Dispatch, which of the following statements are true ?
- Grants-in-Aid system was introduced.
- Establishment of universities was recommended.
- English as a medium of instruction at all levels of education was recommended.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
11. He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna; stayed in America
for some time; and was also elected to the Central Assembly. He was
51. After the Santhal Uprising subsided, what was/were the measure/measures taken by the colonial government?
- The territories called 'Santhal Paraganas' were created.
- It became illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to a non-Santhal.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
69. Which one of the following is a very significant aspect of the Champaran Satyagraha?
73. Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India ?
68. The staple commodities of export by the English East India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were
70. Who among the following were the founders of the "Hind Mazdoor Sabha" established in 1948?
74. With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world ?
76. Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India?
- Charter Act of 1813
- General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823
- Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
80. Which among the following events happened earliest ?
89. With reference to educational institutions during colonial rule in India, consider the following pairs :
Institution - Founder
1. Sanskrit Collegeat Benaras - William Jones
2. Calcutta Madarsa - Warren Hastings
3. Fort William College — Arthur Wellesley
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct ?
91. Consider the following events :
- The first democratically, elected communist party government formed in a State in India.
- India's then largest bank, 'Imperial Bank of India', was renamed 'State Bank of India'.
- Air India was nationalised and became the national carrier.
- Goa became a part of independent
India.
Which of the following is the correct chronological sequence of the above events ?
52. Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th century was the
History questions from UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2017
51. Which one of the following was a very important seaport in the Kakatiya kingdom ?
75. Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples?
- Arasavalli
- Amarakantak
- Omkareshwar
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
53. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements :
- Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
- Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form .
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
13. Who among the following was/were associated with the introduction of Ryotwari Settlement in India during the British rule ?
- Lord Cornwallis
- Alexander Read
- Thomas Munro
Select the correct answer using.the code given below :
1. Radhakanta Deb — First President of the British Indian Association
2. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty - Founder of the Madras Mahajana Sabha
3. Surendranath Banerjee - Founder of the Indian Association
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched ?
93. With reference to Indian freedom struggle, consider the following events :
- Mutiny in Royal Indian Navy
- Quit India Movement launched
- Second Round Table Conference
What is the correct chronological sequence of the above events ?
26. The object of the Butler Committee of 1927 was to
62. In the context of Indian history, the principle of 'Dyarchy (diarchy)' refers to
2. With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct ?
- Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
- Rigedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
- Rigedie Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
24. Consider the following statements :
- The Factories Act, 1881 was passed with a view to fix the wages of industrial workers and to allow the workers to form trade unions.
- N.M. Lokhande was a pioneer in organizing the labour movement in British India.
Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
15. The Trade Disputes Act of 1929 provided for
History questions from UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2016
45. With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following Statements:
- Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
- Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
57. Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?
87. Regarding the taxation system of Krishna Deva, the ruler of Vijayanagar, consider the following statements:
The tax rate on land was fixed depending on the quality of the land.
Private owners of workshops paid an industries tax.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
99. The 'Swadeshi' and 'Boycott' were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the
56. Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally:
30. What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?
- Both were built in the same period.
- Both belong to the same religious denomination.
- Both have rock-cut monuments.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
16. In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs:
TermDescription
- EripattiLand, revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank
- TaniyursVillages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins
- GhatikasColleges generally attached to the temples
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
34. Consider the following:
- Calcutta Unitarian Committee
- Tabernacle of New Dispensation
- Indian Reform Association
Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?
42. In the economic history of medieval India, what does the term 'Araghatta' refer to?
2. What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?
7. Satya Shodhak Samaj organized:
3. What plan did Sir Stafford Cripps envisage for India after the Second World War?
29. The Montague-Chelmsford Proposals were related to
How History is asked in UPSC Civil Services Prelims
History is the most front-loaded subject in the UPSC Civil Services Prelims syllabus: ancient Indian history and art and culture carry far more questions than the modern period, which is the reverse of what most aspirants expect and the reverse of how most people prepare. Questions are rarely about dates. They test whether you can place a dynasty, a text or a site in its context — which is why rote timelines fail here and source-based reading works.
Ancient India
The Indus Valley and Harappan sites, the Vedic period, the Mahajanapadas, Buddhism and Jainism and the stupa and cave-shrine traditions they produced, the Mauryas and Guptas, Sangam literature and the southern kingdoms. This is where ancient history questions cluster hardest, often through pairs — a site with its state, a text with its author, a term with its meaning.
Medieval India
The Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms, the Mughals, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements. Medieval history is asked less often than ancient India but the questions tend to be sharper, leaning on administrative terms, revenue systems and regional dynasties rather than well-known rulers.
Modern India and the freedom struggle
Company rule and the charter acts, the revolt of 1857, the Indian National Congress, the Swadeshi and non-cooperation movements, and post-independence consolidation. Modern history overlaps heavily with polity, so a question about an act often doubles as a constitutional question.
History weightage in UPSC Civil Services Prelims, year by year
How many History questions appeared in each UPSC Civil Services Civil ServicesPrelims question paper, and what share of the paper they made up. These are counts from the questions tagged on this site, not estimates.
| Exam year | History questions | Share of the paper | Full paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026 | 20 | 20% | View 2026 paper |
| UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2025 | 14 | 14% | View 2025 paper |
| UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2024 | 9 | 9% | View 2024 paper |
| UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2023 | 10 | 10% | View 2023 paper |
| UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2022 | 15 | 15% | View 2022 paper |
| UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2021 | 18 | 18% | View 2021 paper |
| UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2020 | 19 | 19% | View 2020 paper |
| UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2019 | 13 | 13% | View 2019 paper |
| UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2018 | 16 | 16% | View 2018 paper |
| UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2017 | 11 | 11% | View 2017 paper |
| UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2016 | 13 | 13% | View 2016 paper |
How to prepare History for UPSC Civil Services Prelims
Read the NCERTs for structure, then use these previous year questions as the test of whether the structure held. Ancient Indian history rewards making your own notes on sites, texts and terms, because that is the form UPSC Civil Services asks in — matching pairs rather than narrative. Attempt a year, check the answer key and explanation, and note not the fact you missed but the category of fact you missed.
Every question on this page carries the correct answer and a detailed explanation, so the set doubles as an answer key you can check against after an attempt. Previous year questions do not replace mock tests, but they are the only material that shows which topics UPSC Civil Services Civil Serviceshas actually rewarded — treat them as the backbone of your Prelims preparation rather than a revision exercise bolted on at the end. Remember that GS Paper I carries negative marking of one-third, so in CSE Prelims a wrong answer costs candidates more than a blank one: practise deciding when not to attempt, not only what to attempt. Browse the full set of UPSC Civil Services Prelims previous year question papers to work through other subjects the same way.
History previous year questions — frequently asked questions
How many History questions are asked in UPSC Civil Services Prelims?
History and art and culture together usually account for a substantial share of GS Paper I, though the split moves year to year. The table above shows the exact count on this site for every year, so you can see the trend rather than rely on an estimate.
Which period of History is asked most in UPSC Civil Services Prelims?
Ancient India and art and culture dominate, with medieval history the thinnest of the three. Modern history questions are steadier in number but often overlap with polity and governance, which is why they feel more familiar to most candidates.
Are NCERTs enough for UPSC Civil Services Prelims History?
NCERTs give you the frame and are non-negotiable, but ancient Indian history questions frequently reach past them into specific sites, texts and terms. Working through previous year questions is the fastest way to see where NCERT coverage stops and where you need a standard reference.
How should candidates revise History previous year questions?
Attempt one full year at a time under exam conditions, then review by period rather than in question order. Grouping your errors by ancient, medieval and modern shows you which division is actually costing marks, which a single overall score never reveals.