UPSC Mains 2023 History Optional Paper I questions

38 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All History Optional PYQs

1. 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

2. Site of Mother and Child Terracotta Figure

3. Hoard of Gupta Coin (iv) areata stars tact Site of Botanical remains

4. Harappan site with mud-brick platform (vi) We em we Mauryan reservoir site

5. Capital of Maitraka dynasty (viii) *étaTS1 Dockyard

6. Stone axe factory

7. Minor rock inscription of Asoka

8. Mesolithic site

9. Iron smelting workshop

10. Temple site dedicated to Surya

11. Roman factory site

12. Site of Muvar Koil (Temple of Three)

13. Megalith stone site

14. DO NOT WRITE YOUR ROLL NO. ON THIS SHEET INDIA—POLITICAL

15. pet ca at nit 109 0,109 209 _409 609

16. "The Neolithic Age represents a revolution due to significant changes that took place during this period." Examine.

    20 marks

17. The Indus-Saraswati cultural zone exhibited both homogeneity and diversity. Discuss.

    15 marks

18. How do the comparative study of languages, archaeological sources and vast corpus of Vedic literature help to determine the Aryan problem in Indian history? Discuss.

    15 marks

19. How far the Sangam literature acts as a window into the social and cultural traditions of ancient South India?

    20 marks

20. Analyze the contours of imperial ideology as exhibited during the Mauryan period.

    15 marks

21. Evaluate the status of women in the Gupta period as compared to the Analyze era.

22. Analyze the tenets, spread and impact of the Bhakti Movement.

    20 marks

23. How far temple architecture under the Cholas became more refined and grandiose as compared to the early South Indian temple architecture style?

    15 marks

24. Is it correct to say that the post-Gupta period was remarkable for the expansion of religious cults in India?

    15 marks

25. Discuss the various proponents of Indian feudalism.

26. Examine the defects in Alberuni's assessment of the Indian society.

27. Discuss the importance of Sufic literature as an important source of history.

28. What factors do you attribute for the decline of the Delhi Sultanate?

29. The motive of Alauddin Khalji's agrarian policy was to curb the powers of the intermediaries. Examine the measures which he adopted to achieve his objective.

30. Discuss the role of Nur Jahan in the Mughal court politics during the reign of Jahangir.

    20 marks

31. Why did Balban prefer 'consolidation' over 'expansion' of the Delhi Sultanate?

    15 marks

32. What features of European paintings were incorporated in the Mughal miniature painting?

    15 marks

33. The Marathas posed a significant threat to the integrity of the Mughal Empire. Discuss.

    20 marks

34. SPITE "Haidar Ali was born to build an empire, and Tipu Sultan to lose one." Comment.

    15 marks

35. Analyze the rise of the Sikhs under Ranjit Singh.

    15 marks

36. Mughal architecture was syncretic in character. Comment.

    20 marks

37. The economy of India was not stagnant in the eighteenth century. Discuss.

    15 marks

38. Discuss the nature of the Mughal State under Akbar.

    15 marks