[Download] UPSC Mains-2015: History Optional Subject Question Paper-1 & Paper-2

1. History Optional Paper Instructions
2. Paper-1: SECTION-A
3. Paper-1: SECTION-B
4. Paper-2: SECTION-A
5. Paper-2: SECTION-B

History Optional Paper Instructions

1. Time Allowed: Three Hours Maximum Marks: 250
2. There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and printed both in HINDI arid in ENGLISH.
3. Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
4. Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remitting, any THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE from each section.
5. The number of marks carried by a question part is indicated against it.
6. Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly WI the Miler of this Question-cum-Answer-QC., Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one. Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to
7. Attempts of questions shall be counted in sequential order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off

Paper-1: SECTION-A

Q1. Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you (on page 4 and write a short note of about 30 words on each of them in your Quest ion-cum- Answer Booklet. Locational hints for each of the places marked on the map are given below : 2.5×20=50

1. A Neolithic site
2. A Neolithic site
3. A Harappan site
4. A Megalithic site
5. A Harappan site
6. A painted-Grey-ware site
7. An inscriptional site
8. An important ancient city
9. An ancient port
10. A site of ancient cave-paintings
11. A Buddhist site
12. An educational centre
13. Brahroadeya village
14. An ancient capital
15. An ancient capital
16. A temple site
17. An ancient capital
18. An ancient sea-port
19. An archaeological temple site
20. Harappan site

Q2. 15+20+15 Marks

1. How far can the ancient Indian Shruti literature be used as historical sources.
2. The decline of Harappan civilization was caused by ecological degradation rather than external invasion. Discuss
3. “Archaeology known of no Aryans.only literature knows of Aryans “Examine critically.

Q3. 20+15+15 Marks

1. How far it correct to say that changes in the post Vedic economy gave birth to new religious movement* in India?
2. Delineate the nature and impact of India’s contact with Wentern Ama and the Mediterranean world during the Maury an period
3. “Not only does ancient Tamil literature furnish an accurate picture of widely disparate classes, it also describes the social condition of Tamil country as it was” Discuss

Q4. 15+15+20 Marks

1. Trace the role of guilds and trade organisations in the development of early Indian economy.
2. Kailasa temple built at Ellora marks the cultivation of rock-cut architecture in India. Elucidate.
3. How could the local self-government under the Cholas adjust with their centralised administrative structure?

Paper-1: SECTION-B

Q5. Answer the following questions about 150 words each: 10×5=50

1. Give a brief account of the early medieval temple architecture of Katnmir.
2. Why is Mamallapuram famous?
3. Mention the salient feature. of the polity of Vijaynagar Empire under Krishnadevaraya.
4. What measures did Baiban adopt to combat the Mongol menace?
5. How does Tuzuk-i-Babn testify that Babar had been a cultured man?

 Q6. 15+15+20

1. Do the evidence* of land ownership at our disposal support the theory of the prevalence of feudalism in early medieval India?
2. Discuss in brief the land-revenue –system and judicial administration of The Delhi Sultanate.
3. “Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Islamic/Hindu societies to any appreciable extent.

Q7. 20+15+15

1. Make an estimate of Rana Kumbha as a patron of literature and art.
2. Why should the sixteenth century be regarded as the period of the Indian Renaissance?
3. “Tantrism, if not in practice, at least on conceptual level challenged patriarchy;’ Examine Tantrism specially keeping in mind the above context.

Q8. 20+15+15

1. “In medieval Indian history Akbar was unique for his religio-political ideas and policies.” Analyse this statement.
2. Will it not be correct to say that the rural economy in Mughal India was relatively?

self-sufficient?

3. Compare the Peshwas’ bureaucratic management with that of the Imperial

Mughal administration.

Paper-2: SECTION-A

Q1. Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each. 10 x 5=50

1. ‘Annexation of Punjab was part of a broad nort motion after the exit of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.”
2.  The Regulating Act (1773), the Pitt’s India Act (1784) and eventually the Charter Act of 1833 left the East India Company as a mere shadow of its earlier political and economic power in India.”
3. “The Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 holds a very significant place in our history of national liberation movement. For the first time in the history of our anticolonial struggle, its two independent currents— spontaneous peasant Si stance* and constitutional agitation in defence of the peasantry—came into mutual contact.”
4. “The very idea of the bomb and the secret society and of propaganda through action and sacrifice were imports from the west”
5. “This retention of Roweltt legislation in the teeth of universal opposition repeal is an affront to the nation. Its repeal is necessary to appraise national honour.”

Q2. 20+20+10

1. Swami Dayanand’s philosophy represents both elements of extremism and social radicalism” Substantiate.
2. To characterize the quit India Movement as ‘ Spontaneous revolution’ would be partial interpretation, so also would be to look up at it as the culmination of Gandhian Satyagraha movements” Elucidate.
3. A powerful left-wing group developed in India in the late 1920s and 19 30s, contributing to the radicalization of national movement.” Critically examine.

Q3. 20+20+10

1. “Under the forceful thrust of British colonialism, Indian economy was transformed into a colonial one, the structure of which was determined by the requirements of Britain’s fast developing industrial economy ” Examine.
2. “James Mill, the apostle of utilitarian philosophy, proposed a revolution ofIndian society through the Sveapon of law’ solely. But in actual policy framing, other influences and considerations weighed much more than the colonial State.” Elucidate.
3. The Royal Indian Navy Revolt was seen as an event which marked the end of the British rule almost as finally as Independence Day.” Explain

Q4. 20+20+10

1. Analyze the nature of peasant movements during the nationalist phase and bring out their shortcomings.
2. “Jawaharlal Nehru, though a declared socialist, was nr-ion focus on providing building blocks to the making of a new India” Examine.
3. ‘Although the Government of India Act 1935 replaced diarchy with Provincial Autonomy, the overriding powers of the Governor diluted the spirit autonomy.” Elucidate.

Paper-2: SECTION-B

Q5. Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words: 10×5=50

1. “France was even more fertile than Britain in producing new socialist theories and movements, though bore less concrete results in France than Britain.
2. “The multiple contradictions that quickly undermined the new edifice, had been expressed even before the meeting of the Estates General in France. The internal conflict among Estates had manifested itself.”
3. “The whole episode that is known as the July Revolution (1830) was fought and won not for the establishment of an extreme democracy but to get rid of the aristocratic and clericalist attitude of the restored Bourbons.”
4. “Mazzini’s conception of Italian nationality was not exclusive and his dominant ideal was the recreation of moral unity of mankind.”
5. “The Constitutional blockade was a misconceived idea of economically defeating Great Britain.”

Q6. 20+20+10 Marks

1. “The Berlin congress (1878) failed to unlock the Eastern Question Though there was no major war in Europe for nearly three decades after the Treaty contained the seeds of many future wars” Critically evaluate.
2. History of Africa appears to be simply an extension or mere sub-theme under historiography, Africa and American history. According to this scramble Elucidate without any history before the European scramble” Elucidate.
3. “The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan were considered by the Russian Bloc as a weapon against Russia in order to restrict her influence” critically examine

Q7. 20+20+10 Marks

1. How far is it correct to say that the First World War was fought essentially for the preservation of the balance of power?
2. “The failure of Kuomintang against the communist onslaught was unimaginable and it was Mao Tse-tung whose tenacity and innovative approach had accomplished the unthinkable.” Discuss.
3. “The oppressive exploitation of the working class in the wake of Industrial Revolution had jolted the social conscience of England.” Elucidate.

Q8. 20+20+10 Marks

1. The UNO was created in the light of experience of the ‘League of Nations’ but out spite of the mandate contained in the UNO constitution, its effective role maintaining world peace has lacked cohesiveness and collective approach.” Examine.
2. “The European Union, a diplomatic marvel, continues to grapple with intermittent fissures Arising qui oi economic contentious issues that pose a challenge to an effective integration of the Union.” Critically examine
3. “The role of the Non-Alignment Movement in world affairs has suffered greatly due to the theatre of internecine conflicts among the Third World countries who spearheaded it” Elucidate.