Ancient, Medieval and Modern History of India & The World — Syllabus & Chapters

The complete syllabus for Ancient, Medieval and Modern History of India & The World — every chapter you need to study, and how the exam paper is structured.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Prehistoric Period: Tools and Societies
Chapter 2: Indus Valley Civilization
Chapter 3: Vedic Age and Urbanization
Chapter 4: Maurya Empire and Satavahana Legacy
Chapter 5: Gupta Empire and the Golden Age
Chapter 6: Society, Religion and Culture in Ancient India
Chapter 7: Delhi Sultanate: Polity and Society
Chapter 8: Mughal Empire: Administration and Culture
Chapter 9: Regional Kingdoms and Bhakti-Sufi Movements
Chapter 10: British Rule: Economy and Reform Movements
Chapter 11: Freedom Struggle and Partition
Chapter 12: World History: Renaissance to 20th Century

Frequently asked questions

How many chapters are there in Ancient, Medieval and Modern History of India & The World?

The Ancient, Medieval and Modern History of India & The World syllabus has 12 chapters, listed in full above. Cover the high-weightage chapters first using the exam pattern as a guide.

How do I know which Ancient, Medieval and Modern History of India & The World chapters carry the most marks?

Compare the chapter list above with the exam pattern and the last few years of question papers — the topics that appear most often and the units with the highest marks are where to focus first. Always confirm weightage against the official syllabus for your exam year.

Has the Ancient, Medieval and Modern History of India & The World syllabus changed this year?

Boards occasionally revise the syllabus or remove topics for a session. Always download the official syllabus for your exact exam year from the official UPSC portal rather than relying on an older copy or a social-media list.

How can I prepare for Ancient, Medieval and Modern History of India & The World faster?

Begin with the most-frequently-asked topics and the last few years of question papers, then test yourself under timed conditions. If you want guided help, you can use the free AI study tutor for Ancient, Medieval and Modern History of India & The World — practise past-paper questions and get instant feedback — or a focused Ancient, Medieval and Modern History of India & The World study guide that condenses the syllabus into the topics that matter most — both are free to start.