BPSC History Optional Syllabus

BPSC or the Bihar Public Service Commission conducts the BPSC CCE also known as the State Civil Services in Bihar. The Exam consists of Prelims, Mains and Interview. In BPSC Mains candidates have to chose one optional paper out of many subjects. In this post we have given BPSC History Optional Syllabus.

BPSC History Optional Syllabus in English

The BPSC History Optional Syllabus is divided into two sections that are discussed below:

Section-1

Part A- History of India (Down to A.D. 750)

1. The Indus Civilisation

Origins extent, characteriatic features, major cities, trade and contacts, causes of decline, survival and continuity.

2. The Vedic age

Vedic literature. Geographical area known to vedic texts. Differences and similarities between Indus Civilisation
and Vedic culture. Politcal, social and economic patterns.Major religious ideas and rituals.

3. The Pre-Maurya Period

Religious movements (Jainism. Budhism and other sects). Social and economic conditions. Republics and
growth of Magadha imperialism.

4. The Maurya Empire

Sources, rise, extent and fall of the empire administration .Social and economic conditions. Ashoka’s policy and
reform, art.

5. The Post-Maurya Period (200 B.C-300 A.D).

Prinicipal dynasties in Northern and Southern India. Economy and Society, Sanskrit, Prakrit and Tamil, Religion
(Rise of Mahayana and theistic cults). Art (Gandhara, Mathura and other schools). Contacts with Central Asia.

6. The Gupta Age

Rise and fall of the Gupta Empire, the Vakatakas. Administration, Society, economy, literature, art and religion.
Contacts with South Asia.

7. Post-Gupta Period (B.C 500-750 A.D)

Pushy-bhutis. The Muakharis. The later Guptas. Harshavardhana and his times. Chalukyas of Badami. The
Pallavas society. administration and art. The Arab conquest.

8. General review of science and technology, education and learning.

Part B- Medieval India

India: 750 A.D. to 1200 A.D

I. Political and social conditions: the Rajputs their polity and social Structure, Land structure, and its impacts
on society.

II. Trade and Commerce.

III. Art, Religion and Philosophy, Sankaracharya.

IV. Maritime activities, contacts with the Arabs, mutual, Cultural impacts.

V. Rashtrakutas, their role in History- Contribution to art and culture. The chola Empire Local Self-
Government, features of the Indian village system society, economy, art and learing in the South.

VI. Indian Society on the eve of Mahmud of Ghazni’s campaigns, Al-Biruni’s observations.

INDIA: 1200 to 1765

VII foundation of the Delhi Sultante in Northern India, causes and circumstances, its impact on the Indian
society.

VIII. Khilji Imperialism, significance and implications, administrative and economic regulations and their
impact on State and the people.

IX. New orientation of State policies and administration principles under Muhamed Bin Tughlug. Religious
policy and public works of Firoz Shah.

X. Disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate; causes and its effects on the Indian policy and society.

XI. Nature and character of State; political ideas and institutions. Agrarian structure and relations, growth of
urban centres, trade and commerce, conditions of artisans and peasants, new crafts, industry and technology,
Indian medicines.

XII. Influence of Islam on Indian culture. Muslim mystic movements, nature and significance of Bhakti saints,
Maharashtra Dharma, role of the Vaisnave revivalist movement social and religious significance of the chaitanya movement, impact of Hindu society on Muslim social life.

XIII. The Vijayangar Empire: its origin and growth contribution to art, literatiure and culture; social and
economic conditions, system of administration, break-up of the Vijayanagar Empire.

XIV. Sources of History: important chronicles. Inscriptions and Travellers Accounts.

XV. Expansion of the Mughal Empire under Akbar: political unification: new concepts of monarchy under
Akbar: Akbar’s religio-political outlook: relations with the non-Muslims.

XVI. Growth of regional languages and literature during the medieval period development of art and
architecture.

XVII. Expansion of the Mughal Empire under Akbar: political unification: new concepts of monarchy under Akbar: Akbar’s religio-political outlook: relations with the non-Muslims.

XVIII. Growth of regional languages and literature during the medieval period development of art and architecture.

XIX. Political ideas and institutions; nature of the Mughal State, land revenue administration; the Mansabdari
and the Jagirdari systems, the landed structure and the role of the Zamindars, agrarian relations, the military
organisation.

XX. Aurangzeb’s religious policy; expansion of the Mughal Empire in Deccan; revolts against Aurangzeb-
Character and consequences.

XXI Growth of urban centres; industrial economy urban and rural; foreign trade and commerce. The
Mughals and the European trading companies.

XXII. Hindu-Muslim relations; trends of integration; composite culture (16™ to 18″ centuries).

XXIII. Rise of Shivaji, his conflict with the Mughals; administration of Shivaji, expansion of the Maratha
power under the Peshwas (1707-1761), Maratha political structure under the First Three Peshwas; Chauth and
Sardeshmukhi, Third Battle of Panipat, causes and effects; emergence of the Maratha confederacy, its structure
and role.

XXIV. Disintegration of the Mughal Empire, emergence of the new Regional States.

Section- 2

Part A Modern India

• Historical Forces and Factors which led to the British conquest of India with special reference to Bengal, Maharashtra and Sind resistance of Indian powers and causes of their failure.
• Evolution of British Paramountcy over princely States.
• Stages of colonialism and changes in Administrative structure and policies. Revenue, Judicial and Social and Educational and their linkages with British colonial interests.
• British economic policies and their impact- Commercialisation of agriculture Rural indebtedness, growth of agricultural labour. Destruction of handicraft industries. Drain of wealth, growth of modern industry and rise of a capitalist class. Activities of the Christian Missions.
• Efforts at regeneration of Indian society. Socio-religious movements, social religious, political and economic ideas of the reformers and their vision of future, nature and limitation of 19th century “Renaissance”. Caste movements in general with special reference to South India and Maharashtra, tribal, revolts, specially in Central and Eastern India.
• Civil rebellions, Revolt of 1857, Civil Rebellions, and peasant revolts with special reference to Indigo revolt. Deccan riots and Mapplia uprising.
• Rise and growth of Indian National Movement. – Social basis of Indian nationalism policies. Programme of the early nationalists and militant nationalists militant revolutionary group terrorists. Rises and growth of communalism; emergence of Gandhiji in Indian politics and his techniques of mass mobilisation. Non-co- operation, civil disobedience and Quit India Movements, trade union and peasant movements. State (s) people movements, rise and growth of left-wing within the Congress- The Congress, Socialists and Communists; British official response to National Movement. Attitude of the Congress to constitutional changes, 1909-1935. Indian National Army Naval Mutiny of 1946, the partition of Indian and achievement of freedom.

Part B World History (1500-1950)

A. Geographical Discoveries. – Decline of feudalism; beginnings of capitalism. Renaissance and reformation in Europe.

• The new absolute monarchies – Emergence of the Nation State

• Commercial revolution in Western Europe – Mercantilism Growth of Parliamentary institutions in England.

• The Thirty Year’s War. Its significance in European History.

• Ascedancy of France.

B. The emergence of a scientific view of the World. The age of Enlightenment.

• The American Revolution – Its significance.

• The French Revolution and Napoleonic Era (1789 – 1815). Its Significance in World History.

• The growth of liberalism and democracy in Western Europe (1815-1914)

• Scientific and technological background to the Industrial revolution – stages of the Industrial Revolution in Europe.

C. Consolidation of large nation States- The unification of Italy – the founding of Socialist and labour Movement in Europe.

• The German Empire.
• The American Civil War.
• Colonialism and Imperialism in Asia and Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries.China and the Western Powers.
• Modernisation of Japan and its emergence as a great power.
• The European powers and the Ottaman Empire (1815-1914)
• The First World War – The economic and social impact of the war – the peace of Paris, 1919.

D. The Russian Revolution, 1917 Economics and Social Reconstruction in soviet Union.

• Rise of National Movements in Indonesia, China and Indo-China.
• Rise and establishment of Communism in China.
• Awakeing in the Arab World- Struggle for freedom and reform in Egypt Emegence of Modern Turkey Kamal
• Ataturk- The rise of Arab nationalism.
• World Depression of 1929 -32.
• The new deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Rise of Militarism in Japan.
• Origins and impact of Second World War.

BPSC History Optional Syllabus FAQ