HISTORY OPTIONAL STRATEGY
Why should you choose history optional?
1. Everyone has studied history in school and knows something about it.
2. The subject is plain and simple. It involves
a) No theories b) No doctrines or principles c) No technicalities
3. It has interconnections and linkages with
a) Preliminary b) Mains c) Essay d) Interview
4. History is highly scoring. Any average candidates could get 50% marks.
As per the new syllabus
I. In preliminary: 18% of the questions are from history.
II. In mains: General studies paper 1: History weightage is 130 marks
III. Essay: Every year one compulsory history topic (125 marks)
IV. Interview: 30% history questions
A comparative analysis between History optional and General studies paper 1
History optional | General studies |
Paper I Section A - Ancient India. Topics: Art and culture of Vedic people, Harappa, Mauryas, Guptas till Harsha. |
1. Prelims - Ancient India
2. Mains - Indian Heritage & Culture (Ancient to modern times)
Broadly GS students should cover Art and culture of Vedic people, Harappa, Mauryas, and Guptas. |
Paper I Section B - Medieval India. Topics: Culture in the Mughal Empire, in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries (Delhi Sultanate and Vijayanagara empire) | 1. Prelims - Medieval India
2. Mains - Indian Heritage & Culture (Medieval) (Broadly GS students should cover Art, Culture, literature forms during Delhi sultanate, Mughals, Vijayanagara times) |
Paper II Section A - Modern India
(Mid-18th Century to present) Topics: European penetration and wars, Social reform movements, freedom struggle and post independent consolidation. |
1. Prelims - Modern India (Mid18th Century to present)
2. Mains - Modern India (Mid18th Century to present), Freedom struggle, Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country and Indian heritage & Culture (Modern) |
Paper II Section B - World History
(18th Century to present) Topics: Industrial revolution, world wars, nation-state, colonization, decolonization, capitalism, socialism | Mains -History of the world from 18th century till today Topics: industrial revolution, world wars, nation-state, colonization, decolonization, communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society |
Demo Class
Class 1 - https://youtu.be/6uQFrvC2IM8
Class 2 - https://youtu.be/8znmql2Qqrw
Class 3 - https://youtu.be/jU8za9jhf4E
ALL THE BEST
MA SADIK
FOUNDER DIRECTOR
(Smart Leaders IAS)