Indian History and Freedom Struggle
This domain covers ancient, medieval and modern Indian history, with special attention to the freedom struggle and the hill states' place in it. Questions test chronology, leaders, movements and the sequence of constitutional steps.
Core facts
- Indus Valley Civilisation is dated roughly 2600-1900 BCE for its mature phase. The Mauryan Empire began around 321 BCE under Chandragupta Maurya; the Mughal Empire began in 1526 with Babur's victory at Panipat.
- The Revolt of 1857 was a major anti-colonial uprising. The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885; Bengal was partitioned in 1905 and the partition was annulled in 1911.
- Gandhi's movements: Champaran Satyagraha 1917, Non-Cooperation 1920, Civil Disobedience and Dandi March 1930, Quit India 1942.
- The Cabinet Mission came in 1946; the Mountbatten Plan and Indian Independence Act 1947 led to independence and partition.
Worked example
Arrange Champaran, Jallianwala Bagh, Non-Cooperation and Quit India in order. The order is Champaran 1917, Jallianwala Bagh 1919, Non-Cooperation 1920, Quit India 1942. Reason: each date fixes the sequence; Dandi March 1930 falls between Non-Cooperation and Quit India.
Traps that cost marks
The INC was founded in 1885, not during the 1857 revolt. Dandi March was in 1930, not 1932. The partition of Bengal was in 1905, not 1911. Do not interchange the Cabinet Mission and the Mountbatten Plan.