Indian History, Freedom Struggle and Constitution
Indian History, Freedom Struggle and Constitution spans ancient India to the Constitution, but the exam favours chronology, causes and constitutional articles. Learn dates as clusters rather than isolated numbers.
Ancient and medieval
- Indus Valley sites, Vedic period, Mauryas (Ashoka and Kalinga), Guptas, Cholas, Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara and Mughals.
- Landmarks: 1526 First Battle of Panipat; 1600 East India Company charter; 1757 Plassey; 1857 revolt.
Freedom struggle
- 1885 Indian National Congress; 1905 Bengal partition and Swadeshi; 1919 Jallianwala Bagh and Rowlatt Act.
- 1920 Non-Cooperation; 1930 Dandi March; 1931 Gandhi-Irwin Pact; 1932 Poona Pact.
- 1942 Quit India; 1946 Cabinet Mission; 1947 Independence.
Constitution
- Adopted 26 November 1949; commenced 26 January 1950.
- Preamble, Fundamental Rights (Part III), DPSP (Part IV), Fundamental Duties (Part IVA, 42nd Amendment 1976).
- Amendment procedure: Article 368.
Worked example
Arrange: Poona Pact, Dandi March, Quit India, Gandhi-Irwin Pact. Dandi March (1930) came first, then the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), then the Poona Pact (1932), then Quit India (1942). The pact followed the first Round Table Conference; Poona followed Gandhi's fast against separate electorates.
Traps
- Adoption date versus commencement date.
- 'Socialist, secular' were added in 1976, not present originally.
- Confusing Cabinet Mission (1946) with Cripps Mission (1942).
- Mixing the Poona Pact with the Communal Award.