_______________________________________ Strategy for History as optional in mains exam________________ (9987063403,
[email protected], www.biasips.blogspot.com) Strategy for History mains
By Bhushan Deshmukh
If the prelim’s is to be compared with one day match, mains could be described as test match. The temperament and technique to play it is different then prelims. Prelim is mainly factual study, many times without knowing how or why. On the other hand main’s is analytical study, knowing the essence of the story. With introduction of 30 marks questions instade of 60 marks, you are suppose to know the essence of many more stories. As it is rightly said that history is not a study of facts, but interpretation of facts. Facts are just raw material with which interpretation is done. Answers in the main’s are about your interpretation of History. Here you have to balance different view points. For that purpose you have to know different view points. At least three main currents i.e. leftist, centrist and rightist. The angle of focus on history has constantly changed. From Political to Cultural to Economic. It will do one time if your facts go wrong, but analysis is correct, but other way round will not do. How much scoring history is? History is most popular option is U.P.S.C. examination for obvious reasons. It has synergy with General studies. 50 marks questions of modern India get covered in optional history (As per mains 2009). It is also useful in writing essay. Since at least one socio-cultural issue comes as a topic, historic vision gives depth to the arguments. (for e.g. .‘ Globlisation’ vs. ‘ Nationalism’ in mains 2009) History complements with any combination of optional but goes best with political science. Second best combination is Public Administration. Percentile method is not applied in the mains. History is directly compared with other subjects. History is highly subjective subject. Suppose the question was given ‘Evaluate the Gandhi’, then all candidates will write different answers. Who of them is right & who is wrong? No one. It depends on how arguments are pushed. This makes the subject safe. Generally it is not possible that you don’t know anything about the answer. Ultimately you fetch some minimum marks in each question. That way no body goes below 200 in history. But going by same logic history also does not give very high marks. There is nothing called perfect answer. Because of this phenomenon marks do not go above 380. But then to get into IAS one need to get 55-60% marks in the subject and that makes this subject an attractive proposition. History is scoring subject. One of my student Chinmaya Aurangabadkar scored 372 in history in 2009 mains in her first attempt to get the 139 rank. We can refer to the data of those written mains 2009. This is the larges sample group of 9026 (excludes only those handful who are chosen for interview). We can observe that History is third most popular optional taken (2777), just after Public Administration (3067) and Geography (3190) But if we the average marks secured by the candidates then History (242) is better then Public Administration (232) and Geography (221) History is the scientific subject and can be studied scientifically. It is as scientific as physics or mathematics, only since it is from humanities side, things are open ended. ______________________________________________________ Bhushan V. Deshmukh___________- 1 -
_______________________________________ Strategy for History as optional in mains exam________________
For those who are having History as first optional in prelim, - Be cautious, don’t overestimate your knowledge of History. Prepare separately for mains. For those who are having History as second optional, - Be cautious, you have to compete with candidates who are having history as a first optional in prelims. For prelim’s tracking syllabus may not be a fruitful exercise, but for mains it is. The vast syllabus cannot be covered without the pointers. What is interesting is that syllabus of mains is clearly defined and examiners remain stick to it. (For e.g. in 2009 mains question asked word to word from lines of syllabus, Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese (60) Coinage of the Guptas (30) “Indian Feudalism”(20), Muhammad Tughluq: agrarian measures(20), theory of Sulh-i-kul(20), Mughal Population(20), Kalhan’s Rajtarangini(30) Akbar :Court patronage of art and technology (30)) The compulsory map question should be solved first and prepared first. Twenty sites are given & you have to mark the fifteen sites on the given map and describe its importance in four lines. Two marks for marking site and two for description. Sites given are of specific importance in history (for e.g. Kuchai, Utnar, Daojali Hading in mains 2009) By daily practice this question can turned into scoring one. They give blank map with only India’s international boundaries.(As in 2009 mains) It is safer to make blocks and practice. Sites from Ancient and medieval India are asked. Spectrum has published the book about Ancient Indian places. Ensemble has come out with ‘History Through Maps’, a well researched and royally presented work. In paper II world history is to be targeted. On modern India now so much research is available that there is no end of interpretation. Comparatively world history is straight and neutral. There are controversies in France about how the fall of Napoleon took place, but there are no such controversies in India. As it is, if world history questions are difficult you can jump to modern India in the last moment but reverse is not true. IGNOU books are useful for mains too. Publication division has done grand job of publishing material which prove very helpful for the mains. They are 1) India – Art & Architecture in Ancient & Medieval Period 2) India – Early History 3) India – Government & Economic life in Ancient and Medieval periods For world History good work is done by Jain & Mathur. Their book for world History mains is excellent. It has covered our syllabus topic wise, but it is also true that it is not edited properly. Recently a book is published by Krishna Reddy by the name ‘Modern World’ overcomes this issue. It has avoided the bulkiness and is updated with recent changes in syllabus. World History by L.Mukherjee is lucid and will make answers readable. It can be used as complementary with Jain & Mathur or Krishna Reddy. If you analyze the past papers you will be surprised to find that most of the questions are repeated from the last ten year papers. So that’s the hint. Here some analysis of past papers from 2001 onwards.
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_______________________________________ Strategy for History as optional in mains exam________________
Ancient India Topic 1
Sub-topic i) ii)
2 3 4 5 6 i) ii) iii) 7 i) ii) 8 9 10 i) ii) iii) 11 i) ii) 12 i) ii)
Brief Description Sources Archeological sources Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments Pre-history and Proto-history Indus Valley Civilization Megalithic Cultures
30 Marks
Aryans and Vedic Period Period of Mahajanapadas Economic growth; Introduction of coinage Spread of Jainism and Buddhism Rise of Magadha and Nandas Mauryan Empire Polity, Administration Religion; Spread of religion; Literature Post - Mauryan Period Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas Polity and administration Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women Education and educational institutions Regional States during Gupta Era Chalukyas of Badami Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas Themes in Early Indian Cultural History major stages in the evolution of art and architecture ideas in Science and Mathematics
2009
60 Marks 2003 2007/09 2002 2008 2004 2003 2007 2001 2005 2004 2008 2008
2009
2006/05 2007/05 2003
2004/2009 2001
Medieval India Topic 13
14
15 16
17 18
Brief Description Early Medieval India, 750-1200 The Cholas: administration, village economy and society “Indian Feudalism” Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200 Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta Growth of Bhakti Sufism Kalhan’s Rajtarangini Alberuni’s India The Thirteenth Century Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban The Fourteenth Century “The Khalji Revolution” Alauddin Khalji Muhammad Tughluq Society, Culture and Economy in the 13th & 14th Centuries Sufi movement The 15th & Early 16th Century – Political Developments and Economy Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration Bhakti and Sufi Movements
20 Marks
30 Marks
60 Marks
2009
2004/07
2005/09 2001 2002 2003 2003 2007 2004/08
2008
2009 2003 2009
2006 2001 2003/04/09 2006
2009
2001 2005
2006 2001/03/04/05/07
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_______________________________________ Strategy for History as optional in mains exam________________ 19 20
21
22
23
24
Portuguese Colonial Enterprise The 15th & Early 16th Century – Society and Culture Literary traditions Akbar Establishment of Jagir and Mansab systems Rajput policy Evolution of religious and social outlook Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century Major administrative policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb Religious policies of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb Ahom Kingdom Economy and Society in the 16th & 17th Centuries Agriculture & craft Towns, commerce with Europe Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance and credit systems Evolution of Khalasa Culture in the Mughal Empire Hindi and other religious literature Mughal architecture Mughal painting Science and technology The Eighteenth Century Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas The Maratha fiscal and financial system Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat:1761
2008 2002 2002 2003/07 2002
2004/06/09
2004 2006 2008
2009
2008 2006 2005
2009 2008
2001 2005/07 2001
2006 2002 2009 2005 2001
2003/04/07 2002
2008
Modern India Topic
Subto
Brief Description
20 Marks
30 Marks
60 Marks
2002/6 2001/4/5 2004 2008 2001/3/4/5/6/9 2003
2009 2009
2002 2006 2005
1
European Penetration into India British Expansion in India Early Structure of the British Raj English Utilitarian Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule Famine and poverty in the rural interior Drain of wealth Social and Cultural Developments Social and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas Indian Response to British Rule The Great Revolt of 1857 Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism National Congress
2
the Moderates and Extremists
2006
2003
1
Rise of Gandhi the Khilafat Movement; the Non-cooperation Movement
2002 2008
2007
2
beginning of the Civil Disobedience movement
3
Quit India Movement;
2001/3
The Cabinet Mission Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India Other strands of the National Movement
2004
1 2 3 1 4 1 2 5 6 7 1 8
9
4 10 11
2008 2005/7/9
2001/3/4/6/7 2002/5/8 2008 2004 2009
2001 2005/7/9 2001 2002
2009
2005 2009
2007
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_______________________________________ Strategy for History as optional in mains exam________________ 1
The Revolutionaries
2
The Left
3
Subhas Chandra Bose
2002 2006/09
1
Politics of Separatism Consolidation as a Nation; Nehru’s Foreign Policy Integration of Princely States Nehru’s Foreign Policy Caste and Ethnicity after 1947 Economic development and political change
2008
12 13 2 14 15
2008
2003 2002/6 2009 2007 2001/4
World History Topic
Subtopic
16 (i) (ii) (iii) 17 (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) 18 (i) (ii) (iii) 19 (i) (ii) (iii) 20 (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) 21 (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) 22 (i) (ii) (iii) 23 (i) (ii) (iii) 24 (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
Brief Description Enlightenment and Modern ideas Major Ideas of Enlightenment Spread of Enlightenment Rise of socialist ideas Origins of Modern Politics European States System American Revolution and the Constitution. French revolution and after math, 1789-1815. American Civil War British Democratic Politics, 1815-1850; Industrialization English Industrial Revolution: Industrialization in other countries: Industrialization and Globalization. Nation-State System Rise of Nationalism in 19th century Nationalism : state-building Disintegration of Empires Imperialism and Colonialism South and South-East Asia Latin America and South Africa Australia Imperialism and free trade: Revolution and Counter-Revolution : 19th Century European revolutions The Russian Revolution of 1917-1921 Fascist Counter-Revolution The Chinese Revolution of 1949 World Wars 1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars: World War I : Causes and Consequences World War II : Causes and consequence The World after World War II: Emergence of two power blocs Emergence of Third World and Non-Alignment UNO and the global disputes Liberation from Colonial Rule: Latin America-Bolivar Arab World-Egypt Africa-Apartheid to Democracy South-East Asia-Vietnam
20 Marks
30 Marks
2004
60 Marks
2008
2001/8
2006 2002/3/4/5/6/7
2009
2005
2005 2001 2004
2009 2009
2001/4/5 2001/6
2002/3
2009
2001
2007 2008 2005 2005
2009
2003 2004/7 2002/5/6
2007 2001/3/4/6 2002/8/9 2008 2003
2005 2009
2009
2001 2006 2009
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_______________________________________ Strategy for History as optional in mains exam________________ 25 (i) 26 (i) (ii) (iii) 27 (i) (ii) (iii)
Decolonization and Underdevelopment Factors constraining Development : Unification of Europe Post War Foundations : Consolidation of European Community European Union. Disintegration of Soviet Union Collapse of Soviet communism Political Changes in Eastern Europe 1989-2001 End of the Cold War and US Ascendancy
2009 2003/7
2002/4/7 2008 2003/8
Study for mains cannot be general like prelims. Reading generally will not do. One has to focus on relevant areas. Guesswork has to be done to what will come and what will not.(And be mentally prepared for third thing in paper) Nothing likes that if the notes are prepared in questionanswer format. If you get ready with say 150-200 questions with outline of answers then you can stuck a jackpot. Chronicle Publication has published the book in such format and will prove useful for reference. It may sound absurd, but NCERT books on History, both old and new versions are highly useful in writing the mains answers. They present the clue about direction and the structure of the answer. It is very common to say that one has to do writing practice. I repeat it is necessary. Candidates dream that as soon as study is over they will give tests. That’s ideal, seldom has this happened. Studies may never get over. Just make a timetable of tests, follow it strictly, and get it checked from competent authority and discuss them out. Handwriting, speed, fluency and structure of answer play a main role in marks. One should give full attention to the direction of the question like Discuss, Explain, Evaluate, Describe, Compare etc. Each of them connotes different meaning. Where ever possible the answer should be substantiated with tables, diagrams and flowcharts. The sudden twist in the story In last Mains (2009) UPSC surprised (or shocked) the candidates by changing the question format. Instead of 60 marks question, they divided it into two questions of 30 marks. This was not done only in History but in all other optional. Its like test match suddenly turned into 20-20. With this examiner were able to cover far more syllabus, they are able ask the questions on such areas on which its not possible to ask questions in 60 marks pattern (for e.g. use of gold coins by commoners in Gupta period) Earlier hardly three questions are asked on Ancient, Medieval, Modern and World each. That means luck played important role. If you have luckily touched a particular part which came then hit. Those who otherwise studied harder but not studied a part that came in the paper, then you are gone. This is balanced now, with much more areas asked, covering the range of syllabus has become important. There is one more twist. Since the old format is divided into two questions. It bought the catch-22 situation for the candidates. Suppose you know the (a) answer of question 4 and (b) answer of question (5), no use, you have to answer either 4 or 5. Many found themselves helpless and lost the battle in the exam hall itself. Actually every mains UPSC will surely keep throwing new surprises, keep changing the pattern of questions ask so that nobody should take disadvantage of it. So those who accepted the changes with open heart survived. Those who were not able to and remain rigid ended up getting low score. Not to forget that the biggest test scorer in the world Sachin Tendulkar has won the Orange Cap for the best batsman in the 20-20 format. ______________________________________________________ Bhushan V. Deshmukh___________- 6 -
