Strategy for History Part- 3

Hello everyone, Sorry for posting it after a long time as the season of festivals was there. So, here I am sharing strategy for ' Modern India' for CAPF exam. In CAPF , modern india plays a great role as you pick any paper randomly and you cam find the 15-20% of the paper coverd by Modern India. History is a lengthy subject and also has various aspects and theories and also various books are available in the market. But I suggest, stick to the one - two books which I suggest and get your concepts cleared and do memorizes some facts also. So lets start it-

Books Suggested- old NCERT class 12th,   ' Spectrum's Modern India by Rajiv Aheer' ,   ' Freedom Struggle of India by Bipin Chandra'.

1- It is true that UPSC focusses more on the freedom struggle that means the period after 1857, but you should also focus on the period before 1857. Make a background about how after the death of Aurangzeb, the Mightly Mughal empire declines, how their policies affects India and how the small states arises, the rising of Bengal under Mushid Quli Khan, Rise of Hydrabad, Awadh, etc, ( I will write about Marathas separately).

2- I think you should read about Marathas back from Shivaji, make a concept from there and then How ' The third Pnipat war, 1761' affects Marathas, reforms under Madhawrao, internal politics, First Anglo- Maratha war, Treaty of Salbai and its consequences, etc.

3- Then the Europian powers and their policies and the battle for supremacy. UPSC had asked some minor facts from this session previously like ' The Battle of Ambur', So, keep looking facts also, ' Carnatak wars are important, then ' Battle of Plassy', ' Battle of Baxar', etc.

4-The Policies and administration under ' The Company rule' is very important, I will give it three stars. In my year, 4 questions were directly from here and also not very tough. here you have to focus firstly on British Revenue system( Subset theory, Permanent Settlement, Raiyatwari, Mahalwari), Commercialization of agriculture, Industrial policies, Famine policies, Railways etc. I think Spectrum has covered more than enough.

5- Then ' Revolt of 1857' is very important. It has got many facts like who was leading and where etc. Keep memorizing them. Also do clear all the concepts.

6- ' Tribal and Peasant movement' is also very important. what I did, I made a list of them, and thus it became easy to memorize them.

7- ' Renaissance' is the section which gives 2 or three questions every year. It has also got many facts and also there are many thoughts and organizations but some like Ram Mohan Rai,, Vidyasagar, Dayanand, Keshav Chandra Sen, Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, Dada Bhai Naurozi etc are important. I also say, do not read much but make some points like the mains thoughts of the organization, year of est., some books, and achievements.

8- The period aftermath this is very very important. Here you have to understand background of ' Rise of Nationalism'. After that UPSC can ask about the organizations formed prior to INC( just know who formed it and when).

Then the main section comes. Here ' The formation of Indian National Congress' , Policies of Moderates, their success and shortcomigs, rise of extremists, their success and failure, Partition of Bengal ( 1905 ), vacuum formed after 1905 and rise of extremism , first world War and ' Gadar Movement', Kamatagamaru incident, Home rule Movement ( Annie Besant is important here, do collect facts).

9- Now, The Gandhian Era is the most important and here you cannot skip anything, you have to read everything but have more focus on the period after 1940.

I think if you read History in a flow then you will not face confusion. And also please, stick to these books only. Its my suggestion.

All the Best.......