HISTORY

Best Books to Study Indian History for UPSC || The Best Books on Indian History

History is an important subject for the civil services examination (CSE). As it entails Ancient Indian History, Medieval Indian History, Modern Indian History and World History, it becomes imperative for aspirants to have a list of history books for IAS Exam preparation. These are the best books on Indian history for UPSC.


 

There are thousands of aspirants who apply for the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) Civil Service Examination (CSE) every year. Before beginning on the preparatory journey, every aspirant draws up a list of books to study. So, here’s a list of the best books that one could refer to while preparing for Indian History. Best books on Indian history for competitive exams. These best books for the UPSC IAS exam.

 

1. India’s Ancient Past by RS Sharma

This book presents a complete and accessible explanation of the Indian history of early India. It starts by discussing the origins and growth of civilisations, empires and religions. This book is Based on the extremely popular school text on Ancient India by Professor R. S. Sharma prepared by him years ago and subsequently revised, this volume also addresses several issues which have become current in discussion on Ancient India today, such as the

This is a volume meant for all those who want a masterly, lucid, yet eminently readable introduction to, and overview of, India's early history by one of the master scholars of Indian history---be it students, tourists, or the interested lay reader.

 In addition, the rise of Jainism and Buddhism, Magadha and the beginning of territorial states, the period of Mauryas, Central Asian international locations, Satvahanas, Guptas, and Harshavardhana also are analysed. Next, it stresses the varna device, urbanisation, trade and exchange, traits in science and philosophy and cultural legacy. Best books on Indian history for beginners.

 Finally, the method of transition from ancient to medieval India and the beginning of the Aryan lifestyle has also been tested.

 

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2. History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra


This book has been defined by Meenakshi Jain as a part of Marxist historiography. The book is often one-sided and negationist and written with an agenda. The book omits "inconvenient moments" and hides the history of persecution of Hindus and the destruction of temples. At the time time, it projects these atrocities on Hindus (for which there's regularly no actual case). It has also been criticized by Dr Meenakshi Jain ("Flawed Narratives"), which includes many samples of misunderstanding, obfuscation and distortion. Amazing book on Marxist historians " Eminent Historians: Their Technology, Their Line, Their Fraud " also contains criticisms of this book.

Satish Chandra’s History of Medieval India is a complete evaluation of the history of the Indian subcontinent between the 8th and 18th centuries. It focuses on:

The histories of the Chola, Bahmani and Vijayanagara kingdoms

They have an effect exerted by way of the Surs, Lodis, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals

The importance of the Rajput kings and the Marathas

Religious movements, along with Sufism and the Bhakti movement

The changing political, financial and agrarian scene.



Satish Chandra's History of Medieval India is a complete assessment of the history of the Indian subcontinent for the duration of the thousand years between the 8th and the 18th century. History of Medieval India research this interesting period in Indian history when the land underwent drastic changes and was deeply influenced by way of the invading armies, non-secular movements, and the vicissitudes of the changing political, economic and cultural scene. To tell the history of land spanning the geographical dimensions and the political divisions of the Indian subcontinent is in itself a formidable challenge. Satish Chandra executes this difficult assignment with the eye of an enquirer and the pen of a scholar. Best history books for UPSC by toppers.

 

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3. History of Modern India by Bipan Chandra


This book published in the year 2009, History Of Modern India is a book that revolves around the history of British India and throws light on the nationalist movement and colonialism.

History Of Modern India is a book that is written by popular historian, Bipan Chandra. The contents of this book are a result of Chandra’s research on the subjects of colonialism and nationalism in the country. Apart from his studies, Chandra has additionally drawn from the works of famed historians for the duration of that point in history.

In overall, there are 14 chapters in this book that cover different periods in Indian records. Some of the chapters in this book consist of the Indian States And Society In The 18th Century, Religious And Social Reform After 1858, The Struggle For Swaraj, The Nationalist Movement, European Penetration And The British Conquest, and Social And Cultural Awakening. In The First Half Of The 19th Century, The Decline Of The Mughal Empire, and The Revolt Of 1857. Some different chapters encompass The Nationalist Movement: 1858-1905, Administrative Changes After 1858, and Administrative Organisation And Society And Cultural Policy.


This book doesn’t focus on the political factors for the duration of that period but deals with the economic, non-secular, and social history of India. Through the course of this book, Bipan Chandra presents a perception of several activities in modern Indian history inclusive of the establishment of the British East India Company, which led to a tightened grip of the British over India. Chandra additionally explains that the predominant reason at the back of the colonial rule was to take advantage of India using investment and trade.


The chapters in this book are organized in chronological order, starting from British Rule to the independence of the country. This piece of literature provides its readers with masses of information about the nationalist movement, throwing light on the contributions made by way of several different individuals. This book is an ought to have for history students as well as for those who need to benefit from insight into the history of modern India. These best books on Indian history in both Hindi and English.


History of Modern India presents what is arguably an authoritative overview of the historical period known as British India. It moves away from an in large part political narrative to provide:


Clarification of those conditions in Eighteenth-Century India that helped the British East India Company establish its rule.


Important insights into the number one aim of colonial rule:


The economic exploitation of India via trade and investment


A detailed account of the nationalist motion


A creation to widespread freedom combatants.


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4. India’s Struggle For Independence by Bipan Chandra


This book by Bipan Chandra is a go-to book for an in-depth and detailed overview of the Indian independence movement. The Indian freedom struggle is one of the most important parts of its history. A lot has been written and said about it, however, there remains a gap. Rarely do we get to hear accounts of the independence from the entire country and no longer just one region in a single place.

India’s struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra will give you an in-depth and detailed overview of the Indian independence movement. Bipin Chandra’s book is a properly-documented history of India’s freedom struggle against British rule. It is one of the most correct books which have been painstakingly written after thorough research primarily based on legal and valid verbal and written sources. The book also provides a narration of the impact this movement had on the people. Bipan Chandra. (Modern History) 


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5. Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania

The author has provided a huge-ranged knowledge base on Indian art, paintings, music and architecture with the help of several images and diagrams which he believes will help arouse the reader’s interest. The content is also supported with the aid of a plethora of questions that will help students to prepare for the examination. Indian Art and Culture by Nithin Singhania is a recent entry, yet really good work. Best book for history.


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6. A Brief History of Modern India by Rajiv Ahir - Spectrum


This Book brings together many aspects of the turbulent duration (from the advent of the Europeans on Indian soil and the establishment of British rule in India to the day India won independence and the early years of freedom) systematically and succinctly: major and important details and milestones are effectively discussed at the same time several relevant but little known details are also highlighted. It is not simply the mainstream freedom struggle that has been considered; the disparate efforts—small but important— of several groups have also been discussed. The political and socio-economic developments that have stimulated the growth of modern-day India have been handled in independent chapters. A brief history of modern India spectrum latest edition is the best book.

 

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7. India After Independence: Bipan Chandra


The story of the forging of India, the world’s biggest democracy, is a wealthy and inspiring one. This volume, a sequel to high-quality-promoting India’s Struggle for Independence, analyses the challenges India has confronted and the successes it has achieved in mild of its colonial legacy and the century-long struggle for freedom.

It covers the framing of the Constitution and the evolution of the Nehruvian political and economic agenda and basics of overseas policy; the consolidation of the nation and contentious issues like party politics in the Centre and the states, the Punjab trouble, and anti-caste politics and untouchability. These, along with objective assessments of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Jayaprakash Narayan, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Rajiv Gandhi, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, constitute a remarkable overview of a nation on the move.

 

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Additional books for reference: Civil Services Preliminary Exam History


The Wonder That Was India: AL Basham


AL Basham’s The Wonder that become India is an extraordinary early history of one of the oldest civilisations. When it was first published in the United Kingdom in 1954, it became an immediate hit, as it'd in the United States a few years later. Since then it has continually found an avid readership all over the world. It’s been translated into many languages and has educated and entertained generations of general readers, serious students and travellers to India.

 

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Ancient and Medieval India: Poonam Dalal Dahiya


Combining storytelling and historical evaluation, the book Ancient and Medieval India by Poonam Dalal Dahiya reveals a fascinating legacy covering all important factors meant for the aspirants of the UPSC as well as various other State public service examinations. 

This is the most popular credit-by-examination book that has helped many students goal UPSC and State-level examinations. This book comes with exclusive chapter-wise practice questions. Additionally, the book is bicolour with highlighted important contents for the students to focus on and includes a detachable chart that gives a chance for complete revision at a glance.

 

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India After Gandhi: Ramachandra Guha


Born in opposition to a background of privation and civil war, divided along lines of caste, class, language and religion, independent India emerged, somehow, as a united and democratic country. Ramachandra Guha’s extremely acclaimed book tells the whole story – the pain and the struggle, the humiliations and the glories – of the world’s largest and least likely democracy.

 

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From Plassey to Partition: A History of Modern India- Sekhar Bandyopadhyay


This is an eminently readable account of the emergence of India as a nation. It covers about 200 years of political and socio-economic turbulence. Of particular interest to the contemporary reader will be sections including Early Nationalism: Discontent and Dissension, Many Voices of a Nation and Freedom with Partition. On the one hand, it converses with students of Indian history and on the other, it engages general and curious readers. Few books on this crucial period of history have captured the rhythms of India’s polyphonic nationalism as From Plassey to Partition.

 

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IMPORTANT LINK: Best Geography Books For UPSC || State Government And Other Competitive Exams

Geography Of India For UPSC And Other Exams [Chapter Wise]


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