Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The recent trend suggests (this is just my reading, there is no certainty about UPSC as to
what would happen in future)–
• More & more emphasis on later part of freedom struggle (1905-1947). The
Gazetteer of India (Vol. II) becomes a must.
• Weightage to various Committees/Commissions/Plans – reactions of various
political elements to these plans. Again here the gazetteer is helpful.
• Lesser & lesser importance to Tagore. Observe how questions on Tagore were
extremely frequent in earlier papers (almost 1 every paper). Even questions
regarding Nehru, his socialistic philosophy seem to be finding lesser & lesser
weightage, however they haven’t exactly disappeared.
• Gandhi, Nehru’s thoughts on various aspects, their present day relevance remain
important. For this purpose, small (also inexpensive) books on Gandhi , Nehru,
Ambedkar & their thoughts on various aspects like education, economy etc.
published by Government’s publication division might be useful.
• Integration of princely states & work of Vallabhbhai Patel also find some (not
much) frequency. So do questions as to entry of communalism.
• Partition of Bengal, reasons & the aftermath remains very important.
• Odd question seems to appear as regards to cultural awakening.
• Not much importance to early armed uprising or making of Constitution in recent
papers.
• Division of marks –
o One question of 30 marks out of two (250 words)
o Two questions of 15 marks out of three (150 words)