Complete General Knowledge (GK) Indian History for Competitive Exams | SSC, RRB, PSC, UPSC, Banking

INDIAN HISTORY — SHORT NOTES (Exam Point of View)

(Ancient + Medieval + Modern India)

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PART–1: ANCIENT INDIA

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1. Prehistoric India

Stone Age

• Divided into Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic.

• Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age)

  • Earliest humans used hand axes, cleavers, choppers.

  • Lived by hunting & gathering.

  • Sites: Soan valley, Bhimbetka, Belan valley.

• Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)

  • Microliths (tiny tools).

  • Beginning of animal domestication.

  • Sites: Bagor (Rajasthan), Adamgarh (MP).

• Neolithic (New Stone Age)

  • Agriculture begins; Pottery appears.

  • Sites: Mehrgarh (early farming), Burzahom (pit dwellings), Chirand.

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2. Indus Valley Civilization (2500–1900 BCE)

Also called Harappan Civilization — one of world’s oldest urban civilizations.

Key Features

• Well-planned grid-pattern cities, drainage system, baked brick houses.

• Major sites:

  • Harappa (Punjab) – granary.

  • Mohenjo-daro (Sindh) – Great Bath.

  • Dholavira (Gujarat) – water management.

  • Lothal – dockyard.

• Scripts: Undeciphered, pictographic.

• Economy: Agriculture (wheat, barley, cotton), trade with Mesopotamia.

• Religion: Mother goddess, Pashupati seal.

• No evidence of temples or kings.

• Decline theories: Floods, climate change, river shift, invasion, internal decay.

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3. Vedic Age

Early Vedic / Rig Vedic Period (1500–1000 BCE)

• Society: Pastoral, cattle wealth, tribal life.

• Political: Raja was tribal leader; Sabha & Samiti assemblies.

• Economy: Limited agriculture, mostly cattle rearing.

• Religion: Worship of nature gods (Indra, Agni, Varuna).

• Women enjoyed high status.

Later Vedic Period (1000–600 BCE)

• Agriculture expanded; use of iron tools.

• Society becomes varna-based.

• Political: Strong kings; taxation begins.

• Emergence of rituals, sacrifices (Yajnas).

• Women’s freedom declines.

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4. Rise of Jainism & Buddhism (6th Century BCE)

Jainism

• Founder: Mahavira (24th Tirthankara).

• Teachings:

  • Triratnas: Right faith, knowledge, conduct.

  • Non-violence (Ahimsa).

• Texts: Agamas.

• Sects: Digambara, Shvetambara.

Buddhism

• Founder: Gautama Buddha (born in Lumbini).

• Four Noble Truths; Eightfold Path.

• Rejects caste system.

• Spread under missionaries.

• Councils:

  • 1st (Rajgir) – teachings compiled.

  • 2nd (Vaishali) – schism: Sthaviravadins & Mahasangikas.

  • 3rd (Pataliputra, Ashoka) – Abhidhamma.

  • 4th (Kashmir) – division into Hinayana & Mahayana.

• Symbols:

  • Bodhi tree, Wheel of Dharma, Stupa.

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5. Mahajanapadas (600–300 BCE)

• Sixteen large territorial states.

• Important: Magadha, Kashi, Kosala, Avanti, Vatsa.

• Magadha rose to power due to fertile land, iron ore, strong rulers.

• Rulers: Bimbisara, Ajatashatru, Mahapadma Nanda.

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6. Mauryan Empire (322–185 BCE)

Chandragupta Maurya

• Founder of the empire.

• Advisor: Chanakya / Kautilya.

• Book: Arthashastra.

• Capital: Pataliputra.

Bindusara

• Son of Chandragupta.

• Extended empire to Deccan.

Ashoka (273–232 BCE)

• Greatest Mauryan ruler.

• After Kalinga War, adopted Dhamma (non-violence).

• Inscriptions in Prakrit, Brahmi script.

• Promoted Buddhism globally.

Administration

• Highly centralized.

• Spy system.

• Officers: Mahamatyas, Dhamma-mahamatras.

Decline

• Weak successors, large empire, financial drain.

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7. Post-Mauryan Period

Sungas & Kanvas

• Sunga founder: Pushyamitra Sunga.

• Revival of Brahmanism.

Indo-Greeks

• First foreign rulers in India.

• Famous king: Menander (Milinda).

Shakas & Parthians

• Shakas ruled western India.

• Important king: Rudradaman I.

Kushans (1st–3rd century CE)

• Greatest ruler: Kanishka, patron of Buddhism.

• Held 4th Buddhist Council.

• Gandhara art flourished.

• Introduced gold coins.

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8. Gupta Empire (319–550 CE)

“Golden Age of India”.

Important Rulers

• Chandragupta I – founder.

• Samudragupta – Napoleon of India.

• Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) – Ujjain capital; defeated Shakas.

Achievements

• Decimal system, zero concept.

• Aryabhatta: Aryabhatiya – value of π.

• Kalidasa: Abhijnanashakuntalam.

• Ajanta paintings.

• Trade, prosperity.

Decline

• Huna invasions, weak rulers.

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9. Post-Gupta & Early Medieval India

• Harsha (606–647 CE) – last great emperor of North India.

• Chalukyas, Pallavas, Rashtrakutas rule South India.

• Notable:

  • Chalukyas: Pulakesin II.

  • Pallavas: Narasimhavarman.

  • Rashtrakutas: Amoghavarsha.

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10. South Indian Kingdoms

• Cholas (9th–13th century):

  • Greatest rulers: Rajaraja I, Rajendra I.

  • Built Brihadeshwara Temple.

  • Powerful navy.

• Cheras – Kerala region.

• Pandyas – Madurai; patronized Tamil Sangam.

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PART–2: MEDIEVAL INDIA

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1. Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)

Slave Dynasty

• Founder: Qutbuddin Aibak – built Qutb Minar.

• Iltutmish: Introduced Iqtadari, completed Qutb Minar.

• Razia Sultan – first woman ruler.

Khilji Dynasty

• Alauddin Khilji:

  • Market reforms.

  • Conquered Deccan.

  • Defended against Mongols.

Tughlaq Dynasty

• Muhammad bin Tughlaq:

  • Token currency.

  • Capital shift to Daulatabad.

  • Both failed.

• Firoz Tughlaq:

  • Irrigation works.

  • Abolished harsh taxes.

Sayyid & Lodi Dynasties

• Last dynasty before Mughals: Lodi.

• Last ruler: Ibrahim Lodi (defeated by Babur in 1526).

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2. Bhakti & Sufi Movements

Bhakti Movement

• Saints: Ramananda, Kabir, Mirabai, Tulsidas, Chaitanya.

• Preached devotion to personal god.

• Opposed caste system.

Sufism

• Mystical form of Islam.

• Silsilas: Chishti (Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti), Suhrawardi.

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3. Mughal Empire (1526–1707)

Babur

• Founder.

• Won Battle of Panipat (1526).

• Introduced gunpowder.

Humayun

• Lost to Sher Shah Suri; regained later.

Sher Shah Suri

• Introduced Rupiya, Postal system, Grand Trunk Road.

Akbar (1556–1605)

• Greatest Mughal ruler.

• Policies:

  • Sulh-i-Kul (universal tolerance).

  • Mansabdari system.

  • Abolished Jizya.

• Built: Fatehpur Sikri.

Jahangir

• Art lover.

• Nur Jahan’s influence.

Shah Jahan

• Built Taj Mahal, Red Fort.

Aurangzeb

• Longest rule.

• Expanded empire but re-imposed Jizya.

• Decline begins after his death.

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4. Maratha Empire

• Founder: Shivaji (1674 coronation).

• System:

  • Chauth, Sardeshmukhi taxes.

  • Administration based on Ashta Pradhan (8 ministers).

• Successor: Peshwas (hereditary prime ministers).

• Decline: After 3rd Battle of Panipat (1761).

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PART–3: MODERN INDIA

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1. Advent of Europeans

• Portuguese – first Europeans to reach India (Vasco da Gama, 1498).

• Dutch – strong traders.

• British – East India Company (1600).

• French – major competitor.

Carnatic Wars

• Battle for control in South India (British vs French).

• British won; French influence reduced.

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2. British Expansion

Battle of Plassey (1757)

• British defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah.

• Start of British political control.

Battle of Buxar (1764)

• British won over Mughal, Awadh & Bengal.

• Got Diwani rights.

Anglo-Mysore Wars

• Fought against Hyder Ali & Tipu Sultan.

• Tipu died in 4th war (1799).

Anglo-Maratha Wars

• Ultimately Marathas defeated (1818).

Anglo-Sikh Wars

• Punjab annexed by British (1849).

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3. Social & Religious Reform Movements

Hindu Reformers

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy – Brahmo Samaj, abolished Sati.

• Swami Dayanand Saraswati – Arya Samaj.

• Swami Vivekananda – Ramakrishna Mission.

• Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar – Widow Remarriage Act.

Muslim Reformers

• Sir Syed Ahmed Khan – Aligarh Movement.

• Deoband Movement.

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4. Revolt of 1857

• First major revolt against British rule.

Causes

• Annexation policies (Doctrine of Lapse).

• Cartridge controversy.

• Economic exploitation.

• Cultural interference.

Leaders

• Rani Laxmibai – Jhansi.

• Bahadur Shah II – Delhi.

• Nana Saheb – Kanpur.

• Tantia Tope – guerilla warfare.

• Kunwar Singh – Bihar.

Outcome

• Failed due to lack of unity.

• End of East India Company rule; Crown took control.

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5. Indian National Movement (1885–1947)

Indian National Congress (INC)

• Founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume.

• First President: W.C. Bonnerjee.

Moderate Phase (1885–1905)

• Leaders: Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale.

• Methods: petitions, resolutions.

• Naoroji’s Drain of Wealth Theory.

Extremist Phase (1905–1916)

• Leaders: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai.

• Slogan: Swaraj is my birthright — Tilak.

• Partition of Bengal (1905) leads to Swadeshi Movement.

Home Rule Movement (1916)

• By Tilak & Annie Besant.

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6. Gandhian Era (1915–1947)

Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

• First Satyagraha by Gandhi.

• Against indigo planters.

Kheda Movement (1918)

• Tax relief for farmers.

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)

• Boycott of schools, courts, foreign goods.

• Withdrawn due to Chauri-Chaura incident.

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)

• Started with Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha).

Quit India Movement (1942)

• "Do or Die".

• Peak of mass struggle.

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7. Revolutionary Movements

• Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru – Lahore Conspiracy.

• Surya Sen – Chittagong Armoury Raid.

• Chandrashekhar Azad – Hindustan Socialist Republican Army.

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8. Indian National Army (INA)

• Led by Subhas Chandra Bose.

• Slogan: “Give me blood, I will give you freedom”.

• INA trials sparked mass uprising.

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9. Towards Independence

• Wavell Plan, Cabinet Mission Plan.

• Mountbatten Plan led to partition.

• Independence: 15 August 1947.

• First PM: Jawaharlal Nehru.

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👉 Summary for Exams

Most Important Topics

• Indus Valley features

• Mauryan administration

• Gupta achievements

• Delhi Sultanate reforms

• Akbar’s policies

• Shivaji administration

• Battles: Plassey, Buxar, Panipat

• Acts: 1773, 1858, 1909, 1919, 1935

• Gandhi’s movements

• Revolutionary movements