How to use this study plan?

This study plan limits itself to Indian Modern History
We have kept our sources limited to 2 and we urge our students to follow only what’s been prescribed. Try not to go overboard

#1. Primary Source: To be read multiple time

Spectrum Modern India

• It is the gist and sum of all that is important to be covered to master Modern History for Govt exams
• It is made to aid preparation and does so

#2. Preliminary reading source:

Modern India (Bipin Chandra) Old NCERT

• It is an easy read and topics are broken down very logically for easy assimilation.
• There is little extraneous detail & trivia otherwise found in the New NCERTs.
• This saves time and keeps preparation relevant to the exam

Daywise plan + Feedback questions with Explanations & Tikdams where applicable

Day 1

Setting up of the British Rule (1700-1857)

• Modern India (Bipin Chandra) Old NCERT – chapters 1-4

Focus Area:

• Carefully read and contextualize british struggle against the other Europeans, and Indian states like Mughals, Marathas, Sikhs and Mysore, etc

• Pay special attention to Important Viceroys/Governor-Generals and their contributions to

• Setting up of british rule eg campaigns/treaties

• Social reformation • Administration

• Type of Administration followed during The Mughal’s rule. Eg Mansabdari System, Jagirdhari – its significance and impact.

• The British rule. Example: Subsidiary alliance, Permanent Settlement, Mahalwari system etc. – its significance and impact.

Previous year’s MCQs to judge one’s level of understanding + Tikdams:

During the time of which Mughal Emperor did the Engilsh East India Company establish its first factory in India ?

A. Akbar

B. Jahangir

C. Shahjahan

D. Aurangzeb

Answer – B

Tikdam – East India Company, (British, 1600-1874) has established its first factory at Machilipatnam on the Coromandel coast of the Bay of Bengal in 1611 during the reign of Jehangir (1605-1628), and its gradually acquired unequaled trade privileges from the Mughal emperors.

Day 2

Early Colonial Rule & the revolt of 1857

• Modern India (Bipin Chandra) Old NCERT – chapters 1-4

Focus Area:

• Pay special attention to Important Viceroys/Governor-Generals and their contributions to setting up of british rule • Make note of Important Reports, Acts, Committees setup during the British period and their effects especially drastic changes (eg Regulation Act, 1773; Charter Acts, etc) • Make note of Important storm centres, leaders and motivations for revolts and their impact and legacy

Day 3: Revision

Day 4

Moderate Phase and Early Congress (1885-1905)

• Modern India (Bipin Chandra) Old NCERT – Chapters 12

• Spectrum’s Modern India – Chapter 3

Focus Area:

• Pay special attention to the changes brought in by the British and their reasons and impact

• Note the Indian leaders and their contributions

• Methods, achievements and criticism of the Moderates

Previous year’s MCQs to judge one’s level of understanding + Tikdams:

Consider the following statements: The most effective contribution made by Dadabhai Naoroji to the cause of Indian National Movement was

1. Exposed the economic exploitation of India by the British.

2. Interpreted the ancient Indian texts and restored the self-confidence of Indians.

3. Stressed the need for eradication of all the social evils before anything else.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer – A

Day 5+6

Socio-Religious Reform Movements

• Modern India (Bipin Chandra) Old NCERT – Chapters 7 (revise if needed), 13

• Spectrum’s Modern India – Chapter 2

Focus Area:

The various reform movements should be concentrated with regards

• The Ideological base – rationalism, humanism and universalism

• the objective and emphasis of these movements

• their importance in building a sense of nationalism among Indians – impact in the wider freedom struggle

• Impact on Education & Status of Women & Caste system

• the progressive/regressive trends

• Note the Indian reformers, their field of contribution, the organisations they were attached with and their specific impact

• Any British/Europeans attached with them

Previous year’s MCQs to judge one’s level of understanding + Tikdams:

In collaboration with David Hare and Alexander Duff, who of the following established Hindu College at Calcutta?

A. Henry Louis Vivian Derozio

B. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

C. Keshab Chandra Sen

D. Raja Rammohan Roy

Answer – D

Tikdam- With the creation of the Supreme Court in Calcutta in 1774 many Hindus of Bengal became eager to learn the English language. In 1817, in collaboration with Scottish watchmaker, David Hare and Alexander Duff, Raja Rammohan Roy set up the Hindu College at Calcutta. The College formally opened on Monday, January 20, 1817 with twenty ‘scholars’. The control of the institution was vested in a body of two Governors and four Directors. In 1830, Raja Rammohan helped Alexander Duff in establishing the General Assembly’s Institution, by providing him the venue vacated by Brahma Sabha and getting the first batch of students

Day 7+8

Pre-Gandhian Congress and National Movement-1905-1918

• Modern India (Bipin Chandra) Old NCERT – Chapter 14

• Spectrum’s Modern India – Chapter 4

Focus Area:

• Pay special attention to the various events like Bengal Partition, Arrival of Gandhi and his Satyagrahas

• Famous Personalities involved and their contribution {literature, organization of movements and their role in India’s Freedom Struggle}

• Analyze the methods, achievements and criticism of the Extremists and Militant nationalists

Previous year’s MCQs to judge one’s level of understanding + Tikdams:

Who among the following gave a systematic critique of the moderate politics of the Indian National Congress in a series of articles entitled new Lamps for Old?

A. Aurobindo Ghosh

B. R.C.Dutt

C. Syed Ahmad khan

D. Viraraghavachari

Answer – A

Tikdam – In 1893, Shri Aurobindo started writing political articles under the general title ‘New Lamps For Old’, at the instance of his Cambridge friend, K. G. Deshpandey, who edited the English section of an Anglo-Marathi paper known as the ‘Indu Prakash’. These articles constituted a direct, invasive and eloquent attack on the Indian National Congress, whose policies Shir Aurobindo regarded as a process of futile petition and protest. Shri Aurobindo gave a stirring call to his countrymen to organize all the forces in the nation for revolutionary action as the sole effective policy for the attainment of our independence

Day 9 + 10 : Cumulative Revision

Day 11+12+13

Era of Mass movements and Gandhi – National Movement-1919-1939

• Modern India (Bipin Chandra) Old NCERT – Chapter 15

• Spectrum’s Modern India – Chapter 5

Focus Area:

• Analyze the Various movements/ agitations (like Civil Disobedience Movement, Home Rule Movement, etc. )

• The aim and the immediate spark of the movements as well as the consequences

• The societal sections who participated in them (eg Peasants, labour etc)

• Famous Personalities involved and their contribution {literature, organization of movements and their role in India’s Freedom Struggle}

• Note down the ‘chronology’ of the major Movements and Missions sent by the British to gain support of the Indians and extend their rule.

Previous year’s MCQs to judge one’s level of understanding + Tikdams:

With reference to Congress Socialist Party, consider the following statements :

(1) It advocated the boycott of British goods and evasion of taxes.

(2) It wanted to establish the dictatorship of proletariat.

(3) It advocated separate electorate for minorities and oppressed classses. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 3 only

c) 1, 2 and 3

d) None

Answer – D

Tikdam- The CSP advocated decentralized socialism in which co-operatives, trade unions, independent farmers, and local authorities would hold a substantial share of the economic power. As secularists, they hoped to transcend communal divisions through class solidarity. Some, such as Narendra Deva or Basawon Singh (Sinha), advocated a democratic socialism distinct from both Marxism and reformist social democracy.Tikdam: 2nd is wrong as communists want that not socialists Separate electorate were demanded by muslim league and later ambedkar not CSP

Day 14+15

Towards Freedom and Partition – The Final years – 1939-1947

• Modern India (Bipin Chandra) Old NCERT – Chapter 15

• Spectrum’s Modern India – Chapter 6

Focus Area:

• Analyze the Various movements/ agitations (like Quit India Movement, Ratings Revolt etc. )

• The aim and the immediate spark of the movements as well as the consequences • The societal sections who participated in them (eg Peasants, labour etc)

• Famous Personalities involved and their contribution {literature, organization of movements and their role in India’s Freedom Struggle}

• Note down the ‘chronology’ of the major Movements and Missions sent by the British to gain support of the Indians and extend their rule.

Previous year’s MCQs to judge one’s level of understanding + Tikdams:

With reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct?

(1) It recommended a federal government

(2) It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts.

(3) It provided for more Indians in the ICS. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3

c) 1 and 3

d) None

Answer – A

Tikdam – The cabinet mission plan of 1946 proposed that there shall be a Union of India which was to be empowered to deal with the defense, foreign affairs and communications. • The Union Government and its legislature were to have limited powers, dealing with Finance, Foreign Affairs and Communications. The union would have powers necessary to raise the finances to manage the subjects. • All subjects other than the Union Subjects and all the residuary powers would be vested in the provinces. • Thus, the Cabinet Mission plan proposed a weak Centre with Provincial autonomy – essentially proposing a federal structure of government. Tikdam: More indians in ICS, more power to Indian courts were thing of 19th century or at the very least pre Gandhian. in 1946, we would be talking of indepndence and form of government.

Day 16+17 : Cumulative Revision

Day 18+19

Miscellaneous Topics – I – Development of various sectors under British

• Development of Indian Press

• Development of Education

• Miscellaneous aspects of British Rule and Constitutional Development

• Spectrum’s Modern India – Chapter 9, 10, 11

Focus Area:

• Carefully contextualize the motivation for British actions

• Focus on the impact of various policy steps, committees, Acts, etc

• Take note of the progressive and the regressive acts/steps

• The role of these interventions to aid/hurt India’s freedom struggle

Previous year’s MCQs to judge one’s level of understanding + Tikdams:

By a regulation in 1873, the District Collector was deprived of his judicial powers and made the collecting agent only. What was the reason for such regulation?

a) Lord Cornwallis felt that the District Collector’s efficiency of revenue collection would enormously increase without the burden of other work.

b) Lord Cornwallis felt that Judicial power should compulsorily be in the hands of Europeans while Indians can be given the job of revenue collection in the districts.

c) Lord Cornwallis was alarmed at the extent of power concentrated in the District Collector and felt that such absolute power was undesirable in one person.

d) The judicial work demanded a deep knowledge of India and a good training in law and Lord Cornwallis felt that District Collector should be only a revenue collector.

Answer – C

Day 20+21

Miscellaneous Topics – II – Evolution of Political-Economy under British

• Economic Impact of British Rule in India

• The Indian States •

The Evolution of Nationalist Foreign Policy

•Modern India (Bipin Chandra) Old NCERT – Chapters 10, 11 • Spectrum’s Modern India – Chapter 8, 12, 16

Focus Area:

• Carefully contextualize the motivation for British actions

• Focus on the impact of various policy steps and the Viceroy/Governor General associated with it

• The role of these interventions to aid/hurt India’s freedom struggle and India’s future

Previous year’s MCQs to judge one’s level of understanding + Tikdams:

Consider the following:

1. Assessment of land revenue on the basis of nature of the soil and the quality of crops.

2. Use of mobile cannons in warfare.

3. Cultivation of tobacco and red chillies. Which of the above was/were introduced into India by the English?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2

c) 2 and 3

d) None

Answer – D

Day 22+23

Miscellaneous Topics – III – Agitations of various sections

• Tribal uprisings

• Peasant Movements—1857-1947 • The Movement of the Working Class

• Spectrum’s Modern India – Chapter 13, 14, 15

Focus Area:

• Analyze the Various movements/ agitations

• The aim and the immediate spark of the movements as well as the consequences

• Leaders of the agitation and their contribution

• Role of Press, Literature and leadership of political mainstream

Previous year’s MCQs to judge one’s level of understanding + Tikdams:

The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Bengal was for

a) the reduction of the share of the landlords from one-half of the crop to one-third

b) the grant of ownership of land to peasants as they were the actual cultivators of the land

c) the uprooting of Zamindari system and the end of serfdom

d) writing off all peasant debts

Answer – A

Tikdam- The Tebhaga movement was a militant campaign initiated in Bengal by the Kisan Sabha (peasants front of Communist Party of India) in 1946. At that time share-cropping peasants (essentially, tenants) had to give half of their harvest to the owners of the land. The demand of the Tebhaga (sharing by thirds) movement was to reduce the share given to landlords to one third

Day 24+25 : Cumulative Revision

Day 26 : Test

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