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Complete Indian Modern History Notes for UPSC - Spectrum Notes

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Modern History

📚 Modern History – UPSC Notes 

Modern Indian History mainly covers the period from the mid-18th century to India's independence in 1947. It includes the decline of the Mughal Empire, the rise of European powers, especially the British, the freedom struggle, and the socio-economic-political changes that shaped modern India. This era shows how India transformed from a group of fragmented kingdoms into a unified nation fighting for independence.

🎯 Importance for UPSC

✅ Prelims:

  • Every year, 4–8 questions are asked from Modern History.

  • Focus is on:

    • Important events (Revolts, Acts, Congress sessions)

    • Personalities (Gandhi, Nehru, Tilak, etc.)

    • Movements (Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, etc.)

    • British policies and administrative changes.

✅ Mains (GS Paper I):

  • Questions are analytical and concept-based.

  • Topics like:

    • Causes and consequences of Revolts (1857)

    • Role of various movements in the national struggle

    • Impact of British rule on economy and society

    • Role of women, tribal and peasant uprisings

  • Helps in Essay and Ethics papers too, especially when quoting historical examples.

📚 Recommended Reading Strategy

1️⃣ Start with NCERTs (Clear basics and build foundation):

These help in understanding events, causes, and outcomes in a simple way.

2️⃣ Then move to Standard Books:

✅ Final Tip:

  • Use timelines, maps, and flowcharts for better retention.

  • Solve previous year questions regularly to know the trend and expected topics.

Read more:

  • NCERT Books
  • Karnataka State Books
  • Medieval History
  • Ancient History

1. Advent of Europeans and Consolidation of British Power

2. People’s Resistance Against the British Before 1857

  • Civil Uprisings

    • Sanyasi Revolt (1763–1800) [Bihar & Bengal]

    • Revolt of Moamarias (1769–99) [Assam]

    • Poligars’s Revolt (1795–1805) [Tamil Nadu]

    • Paika Rebellion (1817) [Odisha]

    • Ahom Revolt (1828) [Assam]

    • Wahabi Movement (1830–61) [Bihar, Bengal, NWFP, Punjab]

    • Kuka Movement (1840–72) [Punjab]

  • Other Civil Uprisings

    • Revolt in Midnapore and Dhalbhum (1766–74) [Bengal]

    • Civil Uprisings in Gorakhpur, Basti and Bahraich (1781) [Uttar Pradesh]

    • Revolt of Raja of Vizianagaram (1794) [Andhra Pradesh]

    • Revolt of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (1797–1805) [Kerala]

    • Revolt of Diwan Velu Thampi (1808–09) [Travancore]

  • Tribal Revolts

    • Pahariyas Rebellion (1778) [Raj Mahal Hills]

    • Revolt of Tilka Manjhi [Santhal Pargana]

    • Jungle Mahal Revolt / Chuar Uprisings (1776) [Chota Nagpur]

    • Santhal Rebellion (1855–56) [Bihar]

    • Khond Uprisings (1837–56)

    • Tana Bhagat Movement (1914–15) [Chotanagpur Region]

    • Birsa Munda Revolt (1890s–1901) [Singhbhum & Ranchi]

    • Tribal Movements of the North East

3. THE REVOLT OF 1857

  • The Beginning

  • Causes of the Revolt

  • The Spread of the Revolt

  • Analysis of the Revolt

4. SOCIO-RELIGIOUS REFORM MOVEMENTS

  • Introduction

  • Improving the Position of Women

    • Abolition of Sati

    • Preventing Female Infanticide

    • Widow Remarriage

    • Controlling Child Marriage

    • Education for Women

    • Women’s Organizations

    • Other Legislations

  • Reforms to Counter Caste Discrimination

    • Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772–1833)

    • Later Brahmo Samaj

    • Prarthana Samaj (1867)

    • Young Bengal Movement (Late 1820s–Early 1830s)

    • Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1850)

    • Balshastri Jambhekar (1832–1840)

    • Paramahansa Mandali (1849)

    • Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule

    • Gopal Baba Walangkar (1840–1900)

    • Kisan Faguji Bansod (1879–1946)

    • Vitthal Ramji Shinde (1873–1944)

    • Gopal Hari Deshmukh (1823–92)

    • Gopal Ganesh Agarkar (1856–95)

    • Servants of India Society (1866–1915)

    • Social Service League

    • Ramkrishna Movement

    • Swami Vivekananda (Narendranath Dutta) (1862–1902)

    • Dayananda Saraswati or Mulshanker (1824–83)

    • Seva Sadan (1908)

    • Dev Samaj (1887)

    • Dharma Sabha (1830)

    • Bharat Dharma Mahamandal (1902)

    • Radha Swami Movement (1861)

    • Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Movement (1888)

    • Vokkaliga Sangha (1905)

    • Justice Movement (1917)

    • Self-Respect Movement (1920s)

    • Madras Hindu Association (1892)

  • Temple Entry Movement (1924, 1931, 1936, 1938)

  • Indian Social Conference (1887)

  • Wahabi/Waliullah Movement (18th Century)

  • Titu Mir’s Movement (1831)

  • Faraizi Movement (1819)

  • Ahmadiyya Movement (1889)

  • Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817–98)

  • Deoband School (1866)

  • Parsi Reform Movements (1851)

  • Sikh Reform Movements

  • Theosophical Movement

5. BEGINNING OF MODERN NATIONALISM IN INDIA

  • Factors in the Growth of Modern Nationalism

  • Political Associations before the Indian National Congress

    • Zamindari Association (1837)

    • Bengal British India Society (1843)

    • British Indian Association (1851)

    • East India Association (1866)

    • Indian Association of Calcutta (Indian National Association) (1876)

    • All-India Conference (1883)

    • Madras Mahajan Sabha (1884)

    • Bombay Presidency Association (1885)

  • Pre-Congress Campaigns

6. INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (FOUNDATION & THE MODERATE PHASE)

  • Formation of the Indian National Congress

  • Congress Presidents

  • Moderate Phase (1885–1905)

  • Major Demands of Moderate Leaders

7. EXTREMIST PHASE

  • Factors for Rise of Extremism

  • The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement (1903–1905)

  • Spread of Movement and Congress’s Position

  • Moderate vs. Extremist Views

  • Extremist Programme and New forms of Struggle

  • Significance of Swadeshi Movement

  • The Surat Split

  • Morley-Minto Reforms

  • Revolutionary Activities in India

    • Causes and Strategies

    • Bengal

    • Maharashtra

    • Punjab

8. FIRST WORLD WAR AND NATIONALIST RESPONSE

  • Home Rule Movement

  • Lucknow Session

  • Lucknow Pact

9. MAKING OF GANDHI

  • South Africa Episode (1893–1914)

  • Gandhi in India

  • Rowlatt Act

  • Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

  • Hunter Committee

10. NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT AND KHILAFAT ISSUE

11. EMERGENCE OF SWARAJISTS, SOCIALIST IDEAS AND REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITIES

12. SIMON COMMISSION AND THE NEHRU REPORT

  • Simon Commission

  • Nehru Report

  • Muslim and Hindu Communal Responses

    • Delhi Proposals by Muslim League (1927)

    • Hindu Mahasabha’s Stance

  • Compromises and Dilemmas during the Nehru Report

    • Amendments Proposed by Jinnah (1928)

    • Jinnah’s Fourteen Points (March 1929)

    • Rejection of Nehru Report

13. CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT AND ROUND TABLE CONFERENCES

14. POST-CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT

  • The First Stage Debate

    • Acceptance of Council Entry

    • Gandhi’s Resignation

    • Electoral Success and Congress Accommodation

  • The Government of India Act, 1935

    • Federal Level

    • Provincial Level

    • Evaluation and British Strategy

    • Nationalists’ Response

  • Second Stage Debate within The Congress

    • Divided Opinion

    • Gandhi’s Position

    • Congress Rule in Provinces

    • Work Under Congress Ministries

    • Post-Resignation Events

15. NATIONALIST RESPONSE IN THE WAKE OF WORLD WAR II

16. QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT, DEMAND FOR PAKISTAN, AND THE INA

  • Quit India Movement

    • Wardha Meeting (July 1942)

    • Demands

    • Government’s Response

    • Underground Resistance and Parallel Governments

    • Parallel Governments During Quit India Movement

    • Mass Participation in Quit India Movement

  • Individual Efforts to Resolve Constitutional Crisis

    • Rajagopalachari Formula (1944)

    • Desai-Liaquat Pact

    • Wavell Plan (1945) and Shimla Conference

  • Subhas Chandra Bose

    • Anti-Compromise Conference (March 1940)

    • Shift to Germany

    • Berlin Radio Broadcasts

  • Indian National Army (INA)

17. POST-WAR NATIONAL SCENARIO

  • Change in the Government’s Attitude

  • Congress Election Campaign

  • INA Trials

  • Three Upsurges (Winter of 1945–46)

  • Bombay Naval Strike

  • Election Results

  • The Cabinet Mission

  • The Interim Government

    • Inclusion of the Muslim League

    • Ministers of Interim Government

    • Leaders from the Muslim League in the Interim Government

  • Communalism in India

18. INDEPENDENCE WITH PARTITION

  • Attlee's Statement (February 2, 1947)

  • Congress Acceptance

  • Mountbatten as Viceroy

    • Mountbatten Plan June 3, 1947

  • Acceptance of Dominion Status and Partition Plan

  • Indian Independence Act, 1947

  • Integration of States

    • State People’s Movement (1946–47)

19. CONSTITUTIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL DEVELOPMENTS

  • Administration

    • Dual System of Government (1765–1772)

    • Regulating Act of 1773

    • Amendments (1781)

    • Pitt’s India Act of 1784

    • The Act of 1786

    • The Charter Act of 1793

    • The Charter Act of 1813

    • The Charter Act of 1833

    • The Charter Act of 1853

    • The Act for Better Government of India 1858

    • Indian Councils Act 1861

    • Indian Councils Act 1892

    • Indian Councils Act 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms)

    • Government of India Act 1919 (Montague-Chelmsford Reforms)

    • Government of India Act 1935

  • Evolution of Civil Services in India

  • Pre-Colonial Policing in India

    • British Influence on Policing (1770–1775)

    • Evolution under British Rule

  • Pre-1857 Military Structure

    • Post-1857 Reorganization

  • Pre-Colonial Judicial System

    • Introduction of Common Law System

  • Genesis of Administrative Changes (Post-1857)

    • Central Administration

    • Provincial Administration

    • Local Administration

  • Evolution of Indian States

    • Company’s Rise to Political Power from the Position of Subordination (1740–1765)

    • Ring Fence Policy (1765–1813)

    • Subordinate Isolation Policy (1813–1857)

    • The Era of Subordinate Union (1857–1935)

    • Post-1905 Developments

20. SURVEY OF BRITISH POLICIES IN INDIA

  • Administrative Policies Post-1858

  • Labour Legislations

  • Agrarian Impact of British Policies

    • Warren Hasting’s Revenue System

    • Permanent Settlement

    • Ryotwari System

    • Mahalwari System

  • British Social & Cultural Policy Till 1813

    • Characteristics of New Thought

    • Schools of Thought

    • Role of Christian Missionaries

    • British Retreat

  • British Foreign Policy in India

21. ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BRITISH RULE IN INDIA

  • Deindustrialisation and Ruin of Artisans and Handicraftsmen

  • Impoverishment of Peasantry

  • Emergence of Intermediaries, Absentee Landlordism, and Ruin of Old Zamindars

  • Stagnation and Deterioration of Agriculture

  • Famine and Poverty

  • Commercialisation of Indian Agriculture

  • Destruction of Industry and Late Development of Modern Industry

  • Colonial Economy as Criticized by the Nationalists

    • British Policies and Economic Critique

    • Critique of Trade and Railways

    • One-Way Free Trade and Tariff Policy

    • Consequence of Economic Drain

  • Stages of Colonialism

    • First Stage

    • Second Stage

    • Third Stage

22. DEVELOPMENT OF INDIAN PRESS

  • Historical Journey of Indian Press

    • Introduction

    • Regulations and Press Evolution

    • Summary of Newspapers/Journals

23. DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION

  • Evolution of Education in Colonial India

    • Company Rule and Initial Educational Initiatives

    • Charter Act of 1813

    • Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy: 19th Century Debates

    • Lord Macaulay’s Minute (1835)

    • Thomson’s Village Education (1843–53)

    • Wood’s Despatch (1854)

    • Post-Wood’s Despatch Developments

    • Hunter Education Commission (1882–83)

    • Indian Universities Act, 1904

    • Government Resolution on Education Policy

    • Sadler University Commission or Calcutta University Commission (1917–19)

    • Education Under Dyarchy

    • Hartog Committee (1929)

    • Sargent Plan of Education (1944)

    • Wardha Scheme of Basic Education (1937)

24. PEASANT MOVEMENTS (1857–1947)

  • Causes of Peasant Movements

  • Consequences of Peasant Movements

  • Survey of Early Peasant Movements

    • Indigo Revolt (1859–60)

    • Pabna Agrarian Leagues

    • Deccan Riots (1874)

  • Peasant Movements after 1857

  • Peasant Movements in 20th Century

    • Kisan Sabha Movement (1918–1921)

    • Awadh Kisan Sabha (October 1920)

    • Eka Movement (1921–1922)

    • Mappila Revolt (1921)

    • Bardoli Satyagraha (1926–1928)

    • All India Kisan Congress/Sabha (1936–1937)

  • Peasant Mobilization Across Indian Provinces

    • Kerala

    • Andhra Pradesh

    • Bihar

    • Punjab

  • Post-War Phase

    • Tebhaga Movement in Bengal

    • Telangana Movement

    • Summary of Various Peasant Movements

25. THE MOVEMENT OF THE WORKING CLASS

  • Evolution of the Indian Working Class Movement

    • Introduction

    • Industrial Exploitation

    • Colonial Influence

    • Efforts and Attitude of Early Nationalists (Moderates)

  • Rise During the Swadeshi Movement

  • Working Class Movement

    • The First World War and Its Aftermath

    • Birth of AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress) – 1920

    • The Trade Union Act, 1926

    • Communist Influence and Legislative Restrictions – Late 1920s

    • Meerut Conspiracy Case (1929)

    • Post-1931 and Congress Ministries

    • Second World War and Post-Independence

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