Modern History
India from the 18th century — colonial rule, uprisings and the freedom struggle.
15 topics
- 1
Advent of the Europeans in India
How the Portuguese, Dutch, English, French and Danish trading companies arrived in India, and the Anglo-French rivalry (Carnatic Wars) that left the English supreme.
- 2
British Expansion in India (Plassey to Punjab)
How the East India Company expanded from a trading body to the paramount power — Plassey, Buxar, the Subsidiary Alliance, the Doctrine of Lapse, and the wars of conquest.
- 3
Economic Impact of British Rule
The economic transformation of colonial India — the drain of wealth, deindustrialisation, commercialisation of agriculture, and the three land-revenue systems.
- 4
Socio-Religious Reform Movements
The 19th-century awakening — Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Aligarh, Prarthana Samaj and others that reformed Indian society and religion.
- 5
The Revolt of 1857
The Revolt of 1857 was the first major uprising against British rule. Understand its causes, key leaders and centres, nature, reasons for failure, and consequences.
- 6
Rise of Indian Nationalism & the Indian National Congress
The factors behind Indian nationalism and the foundation of the Indian National Congress in 1885 — its early leaders, aims, and the 'safety valve' debate.
- 7
Moderates, Extremists & the Swadeshi Movement
The two phases of early nationalism — the Moderates (1885–1905) and the Extremists — the Partition of Bengal, the Swadeshi Movement, and the Surat Split.
- 8
Revolutionary Nationalism
The armed revolutionary strand of the freedom struggle — early revolutionaries, the Ghadar Party, HRA and HSRA, Bhagat Singh, and Chittagong.
- 9
The Gandhian Era Begins (1917–1919)
Gandhi's early satyagrahas — Champaran, Kheda and Ahmedabad — the Rowlatt Act, and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that transformed the national movement.
- 10
Non-Cooperation & Khilafat Movement (1920–22)
Gandhi's first nationwide mass movement — the alliance of Non-Cooperation and Khilafat, its programme, spread, and sudden withdrawal after Chauri Chaura.
- 11
Civil Disobedience & the Salt Satyagraha (1930–34)
The Purna Swaraj resolution, the Dandi Salt March, the Civil Disobedience Movement, the Round Table Conferences, and the Gandhi-Irwin and Poona Pacts.
- 12
Quit India Movement & the INA (1942–45)
The final mass upsurge — the Cripps Mission's failure, the Quit India Movement of 1942, and Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj).
- 13
Towards Independence & Partition (1940–1947)
The endgame of British rule — the August Offer, Cabinet Mission, Direct Action Day, the Mountbatten Plan, and the Indian Independence Act of 1947.
- 14
Constitutional Development under the British (1773–1935)
The chain of Acts that built the colonial state — from the Regulating Act (1773) to the Government of India Act (1935), the blueprint of the Indian Constitution.
- 15
Governors-General & Viceroys (Ready Reference)
A quick-revision reference of the major Governors-General and Viceroys of British India and the key events associated with each — a Prelims favourite.