Modern History

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Revolutionary Nationalism

The armed revolutionary strand of the freedom struggle — early revolutionaries, the Ghadar Party, HRA and HSRA, Bhagat Singh, and Chittagong.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.