The book has been designed for the candidates appearing in UGC-NET/SLET in History and covers pertinent topics as per syllabus provided by the UGC. It will enable the aspirants of lectureship through this exam to answer essay writing, analytical/evaluative, definitional as well as text-based questions of Paper III as per the latest structure, on the subject. It will also be useful for those preparing for other competitive exams like IAS, IFS, IPS, PCS, etc. with History as an option as it contains sufficient material that deals with almost all possible questions on the subject for these exams. In spite of our best efforts to cover all possible questions, the paper may contain some questions which are not covered in this book and can be answered only if the candidate has a thorough knowledge of the topics covered in the syllabus. For a thorough and elaborate knowledge of the subject, candidates are advised to read the following books published by Atlantic Publishers and Distributors (P) Ltd., viz. (i) Concise Encyclopaedia of World History by Carlos Ramirez-Faria; (ii) History of Ancient India: Earliest Times to 1200 A.D. by R.S. Chaurasia; (iii) History of Ancient India (2 Volumes) by J.P. Mittal; (iv) India: History, Religion, Vision and Contribution to the World (2 Volumes) by Alexander P. Varghese; (v) Medieval Indian History by K.N. Chitnis; (vi) Research Methodology in History by K.N. Chitnis; (vii) History of Medieval India: From 1000 A.D. to 1707 A.D. by R.S. Chaurasia; (viii) Socio-Economic History of Medieval India by K.N. Chitnis; (ix) The Ancient History of India (Vedic Period): A New Interpretation by K.C. Singhal and Roshan Gupta; (x) History of Modern India: 1707 A.D. to upto 2000 A.D. by R.S. Chaurasia; and (xi) Concise Encyclopaedia of India (5 Volumes) Ed. by K.R. Gupta and Amita Gupta.

Table of Contents:
Preface 1. Indus Valley Civilisation to the Mahajanapadas–Indus Valley Civilisation, Indo-Aryans, Vedic Age: Socio-Religious Conditions, Vedic Age: Economic and Political Set Up, Mahajanpadas, Pre-Mauryan Republics, Rise of New Religions: Jainism and Buddhism, Macedonian Invasion and its Effects– 2. Mauryan Empire to 3rd Century A.D.–The Rise of Mauryas, Chandragupta and Ashoka, Ashoka’s Administration, Sunga Dynasty, Satavahanas, Kushanas, Kanishka– 3. Gupta Period to 12th Century A.D.–Gupta Dynasty, The Golden Age, Harshavardhan, Hiuen-Tsang’s Account, Educational Centres, Pallavas, Early Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Cholas, Pratiharas, Chauhans, Palas, India’s Contacts with the Outside World, Position of Women– 4. India from 1206 to 1526 A.D.– The Khiljis, The Tughlaqs, The Sayyids and the Lodis, Vijayanagar and Bahamani Kingdoms, Sufism, Mongol Invasions, Administrative Structure in Sultanate Period, Art, Architecture and Literature in Sultanate Period 5. Mughal PeriodBabur’s Establishment of Mughal Rule, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb, Decline of Mughal Empire, The Marathas, Maratha Confederacy, Sher Shah’s Administrative Reforms, Mansabdari System 6. Socio-economic and Cultural Life under the MughalsSociety, Education, Justice, Crime and Punishment, Art, Architecture and Literature, Internal Trade, Foreign Trade, Means of Transport and Communication, Trading Communities, Urban Centres, Industries, Currency, Position of Women 7. Foundation and Consolidation of the British RuleRise of European Powers, Consolidation of the British Rule, British Relations with Major Indian Powers, Constitutional Development from 1909 to 1935 8. British Policies and Socio-Religious Reform Movements, Administration under the East India Company and Crown, Local Self-Government, Socio-Religious Reform Movements, Education and Literature 9. National Movement and Post-Independent IndiaRevolt of 1857, Rise of Nationalism, Ideologies and Programmes of Indian National Congress, Indian Revolutionary Movement in India and Abroad, Gandhian Mass Movements, Genesis of Pakistan, India Towards Independence, Integration of Indian States, The Kashmir Question, Making of the Indian Constitution, Economic Policies and the Planning Process, Linguistic Reorganisation of the States 10. World History-Concepts, Ideas and TermsRenaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment, Rights of Man, Apartheid, Imperialism, Socialism, Nazism, Parliamentary Democracy, Commonwealth, Cold War, Post-modernism 11. Research in HistoryImportance of History, Objectivity and Bias in History, Causation in History, Auxiliary Sciences of History, Research Methodology, Primary and Secondary Sources; Chronological Summary