Hello students,

These are the solutions to Mapping questions asked by UPSC earlier in History Optional. Since 2013 till 2024.

We have used the official upsc maps of each year directly to give the feeling.

The site identification we believe is largely correct. In case where we are not sure (about 2 or 3 places in 220 sites asked in 11 years), we have said 'possibly'.

Along with the release of our Mapping book and Mapping Modular course, we think this would add a great value to students preparation.

https://www.levelupias.com/upsc-cse-history-optional-mapping-pyqs-solution/

Starting today....

I will be live today on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/live/_NOre4VBN6w

Here,

I have identified major themes from Ancient India and Culture for Main Examination. Era by era I have traced important themes for the exam.

https://youtu.be/FUlqaQlMCAI

Some UPSC teachers and youtubers ko politicians ki bimari lagi hai.

Some politicians blame election commission after losing elections. And the whole conspiracy theory emerges...

Some teachers and youtubers are doing the same. They are blaming the UPSC for students who have received setback in the Prelims 2025.

They are feeding off your emotions. They want to get your views, increase engagement, create anger and then in the end exasperation.

I am not saying that UPSC cannot improve in its process. But, rather than guiding students about how to tackle this setback, how to strategize, how to assess... they are busy creating conspiracies with brainless patterns.

It started 2-3 years ago on social media. Now it is becoming tsunami.

Stay away from them. Your time is precious. Your emotions about results are not zariya to enhance engagement metrics for teachers and youtubers on social media. Only follow sensible people who really help you in life.

Nikhil

In one recent lecture, I had a freewheeling discussion on History. It would be a good entering point for anyone into the philosophy of history.

This is actually a deep ocean and I am merely scratching the surface. But it is so fun doing that sometimes.

In a UPSC coaching context, we generally dont get an opportunity to discuss these things. I stole a chance. It would be worth your while.

https://youtu.be/w-cvamjc3wA

I personally don't agree with this.

We should teach not only Manusmriti but also all Dharmashastras. This is not for general students. This is for specializing study in dharma shastras.

William Jones had studied it. Ambedkar had studied it in detail. PV Kane was awarded Bharat Ratna by government of India for studying it. Kurundkar's three lectures on it are gold standard even today. Patrick Olivelle is a great scholar of today for studying it.

What's the harm in studying it? If some specialized people don't study it then how to find good, bad and ugly?

We dont want ignorant comments of foolish people. We want studied criticism by scholars.

Nikhil

Prehistory should not be called Prehistory. Is it better to call it a "deep history"??

https://youtu.be/0m5ivsEJa_c

US Army completed 250 years today. It was established in 1775, just during the American War of Independence.

They are celebrating it there. We should prepare it here... questions on American Revolution.

These are all the PYQs UPSC has asked on American Revolution in World History Paper. How many can you write?

Trump's Proclamation today:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/250th-anniversary-of-the-founding-of-the-united-states-army/

Iqbal was a nationalist poet till 1910s. He wrote Sare Jahan se Achha. Then he gradually changed. He became Islamist. By 1930s, his vision became the vision of Pakistan. His dreams and speeches were given concrete shape by Jinnah. He is thus treated as Spiritual father of Pakistan.

Why did this transformation take place? What makes a great intellectual like Iqbal into a pedestrian Communalist? Its one of the great questions of modern Indian history. Communalism is not merely for foolish illiterates. Secularism, conversely, is not for intellectually superior only.

I think we need to help students understand this complexity. Why this cancel culture?

Nikhil

Solution to the Mapping PYQs.

All mapping questions, by using official upsc paper maps. From 2013 till 2024.

https://www.levelupias.com/upsc-cse-history-optional-mapping-pyqs-solution/

Audrey Truschke was hugely controversial for extending arguments in support of Aurangzeb in her book on him.

Now she is coming with a new book on the history of India, to be released next week.

In a recent interview printed in The Hindu, she talks about Shivaji. She seems have taken Phule's ideal of Shivaji as "shudra king", but given it a perverse turn. Phule had said that Shivaji's ideal was to help the agriculturalists. She seems to have picked up the word shudra and says that he wanted to become king to improve his caste to Kshatriya. There is no grander purpose, there is no vision larger than life, no idea of working for people. She seems to have slotted Shivaji's life story into the story of personal ambition of an individual and caste politics.

Its inversion of means-ends. Phule's narrative is made to stand upside down.

We obviously have to wait for the whole book to be released but I am sure that it will become controversial.

Audrey loves controversy. She thrives on it.

Nikhil

The concept of Proto History is not as straightforward as it seems. It is loaded with different shades and meanings. Do watch for 7 mins.

https://youtu.be/JKVxT6e6CF8