Announcement

Today is the first date of DAMP. Everyone is provided a login to the portal and the questions of the Day 1 were made live at noon. You have 24 hours to study the chapter and submit the answer. You will be able to watch the discussion video, download the evaluated copy and also other readings/handouts from the same portal after next 24 hours.

We will also make a dedicated whatsapp group by tomorrow of the students who have enrolled. All the doubts related to the program, schedule and other will be resolved there. I will also be part of the group.

From this weekend, we will also start weekly Zoom sessions to discuss any doubt related to the questions and related topics. These zoom sessions recordings will also remain available on the student portal for later reference.

Keep writing every day. I am looking forward to read your answers.
Nikhil

Answer Writing Practice

Question 33: World History
“The French Revolution attacked privileges and not property.” Comment. (20m, 2003)

PS0: It appears to be a simple PYQ but once you start thinking about it, there are a lot of dimensions underneath. Also, in 2021 and 2022, UPSC has asked questions on Napoleon but not French Revolution, so it automatically becomes a very important topic for 2023.

PS1: Submit your answers by the end of 15th October.
PS2: Reply here in the comment section with your answers (scanned image) for evaluation. Or join the discussion group @nikhilhistorydiscussion for commenting and posting.

#AnswerWritingPractice
@nikhilhistoryoptional

https://youtu.be/cIovn-blbIU

This is the first day video of the DAMP program wherein we have discussed how to study coins as a source of history, how to generate dimensions, detailed discussion one question on coinage and a brief discussion of one question on Prashasti inscriptions.

To know more about the program, visit: https://www.levelupias.com/course/upsc-damp-history-optional/

Here is the handout displayed on the screen for the day 1 discussion.

Condition of women in Later Vedic period.

https://youtu.be/ObzA5cSwHQ4

Second day of Daily Answer Writing Program for History Optional

@nikhilhistoryoptional

Was there a Neolithic Revolution? Is it may not be entirely correct to call it Evolution? Was it even a good thing that we ended up with?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL3e4hnqVvs

@nikhilhistoryoptional

So far, I have discovered that there were 5 questions in this years History Optional Paper II Section A (Modern India) that came directly from the books published in the recent past (within a few months before the exam). Treaty of Amritsar, Famines in colonial India, Santhal revolt, Indian scientists in the colonial era, MaMohan line and India-China relations in 1950s/60s. Of these five, three were unusual questions never asked before, not covered by UPSC in PYQs.

There may be some more questions matching likewise but these are the five that I found when I compared my notes on the list of latest books published on history-related topics and the question paper. All these books were in discussion on various public forums and its reviews appeared in various newspapers.

This year, I have already started keeping a close eye on all the published books on history by reputed authors/publishers post Main Examination 2022. I will come up with relevant data a few weeks before the Main Examination in 2023, so that we cover our grounds well.

@nikhilhistoryoptional

Reminder of the deadline for question submission. Question 33: World History topic.

#AnswerWritingPractice

What a touching line...

#harappa
@nikhilhistoryoptional

Answer Writing Practice

Question 34: Modern India
“The Ilbert Bill was the most extreme but by no means isolated expression of white racism.” Comment. (1987, 20m)

PS0: It appears to be a simple PYQ but once you start thinking about it, there are a lot of dimensions underneath.
Hint:
1. Don't confine your answer only to the other examples of racism. Try to go beyond mere factual examples, and incorporate elements of 'why'. Why the empire was racist in its orientation?
2. Always try to locate the question in chronological context. If it belongs to 1860s/70s/80s, then most probably it is in the context of the rise of modern nationalism in India. Can you connect Racism with the rise of nationalism?

PS1: Submit your answers by the end of 27th October.
PS2: Reply here in the comment section with your answers (scanned image) for evaluation. Or join the discussion group @nikhilhistorydiscussion for commenting and posting.

#AnswerWritingPractice
@nikhilhistoryoptional

If you have just finished the Foundation course, then DAMP is a very suitable option for:

1. Disciplined Revision of entire syllabus in 4 months before completely shifting to Prelims

2. Regular practice to develop the craft of answer writing with UPSC level questions and in depth video discussions

3. Upgrading your notes with upgraded historiography

If you have doubt or need any help regarding the optional, feel free to get in touch with the Level Up IAS or Nikhil sir directly on Telegram at @nikhil4history

Tomorrow is the last date of answer submission of Question 34.

#AnswerWritingPractice

History Optional DAMP 2.0 starting on 7th November.

▪️Revise your optional in four months, just before you turn to Prelims preparation.
▪️Improve the answer writing with daily practice under expert guidance
▪️ Sectional papers
▪️Update your notes with latest historiography

For the daily schedule, visit:
https://www.levelupias.com/course/upsc-damp-history-optional/

Join @nikhilhistoryoptional, a channel dedicated for history optional preparation.

History Optional DAMP 2.0 starting on 7th November.

▪️Revise your optional in four months, just before you turn to Prelims preparation.
▪️Improve the answer writing with daily practice under expert guidance
▪️ Sectional papers
▪️Update your notes with latest historiography

For the daily schedule, visit:
https://www.levelupias.com/course/upsc-damp-history-optional/

Join @nikhilhistoryoptional, a channel dedicated for history optional preparation.