History Optional (UPSC)
Answer Writing Practice These are four standard, UPSC-like questions for this round. Try to attempt at least one. Question 27: Ancient India Is Ashoka's policy of Dhamma relevant in the present era? Give arguments in support of your view.(10m) Question…
Those of you who are able to write all the four answers in a very good manner with high quality content and do timely submission (by 27 September)..... will get a physical copy of full set of New NCERTs of History (three books of Themes) as a complement from the Level Up IAS office in Delhi.
If you are interested in taking the challenge, respond here in the reply as Yes or In or Challenge Accepted. Only those entries will be taken valid who respond to this message here within 24 hours of posting this message.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
If you are interested in taking the challenge, respond here in the reply as Yes or In or Challenge Accepted. Only those entries will be taken valid who respond to this message here within 24 hours of posting this message.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
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Forwarded from Nikhil Sheth - History and Culture
This news appeared on the front page of Indian Express today. Can anyone tell me how to do carbon dating of a stone?
I guess they want to date the shivling stone sculpture and match it with the date of the rest of the building structure. It is a very logical way of looking at the things. But carbon dating is not the method for doing that.
#archaeology
@nikhilhistoryculture
I guess they want to date the shivling stone sculpture and match it with the date of the rest of the building structure. It is a very logical way of looking at the things. But carbon dating is not the method for doing that.
#archaeology
@nikhilhistoryculture
For those writing Main exam on 25th Sept
In the world history, do revise USSR (revolution to disintegration), China (colonization to revolution), post-cold war situation, EU and NATO, decolonization issues quickly before the exam. These topics are anyway evergreen but due to the current issues like Taiwan, Ukraine, death of the queen and Gorbachev and US-Russia-China tension, these themes are more topical this year.
Students generally tend to revise 19th century history of Europe more and give relatively less time to 20th century history, but this year, many developments have taken place which might make questions from 20th century equally important.
@nikhilhistoryculture
In the world history, do revise USSR (revolution to disintegration), China (colonization to revolution), post-cold war situation, EU and NATO, decolonization issues quickly before the exam. These topics are anyway evergreen but due to the current issues like Taiwan, Ukraine, death of the queen and Gorbachev and US-Russia-China tension, these themes are more topical this year.
Students generally tend to revise 19th century history of Europe more and give relatively less time to 20th century history, but this year, many developments have taken place which might make questions from 20th century equally important.
@nikhilhistoryculture
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History Optional (UPSC)
Those of you who are able to write all the four answers in a very good manner with high quality content and do timely submission (by 27 September)..... will get a physical copy of full set of New NCERTs of History (three books of Themes) as a complement from…
In next 5 mins we will close the entries to the challenge of winning complementary NCERTs gift for writing good quality four answers in time.
This is the poster that the team has floated. And you can find all the course details and the micro-schedule with daily targets here:
https://www.levelupias.com/course/upsc-damp-history-optional/
As I said, if we also include the Weekly Mapping Practice Tests in this program, I will notify it at the time. I am trying my best to include that too, however, I dont want to load too many agenda points in one single program and make it complicated. The foremost objective here are three fold:
1. Ensure that you write around 270 answers in 4 months and improve your answer writing skill from basic to advanced.
2. Update the historiographical understanding and your answers should be informed with the latest historiographical perspective
3. Nudge you to revise entire History optional revision in 4 months on your own.
To add weekly Mapping tests into it might take us off the course. However, if too many students insist, we will try to include it.
https://www.levelupias.com/course/upsc-damp-history-optional/
As I said, if we also include the Weekly Mapping Practice Tests in this program, I will notify it at the time. I am trying my best to include that too, however, I dont want to load too many agenda points in one single program and make it complicated. The foremost objective here are three fold:
1. Ensure that you write around 270 answers in 4 months and improve your answer writing skill from basic to advanced.
2. Update the historiographical understanding and your answers should be informed with the latest historiographical perspective
3. Nudge you to revise entire History optional revision in 4 months on your own.
To add weekly Mapping tests into it might take us off the course. However, if too many students insist, we will try to include it.
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History Optional 2022 Paper 1.pdf
1.1 MB
I will attach a cleaner copy later. This is the first copy to satisfy the curiosity.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
@nikhilhistoryoptional
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What do you think of the overall paper? Any views? Let's discuss...
History Optional: Paper I - First Reaction
I think Paper I questions were quite easy. These are my first observations
In the Part I – all these questions are mainstream questions. In such easy questions, which are generally covered by book and teachers, what are the challenges?
1. Many questions are re-hashing of PYQs. It is well known that PYQs help us answer around 60-70% questions ever year in History optional, this year, the proportion is much higher.
2. Senior aspirants with multiple years of experience may get advantage
3. How to differentiate your content? It becomes a challenge. Most aspirants would be able to cover the Part I.
4. Out of these 9 questions, 6 questions (2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b and 4c) need sound historiographical base to be able to write a good insightful answer. Rest of the 3 questions are quite factual and straightforward.
5. 6 out of 9 questions are directly either from sources or religion-culture. Relatively less questions from polity/society/economy. No question from pre-history.
Mapping – sites seems relatively easy with 8 pre-historic, 3 political-economic and 9 cultural sites. 9 Cultural sites are not difficult but seem unusually high. A sincere candidate would be able to get 15-17 sites correct here. Easy sites like Dholavira and Sannati were numerous while difficult ones like Kalighata were few.
Part II
1. From every single unit of the Medieval India (there are 12 units), there is at least one question. Not a single unit is untouched.
2. In Early medieval, (Part I + II combined, as it is split in two sections), this year a lot of focus is given, like in 2021. In both 2021 and 2022, a lot of questions came from 550-1200 era.
3. 5 questions on economy (fully or partly) and 4 questions on religion-culture – these two themes dominate the Medieval section.
4. Like in Part I – many questions have roots in PYQs. So, our focus should always be on writing good and well-informed answers to at least these questions.
5. There are no surprise questions in this section either. Only one totally new question that I could was on classical music. But that we generally cover in Art and Culture module when we discuss history of Indian music in detail. So, here also, no surprises as such.
6. Overall in Part I + Part II – there are three questions on Bhakti Movement’s various facets. Total 5 questions on religion. 3 questions on religion in Part I (Buddhism, Ashokan Dhamma, Bhakti) and 2 questions in Part II (Virshaiva, Vaishnava).
7. As in the last year, there is no regional kingdom asked in medieval (apart from Chola, Vijayangara and Maratha, which are quite mainstream). So, focus is back to very traditional areas this year too.
Lets wait for Paper II. It should be available in next 1 hour or so.
You can type your comments here after reading this.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
I think Paper I questions were quite easy. These are my first observations
In the Part I – all these questions are mainstream questions. In such easy questions, which are generally covered by book and teachers, what are the challenges?
1. Many questions are re-hashing of PYQs. It is well known that PYQs help us answer around 60-70% questions ever year in History optional, this year, the proportion is much higher.
2. Senior aspirants with multiple years of experience may get advantage
3. How to differentiate your content? It becomes a challenge. Most aspirants would be able to cover the Part I.
4. Out of these 9 questions, 6 questions (2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b and 4c) need sound historiographical base to be able to write a good insightful answer. Rest of the 3 questions are quite factual and straightforward.
5. 6 out of 9 questions are directly either from sources or religion-culture. Relatively less questions from polity/society/economy. No question from pre-history.
Mapping – sites seems relatively easy with 8 pre-historic, 3 political-economic and 9 cultural sites. 9 Cultural sites are not difficult but seem unusually high. A sincere candidate would be able to get 15-17 sites correct here. Easy sites like Dholavira and Sannati were numerous while difficult ones like Kalighata were few.
Part II
1. From every single unit of the Medieval India (there are 12 units), there is at least one question. Not a single unit is untouched.
2. In Early medieval, (Part I + II combined, as it is split in two sections), this year a lot of focus is given, like in 2021. In both 2021 and 2022, a lot of questions came from 550-1200 era.
3. 5 questions on economy (fully or partly) and 4 questions on religion-culture – these two themes dominate the Medieval section.
4. Like in Part I – many questions have roots in PYQs. So, our focus should always be on writing good and well-informed answers to at least these questions.
5. There are no surprise questions in this section either. Only one totally new question that I could was on classical music. But that we generally cover in Art and Culture module when we discuss history of Indian music in detail. So, here also, no surprises as such.
6. Overall in Part I + Part II – there are three questions on Bhakti Movement’s various facets. Total 5 questions on religion. 3 questions on religion in Part I (Buddhism, Ashokan Dhamma, Bhakti) and 2 questions in Part II (Virshaiva, Vaishnava).
7. As in the last year, there is no regional kingdom asked in medieval (apart from Chola, Vijayangara and Maratha, which are quite mainstream). So, focus is back to very traditional areas this year too.
Lets wait for Paper II. It should be available in next 1 hour or so.
You can type your comments here after reading this.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
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History Optional Paper II 2022 – First Reaction
Part I: Modern India
1. 4/t compulsory 10 markers were quite easy and direct. Every year one or two compulsory questions are quite off the track. One question (Indian scientists during colonial era) this year continues the tradition.
2. Out of 14 questions – 2 questions were from post-independence, 8 questions were from pre-1885 while only 3 questions from post-1885. Thus, is a stark change. So much importance to pre-1885 is unusual. And the questions cover wide range of area. The questions which come from post-1885 are quite easy and straightforward.
3. Possible sources hint:
a. Santhal question was expected this year – because a special dedicated book was published on it recently.
b. A dedicated question to the role of revolutionaries was also expected.
c. The question on the role of Indian scientists could be connected to the series Rocket Boys.
d. Famine question was repeated from GS1 paper of this year only. This thing has happened even in the past – the question in GS gets repeated in the Optional that year only with different language.
e. Western education’s impact question is quite traditional, but it can also be connected to what the PM Modi’s speech from Red Fort on 15th August.
4. Some innovative questions – East India Company becoming ‘Indian Ruler’ and Indian scientists in in colonial era – are good if you can maintain some sense in the exam hall.
5. Both the post-independence questions were from mainstream, and simple. India-China relations in 1950s and 60s as well as environmental movement are questions which are repeat of PYQs in different ways.
Part II: World History
World history paper came on expected line except for 2 questions.
1. 3/5 compulsory 10 markers were PYQs. Two 10 markers were difficult and new. This was not unexpected because every year that happens with compulsory 10 markers.
2. Out of 14 questions – 9 came from Euro-American history while 5 came from decolonization-third world history.
3. Out of the 9 Euro-American history, this time there were 7 from 18th-19th century while only two from 20th century. This is an important point to observe.
4. As guessed – Gorbachev question appeared. So was there a lot of focus on decolonization this year. This too was predicted by us. Entire Q8 is on third world and decolonization.
5. Almost 75-80% questions were direct or modified versions of PYQs. However, whether you get good marks or not in those traditional questions depends on how good is your clarity and how much answer writing practice you have done.
6. Questions on ideas – Enlightenment, Marxism etc. continue to occupy their traditional weightage.
7. Two new questions – one on the role of Engels and one on the feminism in the early 20th century – are generally not studied by History students. These topics are generally known to students of Sociology or Anthropology.
Your inputs, comments and observations are welcome.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
Part I: Modern India
1. 4/t compulsory 10 markers were quite easy and direct. Every year one or two compulsory questions are quite off the track. One question (Indian scientists during colonial era) this year continues the tradition.
2. Out of 14 questions – 2 questions were from post-independence, 8 questions were from pre-1885 while only 3 questions from post-1885. Thus, is a stark change. So much importance to pre-1885 is unusual. And the questions cover wide range of area. The questions which come from post-1885 are quite easy and straightforward.
3. Possible sources hint:
a. Santhal question was expected this year – because a special dedicated book was published on it recently.
b. A dedicated question to the role of revolutionaries was also expected.
c. The question on the role of Indian scientists could be connected to the series Rocket Boys.
d. Famine question was repeated from GS1 paper of this year only. This thing has happened even in the past – the question in GS gets repeated in the Optional that year only with different language.
e. Western education’s impact question is quite traditional, but it can also be connected to what the PM Modi’s speech from Red Fort on 15th August.
4. Some innovative questions – East India Company becoming ‘Indian Ruler’ and Indian scientists in in colonial era – are good if you can maintain some sense in the exam hall.
5. Both the post-independence questions were from mainstream, and simple. India-China relations in 1950s and 60s as well as environmental movement are questions which are repeat of PYQs in different ways.
Part II: World History
World history paper came on expected line except for 2 questions.
1. 3/5 compulsory 10 markers were PYQs. Two 10 markers were difficult and new. This was not unexpected because every year that happens with compulsory 10 markers.
2. Out of 14 questions – 9 came from Euro-American history while 5 came from decolonization-third world history.
3. Out of the 9 Euro-American history, this time there were 7 from 18th-19th century while only two from 20th century. This is an important point to observe.
4. As guessed – Gorbachev question appeared. So was there a lot of focus on decolonization this year. This too was predicted by us. Entire Q8 is on third world and decolonization.
5. Almost 75-80% questions were direct or modified versions of PYQs. However, whether you get good marks or not in those traditional questions depends on how good is your clarity and how much answer writing practice you have done.
6. Questions on ideas – Enlightenment, Marxism etc. continue to occupy their traditional weightage.
7. Two new questions – one on the role of Engels and one on the feminism in the early 20th century – are generally not studied by History students. These topics are generally known to students of Sociology or Anthropology.
Your inputs, comments and observations are welcome.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
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Would you like to discuss the mapping sites in yesterday's paper? Anyone who can correctly identify more than 15 sites?
Answer Writing Chellenge
Tonight 12 olcock deadline.
Gentle reminder.
Tonight 12 olcock deadline.
Gentle reminder.
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Do you want me to discuss the History optional questions of 2022? I watched a few teachers from across India recently holding such discussions online and could notice areas of improvement. Although I was not planning to do it myself, there have been quite a few requests.
For those who attempted the paper, it is an arrow that has left the bow. It may be useful for people who are preparing for 2023. If you think it will be helpful, I will do it on the weekend. Let me know.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
For those who attempted the paper, it is an arrow that has left the bow. It may be useful for people who are preparing for 2023. If you think it will be helpful, I will do it on the weekend. Let me know.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
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None should put messages in the group regarding piracy and copyright infringement. It is illegal and immoral both. I just removed one such comment and disbarred the person from the group.
Coaching classes take it seriously and in some cases have filed FIR also. I personally know that many companies are hired by various coachings to take down such groups and channels where piracy is done, and copyrighted material is shared or discussed to be shared.
We are trying to build and develop a community of history optional students here which will be mutually beneficial for everyone. The last thing we want is the taking down of this group.
Be law-abiding citizens. Be moral citizens.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
Coaching classes take it seriously and in some cases have filed FIR also. I personally know that many companies are hired by various coachings to take down such groups and channels where piracy is done, and copyrighted material is shared or discussed to be shared.
We are trying to build and develop a community of history optional students here which will be mutually beneficial for everyone. The last thing we want is the taking down of this group.
Be law-abiding citizens. Be moral citizens.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
👍17❤5
Issue 1
This is a typical problem with Bandypadhyay's book that the students face. Its a very good but highly dense book that presumes foundational understanding of not only historical narrative and historiographical context but also sociological-anthropological terms.
The book thus is very interesting and seems comprehensive but when it comes to answer writing, one falters, as it is not easy to digest that book, assimilate its ideas and reproduce in your own terms/language at the right place.
Issue 2
We are using a lot of sociology-anthropology without our knowing in our studies. However, we are not required to know the theories of those subjects beyond a point. It is a real handicap in the way syllabus is designed. An example being the discussion that we are holding on the terms Acculturation and Reverse Acculturation. My suggestion is - it is good if you know the concept, use it. But it is not mandatory to know them for History optional and you wont loose marks of you dont use them. So, lets not be fixated with them. We will try to make the points clear as and when we come across them, but please dont make it a point to study entire Anthro-Socio optionals for that.
This is a typical problem with Bandypadhyay's book that the students face. Its a very good but highly dense book that presumes foundational understanding of not only historical narrative and historiographical context but also sociological-anthropological terms.
The book thus is very interesting and seems comprehensive but when it comes to answer writing, one falters, as it is not easy to digest that book, assimilate its ideas and reproduce in your own terms/language at the right place.
Issue 2
We are using a lot of sociology-anthropology without our knowing in our studies. However, we are not required to know the theories of those subjects beyond a point. It is a real handicap in the way syllabus is designed. An example being the discussion that we are holding on the terms Acculturation and Reverse Acculturation. My suggestion is - it is good if you know the concept, use it. But it is not mandatory to know them for History optional and you wont loose marks of you dont use them. So, lets not be fixated with them. We will try to make the points clear as and when we come across them, but please dont make it a point to study entire Anthro-Socio optionals for that.
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For those who are wondering where are these History optional discussions taking place: You can join the associated group for discussion and posting answers and for evaluation: @nikhilhistorydiscussion
The program is commencing in 5 days. For the details along the micro-schedule of daily study targets here:
https://www.levelupias.com/course/upsc-damp-history-optional/
https://www.levelupias.com/course/upsc-damp-history-optional/
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Vernacular Language and Literature - Medieval Regional.pdf
248.6 KB
There is no need for you to refer other books. Keep yourself confined to the mainstream books. It is a job of a teacher to read other books and cull the relevant material for the exam. A student cannot and should not do it.
This is a 3 page document on this question of Vernacular language and literature - full of examples and analysis. So far I found this to be very useful for this topic.
Everyone can read these 3 pages. Will be helpful.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
This is a 3 page document on this question of Vernacular language and literature - full of examples and analysis. So far I found this to be very useful for this topic.
Everyone can read these 3 pages. Will be helpful.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
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Everyday around 10 new members are joining this group. I suspect some of them don’t have History Optional background but are just curious or habitual of joining so many Telegram channels… it’s a nature of Telegram…. Nonetheless, even if we are reaching out to 5-7 new History Optional students everyday, it is a good outreach.
Lets really try to put this discussion platform to as much use as possible. Don’t be shy or selfish. Our competition is not much within history optional, as much as it is with other optionals. At one point of time, History used to be the most prominent optional, generations of civil servants, who are at very high posts today have had history as their optional. We have to live up to that promise.
There is a lot of material easily available around, which is not very useful from the exam point of view. So, keep asking, sharing and discussing here. Let this group be very authentic, no-non-sense, vibrant, useful and one-stop solution for all the History Optional help.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
Lets really try to put this discussion platform to as much use as possible. Don’t be shy or selfish. Our competition is not much within history optional, as much as it is with other optionals. At one point of time, History used to be the most prominent optional, generations of civil servants, who are at very high posts today have had history as their optional. We have to live up to that promise.
There is a lot of material easily available around, which is not very useful from the exam point of view. So, keep asking, sharing and discussing here. Let this group be very authentic, no-non-sense, vibrant, useful and one-stop solution for all the History Optional help.
@nikhilhistoryoptional
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