Modern India, with its rich tapestry of cultural, social, and political developments, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the centuries. For UPSC aspirants seeking to grasp the complexities of the nation’s history, a comprehensive understanding of Modern India is imperative. Here we provides a condensed overview of the key events that have shaped Modern India, from the decline of the Mughal Empire to the Independence Day .

History of Modern India

Chapter 1. The advent of Europeans and conquest by the British

A.      The advent of Europeans

1.      The Portuguese

2.      The Dutch

3.      The English

4.      The Danes

5.      The French

B.      Anglo- French Rivalry

1.      First Carnatic war

2.      Second Carnatic war

3.      Third Carnatic war

C.       Prominent Regional States and conquest by the British

1.      The conquest of Bengal

2.      The Conquest of Mysore

3.      Struggle with Marathas

4.      The conquest of Sindh

5.      The conquest of Punjab

D. Governor-Generals (1773-1857)

Governors-General of the Presidency of Fort William (Bengal), 1773–1833
Warren Hastings (1732–1818)	20 October 1773	8 February 1785	Regulating Act 1773 First Rohilla War (1773–1774) Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William (1774) was established Formation of Supreme Council of Bengal (1774) First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782) Formed Amini Commission (1776) Founded Calcutta Madrasa (Aliah University) (1780) James Augustus Hicky’s Bengal Gazette (first Indian newspaper published (1780) Second Anglo-Mysore war (1780–1784) Asiatic Society of Bengal was established by Sir William Jones (1784) Pitt’s India Act (1784) Creation of collector post The first Governor General to be prosecuted for impeachment. As a consequence of his involvement in First Rohilla War Experimentation on land settlements Ended providing pension to the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II Abolished the Dual System in Bengal (which was introduced by Robert Clive) Moved Treasury from Murshidabad to Calcutta Abolished Dastak system (which was introduced by Robert Clive) English translation of the Bhagwat Gita by Charles Wilkins	George III
Sir John Macpherson, 1st Baronet (acting) (1745–1821)	8 February 1785	12 September 1786
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Earl Cornwallis (1738–1805)	12 September 1786	28 October 1793	Established lower courts and appellate courts Third Anglo-Mysore war (1790–1792) Sanskrit Vidyalaya at Benaras (now Varanasi) established by Johnathan Duncan (then Governor of Bombay) (1791) Permanent Settlement in Bihar and Bengal (1793) Introduction of Cornwallis Code (1793) Introduction of Civil Services in India
John Shore (1751–1834)	28 October 1793	18 March 1798	Policy of Non-intervention Charter Act 1793 Second Rohilla War 1794 Battle of Kharda between Nizam and Marathas (1795)
Lt. Gen Alured Clarke (acting) (1744–1832)	18 March 1798	18 May 1798
Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley (1760–1842)	18 May 1798	30 July 1805	Introduction of Subsidiary Alliance (1798) Fourth Anglo Mysore War 1799 Censorship Act, 1799 Took over the administration of Tanjore (1799), Surat (1800) and Carnatica (1801) Fort William College at Calcutta (1800) The Subsidiary Treaty of Bassein (1802) and Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805) Raj Bhavan at Calcutta was established (1803)
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (1738–1805)	30 July 1805	5 October 1805
Sir George Barlow, 1st Baronet (acting) (1762–1847)	10 October 1805	31 July 1807	Sepoy mutiny at Vellore (1806) (prelude to the Indian Rebellion of 1857) Bank of Calcutta (1806) established (later Imperial Bank of India, now State Bank of India)
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Baron Minto (1751–1814)	31 July 1807	4 October 1813	Treaty of Amritsar (1809) with Ranjit Singh Treaty of Eternal Friendship (1809) with Talpur Rulers of Sindh Charter Act 1813
Francis Rawdon-Hastings (1754–1826)	4 October 1813	9 January 1823	Ended the policy of Non-intervention Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816) ended with the signing of Treaty of Sugauli (1816) Third Anglo-Maratha War (1816–1818) and the abolition of Peshwaship Hindu College (now Presidency University) at Calcutta (1817) The Pindari War (1817–1818) (the complete destruction of the Pindaris) Subversion of Peshwa Baji Rao II and annexation of his territories to the Bombay Presidency (1818) Establishment of Ryotwari System in Madras Presidency (1820) by the governor Thomas Munro, 1st Baronet Establishment of Mahalwari System in Northern India by Holt Mackenzie (1822) Bengal Tenancy Act was passed (1822) General Committee of Public Instruction was formed (1823)
John Adam (acting) (1779–1825)	9 January 1823	1 August 1823	Licensing Regulations	George IV
William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst (1773–1857)	1 August 1823	13 March 1828	Barrackpore mutiny of 1824 Establishment of Sanskrit College at Calcutta (1824) First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826) (East India Company defeats Burmese King Bagyidaw and annexes Assam, Manipur, Arakan and Tenasserim) Treaty of Yandabo, 1826 (East India Company humiliates and extracts 1 million Pounds from the Burmese King Bagyidaw)
William Butterworth Bayley (acting) (1782–1860)	13 March 1828	4 July 1828
Governors-General of India, 1833–1858
Lord William Bentinck (1774–1839)	4 July 1828	20 March 1835	First Governor General of India Bengal Sati Regulation, 1829 Suppression of Thuggee (1829–1835) Kol Rebellion (1831) Barasat Uprising (1831), led by Titumir Annexation of Mysore (1831), Coorg (1834), and central Cachar (1834) Charter Act 1833 (administrative reforms as well as formalising the non-discrimination in employment of Indians by religion) English Education Act 1835 and introduction of English as a medium of instruction. English was also introduced by the Bengal government in the Calcutta Madrasa in 1829 Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata (1835) Abolition of the provincial courts of appeal and circuit set by Cornwallis, appointment of commissioners of revenue and circuit Mahalwari System in Central India, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh Brahmo samaj established by Ram Mohan Roy	William IV
Charles Metcalfe, Baronet (acting) (1785–1846)	20 March 1835	4 March 1836	Repealed 1823 Licensing Regulations Known as Liberator of India Press Establishment of Calcutta Public Library (1836) (currently known as National Library of India)
George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland (1784–1849)	4 March 1836	28 February 1842	Tripartite Treaty (1838) between British, Shah Shuja and Maharaja Ranjit Singh against Dost Muhammad Khan First Bengali daily newspaper Sambad Prabhakar was published (1839) Tattwabodhini Sabha was formed by Debendranath Tagore (1839) First Anglo Afghan War (1840–1842) (Retreating British Army massacred by Afghan militias during the 1842 retreat from Kabul)[8] Bank of Bombay (1840) established (later Imperial Bank of India, now State Bank of India)
Edward Law, 2nd Baron Ellenborough (1790–1871)	28 February 1842	June 1844	Gwalior War (1843) (British defeat Marathas) Bank of Madras (1843) established (later Imperial Bank of India, now State Bank of India) Conquest and annexation of Sind Province (1843) Indian Slavery Act, 1843	Victoria
William Wilberforce Bird (acting) (1784–1857)	June 1844	23 July 1844
Henry Hardinge (1785–1856)	23 July 1844	12 January 1848	The First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846) (British Empire defeats the Sikh Empire and confiscate major portion of its territory) Treaty of Lahore (1846) (British confiscated Kashmir from the Sikhs and sold it to Raja of Jammu for 75 lakh rupees) Treaty of Bhairowal (1846) Establishment of Roorkee Engineering College (1847)
James Broun-Ramsay, 10th Earl of Dalhousie (1812–1860)	12 January 1848	28 February 1856	Doctrine of Lapse (1848) Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–1849) (The British totally defeated the Sikh Empire and annexed Punjab) Bethune Collegiate School (1849) (was also known as Calcutta Female School) was established by John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune Religious Disabilities Act, 1850 First telegraph line was laid between Diamond Harbour to Calcutta (1851) Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852) (The sole aim of Dalhousie was to humiliate and annex more of Burmese Territories. Burma was attacked unprovoked) Charter Act, 1853 First Passenger train between Bombay and Thane (1853) Charles Wood Despatch (1854) Post Office Act, 1854 Established Public Works Department (1854) Santhal Rebellion (1855) (15,000 Santhals were killed by the British Army during the rebellion. Elephants were used to destroy Santhal Dwellings) Annexation of Oudh on the grounds of alleged internal misrule (1856) Establishment of summer capital at Shimla Banned female infanticide completely and human sacrifice in Odisha and Maharashtra
Charles Canning, 2nd Viscount Canning (1812–1862)	28 February 1856	31 October 1858	Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act, 1856 (drafted by James Broun-Ramsay, Earl of Dalhousie) Indian Rebellion of 1857 University of Calcutta, University of Bombay, and University of Madras were set up (1857)

Chapter 2. Governance of British (1757 to 1857)

A.      Governance structural changes and prominent Acts

B.      Administrative organizations:

·         Judicial System

·         Indian Civil Service

·         Army and Police

C.      Economic Policies and Colonialism

·         Revenue Administration

·         Permanent Settlement

·         Alternate Systems of Land Tenure and Revenue collection

·         Ryotwari Settlement

·         Mahalwari Settlement

D.     Relations with neighboring States:

·         North-West Frontier

·         Anglo- Afghan

·         Anglo- Nepal

·         Anglo- Sikkim

·         Anglo- Bhutan

·         Anglo Burma

·         Anglo- Tibet

Chapter 3. Rebellions and Uprisings

1.      Sanyasi Rebellion

2.      Rangpur Rebellion

3.      Bhills

4.      Mysore Rebellion

5.      Kol

6.      Faraizi

7.      Mappila

8.      Khonds

9.      Santhal

10.  Other Uprisings

Chapter 4. Social Reforms and Reformers

A.      Major British Governmental Interventions

B.      Social Reformers and Movements

Chapter 5. The Indian Revolt of 1857

A. Causes and Triggers

B. Spread and Suppression

C. Impact on Indian Society and Politics

Chapter 6.  Post- 1857 Acts, Reforms and Movements (1857-1917)

A.      Viceroys and Significant Events

B.      Major Governmental policies and impacts

C.      Major Peasants Movements and Tribal Uprisings

Chapter 7.  National Awakening (1857 to 1917)

A.      An Economic Critique

B.      The Press and Its Contributions

C.      An Emergence of Indian Nationalism

D.     Political Organizations other than Indian National Congress

E.      Political and Philosophical Thinkers

Chapter 8. National Freedom Struggle (1885 to 1917)

A.      The Indian National Congress

B.      The Moderates

C.      The Extremists

D.     The Partition of Bengal

E.      Swadeshi Movement

F.       Other major events and Movements

G.     The Revolutionary Nationalism and their activities

H.     The Ghadar Movement

I.        Home Rule Leagues

J.        Lucknow Pact

K.      Montague Declaration

Chapter 9.The Emergence of Mahatma Gandhi (1917 to 1922)

A.      Early Struggles of Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa

B.      The Champaran Movement

C.      The Ahmedabad Mill Strike

D.     The Kheda Satyagraha

E.      The Rowlatt Satyagraha

F.       Khilfafat and Non-cooperation Movement

G.     The Gandhian Ideology

Chapter 10. Mass Nationalism and Major Events (1922-1937)

A.      Pro-changers and No-changers

B.      Swarajist

C.      Socialist and Left Ideas

D.     Simon Commission and Nehru Report

E.      Civil Disobedience movement

F.       Communal Award and Poona Pact

G.     The Strategic Debates

Chapter 11. Important social and revolutionary movements (1917 to 1947)

A.      The Peasant Movements

B.      Working Class Movements

C.      Revolutionary Nationalism

D.     Anti-caste movements

E.      The Azad Hind

Chapter 12. Evolution of Communalism and Partition

Chapter 13. Towards Independence 

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination is a formidable challenge that requires aspirants to delve deep into various subjects, and one such crucial area is the history of Modern India. An understanding of the events that shaped the nation during the modern era is essential for aspirants aiming to crack the UPSC examination. In this article, we will explore effective strategies and resources to study the history of Modern India for UPSC aspirants.

1. Understand the Syllabus:

The first step in preparing for any examination is a thorough understanding of the syllabus. For Modern Indian History, the UPSC syllabus primarily focuses on the period from the mid-18th century to the present day. Key topics include the advent of European powers in India, the British East India Company, the socio-cultural and economic changes, Indian National Movement, and post-independence developments.

2. Selecting the Right Study Material:

Choosing the right study material is crucial for effective preparation. Some recommended books for Modern Indian History are:

• NCERT textbooks for classes 9 to 12
• “India’s Struggle for Independence” by Bipan Chandra
• “A History of Modern India” by Rajiv Ahir
• Modern India by Poonam Dalal Dahiya

3. Create a Study Plan:

Devise a well-structured study plan to cover the entire syllabus. Allocate specific time slots for each topic, giving priority to areas with higher weightage in the examination. Ensure a balanced approach, covering both pre-independence and post-independence periods.

4. Note-making and Revision:

Maintain comprehensive notes while studying. Condense information into concise points, making it easier to revise. Regular revision is crucial for retention, and flashcards or mind maps can be useful tools for quick recall.

5. In-depth Understanding of Concepts:

Rather than rote learning, aim for an in-depth understanding of historical events and their implications. Analyze the causes and consequences of significant events, and draw connections between different phases of Indian history.

6. Historical Maps and Timelines:

Incorporate the use of historical maps and timelines in your study routine. Visual aids can enhance your understanding of territorial changes, important battles, and the chronological sequence of events.

7. Current Affairs and Linkages:

Relate historical events to contemporary issues. Understand the linkages between historical developments and the present socio-political scenario. This approach not only aids in answer writing but also provides a holistic understanding of India’s journey.

8. Practice Answer Writing:

UPSC examinations require effective answer writing skills. Practice writing answers within the stipulated time, focusing on clarity, coherence, and relevant content. Evaluate your answers critically to identify areas for improvement.

9. Mock Tests and Previous Year Papers:

Regularly take mock tests to gauge your preparation and identify weak areas. Analyze previous year’s question papers to understand the pattern and focus areas. This practice will help you become familiar with the examination format and improve time management.

10. Stay Updated with Current Affairs:

Modern Indian History cannot be studied in isolation; it is essential to stay updated with current affairs. Relate historical events to contemporary developments, and be prepared to answer questions that bridge the gap between past and present.

General Studies I

Modern India