UPSC Mains HISTORY-PAPER-II 2025

28 Questions • 400 Marks • With Detailed Model Answers

1
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each:

(a) “The Sikh monarchy was Napoleonic in the suddenness of its rise, the brilliancy of its success and the completeness of its overthrow.”

Indian HistoryModern Indian History
2
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each:

(b) "The seeds of domestic dissensions were thickly and deeply sown in the Maratha system under the Peshwas.”

Indian HistoryModern Indian History
3
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each:

(c) "Bhagat Singh and his comrades significantly expanded the meaning and scope of revolution, redefining it beyond mere political upheaval to include social and ideological transformation.”

Indian HistoryModern Indian HistorySocial Movements
4
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each:

(d) "The significant feature of the Indian Councils Act of 1892 was the principle of election which it introduced, though the word 'election' was very carefully avoided in it."

Indian HistoryModern Indian HistoryConstitutional History
5
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each:

(e) "The colonial rule opened the Indian markets for British-manufactured goods and led to 'deindustrialization' or destruction of indigenous handicraft industries."

Indian HistoryModern Indian HistoryEconomic History
6
20 Marksmedium

Do you agree that the idea of permanent fixation of land revenue of 1793 in Bengal was highly influenced by the Physiocratic school of thinking? Discuss.

Indian HistoryModern Indian HistoryEconomic History
7
20 Marksmedium

"The tug of war between the two principles of freedom and control of the press made its influence felt on the colonial rulers' attitude to the press." Discuss.

Indian HistoryModern Indian HistoryMedia Studies
8
10 Marksmedium

"The movement for linguistic States generated deep apprehensions among the nationalist elite. They feared it would lead to the Balkanization of India." Examine.

Indian HistoryPost-Independence IndiaPolitical Science
9
20 Marksmedium

"During the Carnatic Wars, the French position, which at one time dazzled the Indian world by its political successes, was destined to end in humiliation and failure." Explain.

Indian HistoryModern Indian HistoryMilitary History
10
20 Marksmedium

Why has the 'safety valve theory' related to the foundation of the Indian National Congress been thoroughly discredited by recent researchers? Analyze.

Indian HistoryModern Indian HistoryPolitical Science
11
10 Marksmedium

"The emergence of Gandhi signified the Indianization of the national movement." Analyze with reference to his early movements between 1917-1922.

Indian HistoryModern Indian HistorySocial Movements
12
20 Marksmedium

"The tensions between cultural revivalism and modernization shaped the trajectory of the socio-religious reform movements in 19th century India.” Discuss.

Indian HistoryModern Indian HistorySocial Reforms
13
20 Marksmedium

In what ways did the tribal and peasant uprisings of the 19th century contribute to the rise and growth of nationalism in India? Examine.

Indian HistoryModern Indian HistorySocial Movements
14
10 Marksmedium

Discuss the major initiatives taken by the Government of India for the removal of caste injustice and inequality after 1947.

Indian HistoryPost-Independence IndiaSociology
15
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each:

(a) “The French Revolution started and led to the victory in its first phase by the aristocracy."

World HistoryEuropean HistoryPolitical Science
16
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each:

(b) "With the Reform Act of 1832 began an activity in reconstructing legislation to which there had been no parallel in British history."

World HistoryEuropean HistoryPolitical History
17
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each:

(c) “The First World War did not produce just political consequences, it also had a deep impact on the ways of thinking."

World HistoryModern HistorySocial Sciences
18
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each:

(d) "In the Soviet Union, as also in China, there was a strong belief that anti-imperial movements in the colonies would result in their moving into the socialist orbit."

World HistoryCold WarPolitical Science
19
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Critically examine the following statements in about 150 words each:

(e) "The pre-Marxian socialist thinkers envisioned socialist societies without fully considering the practical mechanisms for achieving or maintaining them."

Political ScienceHistory of Ideas
20
20 Marksmedium

“Nationalism in the 19th century was a driving force for both integration and disintegration.” Illustrate with examples from Europe and other parts of the world.

World HistoryPolitical ScienceHistory of Ideas
21
20 Marksmedium

“The American Revolution was, in many respects, a manifestation of the Enlightenment in political, civil and ecclesiastical spheres.” Explain.

World HistoryAmerican HistoryHistory of Ideas
22
10 Marksmedium

Did new imperialism represent a continuation of old colonial practices or did it mark a fundamental shift in global power structure? Discuss critically.

World HistoryModern HistoryPolitical Science
23
20 Marksmedium

"By the time of 1932 elections, Germany's ruling classes began to feel that the only way to escape from a deep economic crisis was to hand over political power to a totalitarian agency.” Explain.

World HistoryEuropean HistoryEconomic History
24
20 Marksmedium

Discuss critically the salient features of Mikhail Gorbachev's domestic reforms.

World HistoryCold WarPolitical Science
25
10 Marksmedium

"Anti-clericalism of the Enlightenment echoed the sentiments of the Renaissance and the Reformation. Yet it neither endorsed the paganism of the Renaissance nor did it share the faith of Reformation." Discuss.

World HistoryHistory of IdeasReligious Studies
26
20 Marksmedium

Why did the non-communist Vietnamese leaders fail to provide successful leadership for Indo-China's anti-colonial struggle? Discuss.

World HistoryAsian HistoryPolitical Science
27
20 Marksmedium

To what extent did the concept of free trade of European Economic Community contribute to the formation of European Union? Examine.

World HistoryEuropean HistoryEconomics
28
10 Marksmedium

Examine the impact of the links between scientific education and industrial expansion on German society in the early 20th century.

World HistoryEuropean HistorySociology