UGC-NET – Paper II: History (Code: 06)
Exam Cycle: June 2026
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COURSE OVERVIEW
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Subject Name: History
Subject Code: 06
Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Paper Type: Paper-II – History
Total Marks: 200
Total Questions: 100 MCQs
Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
Duration: 3 Hours (Paper I + II combined)
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COMPLETE LIST OF UNITS
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Unit I: Negotiating the Sources: Archaeological sources: Exploration, Excavation, Epigraphy and Numismatics. Dating of Archaeological Sites. Literary Sources: Indigenous Literature: Primary and Secondary: problem of dating Religious and Secular Literature, Myths, Legends, etc. Foreign Accounts: Greek, Chinese and Arabic.
Unit II: From State to Empire: Rise of Magadha, Greek invasion under Alexander and its effects, Mauryan expansion, Mauryan polity, society, economy, Asoka’s Dhamma and its Nature, Decline and Disintegration of the Mauryan Empire, Mauryan art and architecture, Asokan edicts: language and script.
Unit III: Dissolution of Empire and Emergence of Regional Powers: Indo-Greeks, Sungas, Satavahanas, Kushanas and Saka-Ksatrapas, Sangam literature, polity and society in South India as reflected in Sangam literature. Trade and commerce from 2[nd] century BCE to 3[rd] century CE, Trade with the Roman World, Emergence of Mahayana Buddhism, Kharavela and Jainism, Post-Mauryan art and Architecture. Gandhara, Mathura and Amaravati schools.
Unit IV: Gupta Vakataka age: Polity and Society, Agrarian Economy, Land Grants, Land Revenue and Land Rights, Gupta Coins, Beginning of Temple Architecture, Emergence of Puranic Hinduism, Development of Sanskrit Language and Literature. Developments in Science Technology, Astronomy, Mathematics and Medicine.
Unit V: Harsha and his Times: Administration and Religion.
Unit VI: Salankayanas and Visnukundins in Andhradesa.
Unit VII: Emergence of Regional Kingdoms: Kingdoms in Deccan: Gangas, Kadmabas, Western and Eastern Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Kalyani Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Hoysalas and Yadavas.
Unit VIII: Source of Medieval Indian History: Archaeological, Epigraphic and Numismatic sources, Material evidences and Monuments; Chronicles; Literary sources – Persian, Sanskrit and Regional languages; Daftar Khamas: Firmans, Bahis / Pothis / Akhbarat; Foreign Travellers’ Accounts – Persian and Arabic.
Unit IX: Administration & Economy: Administration under the Sultanate, Nature of State – Theocratic and Theocentric, Central, Provincial and Local Administration, Law of succession.
Unit X: Society and Culture: Social Organisation and Social Structure.
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UNIT-WISE DETAILED SYLLABUS
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Unit I: Negotiating the Sources: Archaeological sources: Exploration, Excavation, Epigraphy and Numismatics. Dating of Archaeological Sites. Literary Sources: Indigenous Literature: Primary and Secondary: problem of dating Religious and Secular Literature, Myths, Legends, etc. Foreign Accounts: Greek, Chinese and Arabic.
Topic 1: Pastoralism and Food production:
• Neolithic and Chalcolithic Phase: Settlement, distribution, tools and patterns of exchange.
Topic 2: Indus/Harappa Civilization:
• Origin, extent, major sites, settlement pattern, craft specialization, religion, society and polity, Decline of Indus Civilization, Internal and external trade, First urbanization in India.
Topic 3: Vedic and later Vedic periods:
• Aryan debates, Political and Social Institutions, State Structure and Theories of State; Emergence of Varnas and Social Stratification, Religious and Philosophical Ideas. Introduction of Iron Technology, Megaliths of South India.
Topic 4: Expansion of State system:
• Mahajanapadas, Monarchical and Republican States, Economic and Social Developments and Emergence of Second Urbanization in 6th century BCE; Emergence of heterodox sects-Jainism, Buddhism and Ajivikas.
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Unit II: From State to Empire: Rise of Magadha, Greek invasion under Alexander and its effects, Mauryan expansion, Mauryan polity, society, economy, Asoka’s Dhamma and its Nature, Decline and Disintegration of the Mauryan Empire, Mauryan art and architecture, Asokan edicts: language and script.
[No further topics or subtopics listed for this unit in the source]
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Unit III: Dissolution of Empire and Emergence of Regional Powers: Indo-Greeks, Sungas, Satavahanas, Kushanas and Saka-Ksatrapas, Sangam literature, polity and society in South India as reflected in Sangam literature. Trade and commerce from 2[nd] century BCE to 3[rd] century CE, Trade with the Roman World, Emergence of Mahayana Buddhism, Kharavela and Jainism, Post-Mauryan art and Architecture. Gandhara, Mathura and Amaravati schools.
[No further topics or subtopics listed for this unit in the source]
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Unit IV: Gupta Vakataka age: Polity and Society, Agrarian Economy, Land Grants, Land Revenue and Land Rights, Gupta Coins, Beginning of Temple Architecture, Emergence of Puranic Hinduism, Development of Sanskrit Language and Literature. Developments in Science Technology, Astronomy, Mathematics and Medicine.
[No further topics or subtopics listed for this unit in the source]
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Unit V: Harsha and his Times: Administration and Religion.
[No further topics or subtopics listed for this unit in the source]
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Unit VI: Salankayanas and Visnukundins in Andhradesa.
[No further topics or subtopics listed for this unit in the source]
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Unit VII: Emergence of Regional Kingdoms: Kingdoms in Deccan: Gangas, Kadmabas, Western and Eastern Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Kalyani Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Hoysalas and Yadavas.
Topic 1: Kingdoms in South India:
• Pallavas, Ceras, Colas and Pandyas,
Topic 2: Kingdoms in Eastern India:
• Palas and Senas of Bengal, Varmans of Kamarupa, Bhaumakaras and Somavamsis of Odisha.
Topic 3: Kingdoms in Western India:
• Maitrakas of Vallabhi and Chalukyas of Gujarat.
Topic 4: Kingdoms in North India:
• Gurjara-Pratiharas, Kalacuri-Chedis, Gahadavalas and Paramaras.
Topic 5: Characteristics of Early Medieval India:
• Administration and Political Structure Legitimation of Kingship.
• Agrarian economy; land grants, changing production relations; graded land rights and peasantry, water resources, taxation system, coins and currency system;
• Trade and urbanization: patterns of trade, and urban settlements, ports and trade routes, merchandise and exchange, trade guilds; trade and colonization in southeast Asia.
• Growth of Brahminical religions: Vaisnavism and Saivism; Temples; Patronage and Regional Ramification; Temple Architecture and Regional Styles. Dana, Tirtha and Bhakti, Tamil Bhakti movement – Shankara, Madhava and Ramanujacharya.
• Society: Varna, Jati and Proliferation of Castes, Position of women; Gender, marriage and property relations; Women in public life. Tribes as peasants and their place in Varna order. Untouchability.
• Education and Educational Institutions: Agraharas, Mathas and Mahaviharas as Centres of Education. Growth of Regional Languages.
Topic 6: Debates of state formation in early medieval India:
• A) Feudal model; B) Segmentary model; C) Integrative model
Topic 7: Arab contracts:
• Suleiman Ghaznavid conquests. Albertuni’s Accounts.
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Unit VIII: Source of Medieval Indian History: Archaeological, Epigraphic and Numismatic sources, Material evidences and Monuments; Chronicles; Literary sources – Persian, Sanskrit and Regional languages; Daftar Khamas: Firmans, Bahis / Pothis / Akhbarat; Foreign Travellers’ Accounts – Persian and Arabic.
Topic 1: Political Developments:
• The Delhi Sultanate – the Ghorids, the Turks, the Khaljis, the Tughlaqs, theSayyids and the Lodis. Decline of Delhi Sultanate.
• Foundation of the Mughal Empire – Babur, Humayun and the Suris ; Expansion and Consolidation from Akbar to Aurangzeb. Decline of the Mughal Empire.
• Later Mughals and Disintegration of the Mughal Empire.
• The Vijayanagara and the Bahmanis – Deccan Sultanate; Bijapur, Golkonda, Bidar, Berar and Ahmadnagar – Rise, Expansion and Disintegration; Eastern Gangas and Suryavamshi Gaiapatis.
• Rise of the Marathas & the foundation of Swaraj by Shivaji ; its expansion under the Peshwas ; Mughal – Maratha relations, Maratha Confederacy, Causes of Decline.
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Unit IX: Administration & Economy: Administration under the Sultanate, Nature of State – Theocratic and Theocentric, Central, Provincial and Local Administration, Law of succession.
Topic 1: Administration & Economy:
• Sher Shah’s Administrative Reforms ; Mughal Administration – Central, Provincial and Local : Mansabdari and Jagirdari Systems.
• Administrative System in the Deccan – The Vijayanagara State & Polity, Bahamani Administrative System; Maratha Administration – Asta Pradhan.
• Frontier Policies under Delhi Sultanate and Mughals.
• Inter-State Relations during the Sultanate and the Mughals.
• Agricultural Production and Irrigation System, Village Economy, Peasantry, Grants and Agricultural Loans, Urbanization and Demographic Structure.
• Industries – Cotton Textiles, Handicrafts, Agro-Based industries, Organisation, Factories & Technology.
• Trade and Commerce – State Policies, Internal and External Trade: European Trade, Trade Centres and Ports, Transport and Communication.
• Hundi (Bills of Exchange) and Insurance, State Income and Expenditure, Currency, Mint System; Famines and Peasant Revolts.
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Unit X: Society and Culture: Social Organisation and Social Structure.
Topic 1: Society and Culture:
• The Sufis – Their Orders, Beliefs and Practices, the leading Sufi Saints, Social Synchronization.
• Bhakti Movement – Shaivism; Vaishnavism, Shaktism.
• The Saints of the Medieval Period – North and South – their impact on Socio-Political and Religious Life – Women Saints of Medieval India.
• The Sikh Movement – Guru Nanak Dev: his teachings and practices, Adi Granth; the Khalsa.
• Social Classification: Ruling Class, Major Religious Groups, the Ulemas, the Mercantile and Professional Classes – Rajput Society.
• Rural society – Petty Chieftains, Village Officials, Cultivators and Non-Cultivating Classes, Artisans.
• Position of Women – Zanana System – Devadasi System.
• Development of Education, Centres of Education and Curriculum, Madarasa Education.
• Fine Arts – Major Schools of Painting – Mughal, Rajasthani, Pahari, Garhwali; Development of Music.
• Art and Architecture, Indo-Islamic Architecture, Mughal Architecture, Regional Styles.
• Indo-Arabic Architecture, Mughal Gardens, Maratha Forts, Shrines and Temples.
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EXAMINATION STRUCTURE
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Paper-II: Subject Specific Examination
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 200
- Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- Negative Marking: No
- Duration: 3 Hours (Combined with Paper I)
- Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
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SYLLABUS SUMMARY
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Total Units: 10
Total Topics: 16
Subject: History
Subject Code: 06
Exam Category: UGC-NET Paper-II
Source: Official NTA/UGC Syllabus
Status: “As per latest official syllabus”
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