Medieval India upsc syllabus 2025

Medieval Indian History – UPSC Syllabus

1. Early Medieval India (750 CE – 1200 CE)

• Rise and fall of regional kingdoms: Palas, Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, Cholas

• Chola administration, art, architecture, and cultural achievements

• Economy, society, and religion in early medieval India

2. Delhi Sultanate (1206 – 1526 CE)

• Slave Dynasty, Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids, Lodis

• Administration, military, economy, revenue system

• Social structure and cultural developments

• Bhakti and Sufi movements and their impact

• Decline of the Sultanate

3. Regional Kingdoms (13th–15th Century CE)

• Vijayanagara Empire: polity, administration, society, and culture

• Bahmani Kingdom

• Rajput states and their role

• Regional art, architecture, and literature

4. The Mughal Empire (1526 – 1707 CE)

• Foundation and expansion of the Mughal Empire

• Polity, administration, and revenue system (Mansabdari, Jagirdari, Zamindari)

• Akbar’s religious policies and Din-i-Ilahi

• Economy, trade, and urbanization

• Art, architecture, literature, painting, and music

• Decline of the Mughal Empire

5. Later Mughals and Regional States (1707 – 1761 CE)

• Marathas and rise of Shivaji

• Rise of regional states: Hyderabad, Bengal, Awadh, Mysore, Punjab

• Disintegration of centralized authority

6. Society, Economy, and Culture (1200 – 1700 CE)

• Development of languages (Persian, Urdu, regional vernaculars)

• Religious and cultural synthesis

• Bhakti and Sufi traditions

• Economic changes – agriculture, crafts, trade, urban centers