Indian History

The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), also called Harappan Civilisation, flourished from approximately 3300–1300 BCE (mature phase: 2600–1900 BCE). Major sites: Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan), Mohenjo-daro (Sindh, Pakistan), Lothal (Gujarat – only port city), Dholavira (Gujarat – only site with sign-board inscription), Kalibangan (Rajasthan – fire altars found), Banawali (Haryana). Key features: grid-based city planning, advanced drainage system, standardised weights & measures, no iron tools, pictographic script (undeciphered). The civilisation declined around 1900 BCE – possible causes include climate change, river drying (Ghaggar-Hakra/Saraswati). Memory trick: 'LHKBD' = Lothal, Harappa, Kalibangan, Banawali, Dholavira.

Early Vedic Period (1500–1000 BCE): Aryans settled in Sapta Sindhu (Punjab region). Four Vedas composed: Rigveda (oldest, hymns), Samaveda (melodies), Yajurveda (rituals), Atharvaveda (charms/spells). Society was tribal; chief was 'Rajan'. Economy was pastoral (cattle = wealth). Later Vedic Period (1000–600 BCE): Settlement shifted to Gangetic plains. Caste system became rigid (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra). Epics Mahabharata & Ramayana composed. Sixteen Mahajanapadas (great kingdoms) emerged. Key texts: Upanishads (philosophical), Aranyakas (forest texts), Brahmanas (sacrificial rituals). Memory trick: 'RSYA' = Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva Vedas in order.

Question type: 'Which Harappan site is known for its dockyard?' Answer approach: Associate unique features with sites. Lothal (Gujarat) = dockyard/port; Kalibangan = fire altars & ploughed field; Dholavira = giant inscription/sign-board; Mohenjo-daro = Great Bath & Dancing Girl bronze statue; Harappa = granaries. Trick: 'Lothal is COASTAL = dock.' In SSC exams, questions often pair the wrong feature with the wrong site as distractors. Always memorise ONE unique feature per site. For example: 'Great Bath' is ONLY at Mohenjo-daro, not Harappa — this distinction is a common exam trap.

Founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 321 BCE with help of Chanakya (author of Arthashastra). Key rulers: Chandragupta Maurya (founder), Bindusara (expanded south), Ashoka the Great (268–232 BCE, most famous). Ashoka's Kalinga War (261 BCE) caused massive bloodshed, leading him to embrace Buddhism and propagate Dhamma (moral code). His edicts (on rocks and pillars) are the oldest deciphered inscriptions in India — written in Brahmi script by James Prinsep (deciphered 1837). Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna). Megasthenes (Greek ambassador) wrote 'Indica' describing Mauryan society. Decline after Ashoka — last ruler Brihadratha killed by Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE. Memory trick: 'CBS' = Chandragupta, Bindusara, Ashoka (first 3 Maurya rulers).

The Gupta period is called the 'Golden Age of India' for its achievements in science, literature, and art. Founded by Sri Gupta; first great king was Chandragupta I (320 CE). Key rulers: Samudragupta (Napoleaon of India — AG Bandyopadhyay's title), Chandragupta II / Vikramaditya (375–415 CE), Kumaragupta I (founded Nalanda University). Fa-Hien (Chinese traveller) visited during Chandragupta II's reign. Achievements: Aryabhata (astronomy/mathematics — zero, pi, Earth's rotation), Kalidasa (Shakuntala, Meghaduta), Varahamihira (astronomy), Sushruta (surgery — Sushruta Samhita). Decline due to Huna invasions (c. 500 CE). Memory trick: 'SACK' = Samudragupta, Aryabhata, Chandragupta II, Kalidasa — all Gupta era legends.

SSC CGL often asks about Ashokan edicts. Approach: Ashoka used two types — Rock Edicts (on large boulders, e.g., Girnar in Gujarat, Shahbazgarhi in NWFP) and Pillar Edicts (on tall polished sandstone pillars, e.g., Delhi-Topra, Allahabad, Sarnath). The Sarnath Pillar (with four lions) became India's national emblem. Language: Prakrit (mostly); Aramaic/Greek in northwest frontier regions. Script: Brahmi (most); Kharosthi in northwest. Key memory: 'Sarnath = National Symbol'. If a question says 'Ashokan Edict in Aramaic script' — that edict is from the northwest frontier (present Pakistan/Afghanistan area), not mainland India.

The Delhi Sultanate comprised five successive dynasties. Memory trick: 'SKLTL' = Slave, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi. (1) Slave/Mamluk Dynasty (1206–1290): Founded by Qutb-ud-din Aibak; Iltutmish (consolidated empire, Iqta system), Razia Sultana (first female ruler of Delhi), Balban (iron and blood policy). (2) Khilji Dynasty (1290–1320): Alauddin Khilji — market reforms (4 markets), price control, repelled Mongols, Malik Kafur's south India campaigns. (3) Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414): Muhammad bin Tughlaq (transferred capital Delhi→Daulatabad, token currency), Firoz Shah Tughlaq (welfare works, canal irrigation). (4) Sayyid Dynasty (1414–1451): Weak rulers. (5) Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526): Ibrahim Lodi defeated by Babur in First Battle of Panipat (1526).

Founded by Babur after defeating Ibrahim Lodi in First Battle of Panipat (1526). Key rulers — Babur (wrote Baburnama in Turki), Humayun (lost/regained throne; Sur interregnum 1540–1555 under Sher Shah Suri who built Grand Trunk Road), Akbar (greatest — Din-i-Ilahi faith, Ibadat Khana, Navratnas, abolished jizya, land revenue reform/Todar Mal), Jahangir (Nur Jahan wielded real power; Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri), Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal, Peacock Throne), Aurangzeb (reimposed jizya, Alamgir, empire's greatest extent but decline after his death 1707). Last Mughal: Bahadur Shah Zafar — exiled to Rangoon after 1857 Revolt. Memory trick: 'BHAJSA' = Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb.

SSC CGL frequently tests 'Battle' questions. Key battles to remember: (1) First Battle of Panipat 1526 — Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi (Mughal Empire begins). (2) Battle of Khanwa 1527 — Babur vs Rana Sanga (consolidated Mughal power). (3) Second Battle of Panipat 1556 — Akbar/Bairam Khan vs Hemu (Mughal restoration). (4) Third Battle of Panipat 1761 — Ahmad Shah Abdali vs Marathas (Maratha power broken). (5) Battle of Plassey 1757 — Clive vs Siraj-ud-Daula (British power in Bengal). Pattern: Questions often give year and ask opponents OR give opponents and ask year. Memorise both for each battle.

Indian National Congress (INC) founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume (a retired British ICS officer), with Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee as first president. Key movements: (1) Swadeshi Movement (1905) — triggered by Partition of Bengal by Curzon; boycott of British goods. (2) Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) — led by Gandhi; called off after Chauri Chaura violence (1922). (3) Civil Disobedience Movement (1930) — Dandi March (12 March – 5 April 1930); salt law broken. (4) Quit India Movement (1942) — 'Do or Die'; 9 August 1942 (Kranti Diwas). Key slogan: Swaraj is my birthright — Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Moderates vs Extremists split at Surat Congress (1907). Memory trick: 'SNCQ' = Swadeshi, Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India — in chronological order.

Revolutionary nationalists operated parallel to Congress. Key figures: Bhagat Singh (Lahore Conspiracy Case, Jatin Das — hunger strike), Sukhdev, Rajguru (executed 23 March 1931), Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Home Rule League 1916), Lala Lajpat Rai (died after Saunders lathi-charge 1928), Subhas Chandra Bose (INA — Indian National Army; 'Give me blood' speech; Azad Hind Fauj). Key British Acts: Regulating Act 1773 (first intervention in EIC), Pitts India Act 1784 (dual control), Charter Acts (1813, 1833, 1853), Government of India Act 1858 (Crown rule), Morley-Minto Reforms 1909 (separate electorates), Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms 1919 (dyarchy), Government of India Act 1935 (provincial autonomy, basis for Indian Constitution). Memory trick: 'RPCMG' = Regulating, Pitt's, Charter, Morley-Minto, Govt of India Acts — chronological British legislation.

SSC CGL questions on Dandi March test multiple angles. Key facts: Gandhi started from Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad) on 12 March 1930 with 78 followers. Reached Dandi (coastal village, Gujarat) on 5 April 1930 — a 390 km, 24-day march. On 6 April, he picked up a handful of salt, breaking the Salt Law (which taxed Indian salt). This launched the Civil Disobedience Movement. Result: Gandhi-Irwin Pact (5 March 1931) — Congress suspended civil disobedience; government released political prisoners, allowed salt making by coastal villages. Common traps: '78 followers' (not 79 or 80); 'Sabarmati' not Sevagram (Sevagram was his later ashram in Wardha).