The UPSC History optional paper 2026 is reproduced in full below: Paper I (ancient and medieval India) and Paper II (modern India and world history), every question with its marks and the syllabus unit it came from. Each paper printed 8 questions worth 400 marks, and you attempt 5 for 250 marks in three hours. Questions 1 and 5 are compulsory in both, and the other three must include at least one from each section.
Each written question links to its worked model answer, so you can write an answer under time and check your structure straight after. Each paper opens with a download link and ends with a unit-wise split of its marks. Paper I’s compulsory map question is printed with UPSC’s 20 locational hints exactly as they appeared in the paper.
History Optional 2026 Paper I
Official paper: History Optional 2026 Paper I (UPSC PDF). Time allowed three hours, maximum marks 250.
The map question carries 50 compulsory marks, and UPSC printed only a locational hint for each of the 20 places, reproduced here as printed. In the written questions, India from 750 to 1200 took 50 marks, with two of its three parts (the Cholas and the origin of the Rajputs) printed in Section B, and the eighteenth century took 35 through the dark age debate and the Maratha polity. Source criticism ran through the paper: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers (2c), Barani (6c) and Domingo Paes (7a) add up to 50 marks of judging the witness.
Section A
| Q. | Question | Marks | Unit | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you and write a short note of about 30 words on each of them in your Question-cum-Answer Booklet. Locational hints for each of the places marked on the map are given below seriatim : (i) Harappan burial site; (ii) Harappan site with radial town planning; (iii) Jain cave painting; (iv) Large Megalithic dolmen complexes; (v) Ancient port; (vi) Ancient capital; (vii) Meso-Chalcolithic site; (viii) Group of early medieval temples; (ix) Ancient capital; (x) Megalithic site; (xi) Neolithic site; (xii) Terra-cotta ring wells; (xiii) Mauryan fort; (xiv) Ancient Buddhist site; (xv) Mesolithic site; (xvi) Megalithic burial site; (xvii) Neolithic ash mound site; (xviii) Site with evidence of monastery, Stupa and Shiva temple; (xix) Chalcolithic and early historic site with five occupational phases; (xx) Buddhist site | 50 | Map Identification | |
| 2(a) | Analyze the role of terrain, climate and vegetation in shaping the settlement and movement of prehistoric communities in India. | 15 | Pre-history and Indus Valley Civilization | Model answer |
| 2(b) | “Harappan architecture reflects an integrated vision of environmental adaptation, technological rationality and urban aesthetics, going beyond functionality.” Examine the statement. | 15 | Pre-history and Indus Valley Civilization | Model answer |
| 2(c) | “Greek writers viewed India largely from a political perspective, Chinese travellers from a religious perspective, and Arab scholars from a scientific and cultural perspective.” Comment. | 20 | Sources | Model answer |
| 3(a) | “The Iranian and Macedonian invasions reshaped ancient India through administrative influence, political transformation and cultural interaction.” Review. | 15 | Mahajanapadas and the Mauryan Empire | Model answer |
| 3(b) | Evaluate the political and socio-cultural changes occurred in North India after the decline of the Mauryan Empire under the Shunga and Kanva Dynasties. | 15 | Mahajanapadas and the Mauryan Empire | Model answer |
| 3(c) | “Royal patronage and religious institutions significantly contributed to the development of Nalanda, Vikramashila and Vallabhi into prominent centres of learning.” Elucidate. | 20 | Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas | Model answer |
| 4(a) | “Hoysala temple architecture marks a distinctive and innovative phase in the evolution of South Indian art and architecture.” Illustrate with examples. | 20 | India, 750-1200: Polity and Culture | Model answer |
| 4(b) | Analyze the significance of the Vedic Age in shaping the social institutions, religious thoughts and intellectual traditions of ancient India. | 15 | Aryans and the Vedic Period | Model answer |
| 4(c) | “The Satavahanas not only served as a vital link between Northern and Southern India in the Deccan region, but also strengthened the process of trade, urbanization and cultural integration.” Review. | 15 | Early States of the Deccan and South India | Model answer |
Section B
| Q. | Question | Marks | Unit | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5(a) | How far can the Qutub Complex at Mehrauli be considered as an ideal specimen for the study on the development of architecture under the Delhi Sultanate? Analyze. | 10 | Delhi Sultanate: State, Society and Culture | Model answer |
| 5(b) | “The success of the Cholas as an imperial power rested not only on the administrative efficiency, but also on a well-organized army and a formidable navy.” Evaluate. | 10 | India, 750-1200: Polity and Culture | Model answer |
| 5(c) | What European features were incorporated in the Mughal school of painting? Did it absolve the traditional Persian influences of the Mughal paintings? Evaluate. | 10 | Culture during the Mughal Empire | Model answer |
| 5(d) | “The Sufis created a climate in which people belonging to different sects and religions could live in peace and harmony.” Discuss. | 10 | Delhi Sultanate: State, Society and Culture | Model answer |
| 5(e) | “Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq’s token currency scheme was an innovative economic experiment in medieval India, but its failure exposed the limitations of State control over the medieval economy.” Evaluate. | 10 | Delhi Sultanate: State, Society and Culture | Model answer |
| 6(a) | Critically examine the theories on the origin of the Rajputs. How do the indigenous evidences contradict the European theorists? | 20 | India, 750-1200: Polity and Culture | Model answer |
| 6(b) | Why did the abdication of power by Alauddin Alam Shah in favour of Bahlol Lodi not culminate in the establishment of the Lodi Dynasty? Elucidate. | 15 | The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century | Model answer |
| 6(c) | Critically analyze Barani’s Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi and identify the shortcomings in his account. | 15 | Delhi Sultanate: State, Society and Culture | Model answer |
| 7(a) | From the Portuguese merchant Domingo Paes’ description of Krishnadevaraya’s reign, assess the socio-economic and cultural uniqueness of the Vijayanagara Empire. | 15 | The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century | Model answer |
| 7(b) | Trace the formulation of the Mughal imperial authority from Akbar to Aurangzeb. Focus on the influence of Persian ideas of kingship in the construction of Mughal royalty. | 20 | Akbar and the Mughal Empire | Model answer |
| 7(c) | “From Asia to Europe, from head to foot, everyone was clothed in Indian textiles.” Qualify this statement with a critical account of India’s foreign trade with special reference to textiles. | 15 | Economy and Society, 16th-17th Centuries | Model answer |
| 8(a) | Analyze the influence of Persian traditions on the development of architecture and painting under the Mughals. To what extent did these art forms reflect a synthesis of Indian and Persian cultural elements? Discuss. | 15 | Culture during the Mughal Empire | Model answer |
| 8(b) | Would you consider eighteenth century in India an era of ‘Dark Age’, or a period of economic growth? Elucidate. | 20 | The Eighteenth Century | Model answer |
| 8(c) | Trace the trajectory of Maratha polity from Shivaji to Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. What was the impact of the Third Battle of Panipat (1761) on the Maratha State? Analyze. | 15 | The Eighteenth Century | Model answer |
2026 Paper I: where the marks sat
| Unit | Marks | Share of paper |
|---|---|---|
| India, 750-1200: Polity and Culture | 50 | 12.5% |
| Map Identification | 50 | 12.5% |
| Delhi Sultanate: State, Society and Culture | 45 | 11.2% |
| The Eighteenth Century | 35 | 8.8% |
| Mahajanapadas and the Mauryan Empire | 30 | 7.5% |
| Pre-history and Indus Valley Civilization | 30 | 7.5% |
| The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century | 30 | 7.5% |
| Culture during the Mughal Empire | 25 | 6.2% |
| Akbar and the Mughal Empire | 20 | 5.0% |
| Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas | 20 | 5.0% |
| Sources | 20 | 5.0% |
| Aryans and the Vedic Period | 15 | 3.8% |
| Early States of the Deccan and South India | 15 | 3.8% |
| Economy and Society, 16th-17th Centuries | 15 | 3.8% |
History Optional 2026 Paper II
Official paper: History Optional 2026 Paper II (UPSC PDF). Time allowed three hours, maximum marks 250.
The economic critique of colonial rule took 40 marks in Section A, level with Gandhi and the other strands of the national movement, and 7(a) in Section B asked the deindustrialization argument again through England’s Industrial Revolution, so the decline of Indian crafts alone was worth 40 marks across the paper. Section B spread its marks evenly: 40 each for revolution and counter-revolution, for industrialization and for the Enlightenment and French Revolution era, and 30 each for the nation-state system and European unification. Post-1947 India got one 10-marker, on the Community Development Programme and Panchayati Raj.
Section A
| Q. | Question | Marks | Unit | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1(a) | “Superior Maritime strength proved to be England’s most powerful weapon in the struggle for colonial supremacy, particularly in the Carnatic Wars.” | 10 | European Penetration and the Early British Raj | Model answer |
| 1(b) | “No educated Indian has ever forgotten the lesson of Ilbert Bill.” | 10 | Birth of Indian Nationalism | Model answer |
| 1(c) | “Permanent settlement policy resulted in an unfair distribution of assessment, particularly when there was no survey.” | 10 | Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule | Model answer |
| 1(d) | “The poverty of India was not a product of the Geography or of the lack of natural resources, it was mainly a product of the History of the last two centuries.” | 10 | Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule | Model answer |
| 1(e) | Alan Hume’s ultimate aim in encouraging the foundation of the Indian National Congress was to provide a ‘Safety Valve’ for the release of growing Indian discontent. | 10 | Birth of Indian Nationalism | Model answer |
| 2(a) | Underline the various factors for decline of the Indian cottage industries during the nineteenth century. | 20 | Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule | Model answer |
| 2(b) | Was the Moplah Rebellion in Malabar an expression of anti-landlord and anti-foreign discontent ? Discuss. | 20 | Indian Response to British Rule | Model answer |
| 2(c) | “In my belief, congress is to tottering to its fall and one of my great ambitions which in India is to assist it to a peaceful demise.” Comment. | 10 | Birth of Indian Nationalism | Model answer |
| 3(a) | ‘Raja Rammohan Roy stands in history as the living bridge over which India marches from her unmeasured part to her incalculable future.’ Explain. | 20 | Social, Cultural and Reform Movements | Model answer |
| 3(b) | ‘The Quit India Movement of 1942 was a decisive phase in India’s struggle for independence, rooted in the circumstances of the second world war, colonial policies and the growing strength of Indian Nationalism.’ Analyse. | 20 | Gandhi and Other Strands of the National Movement | Model answer |
| 3(c) | ‘The Orientalist-Anglicist controversy of the 19th century constituted a turning point in shaping colonial educational policy in India.’ Examine. | 10 | Social, Cultural and Reform Movements | Model answer |
| 4(a) | Why did the British Crown assume direct control over the Indian Government in 1858 ? Mention the new administrative arrangements. | 20 | European Penetration and the Early British Raj | Model answer |
| 4(b) | ‘Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army awakened an unprecedented sense of national consciousness among both the Indian armed forces and masses.’ Evaluate. | 20 | Gandhi and Other Strands of the National Movement | Model answer |
| 4(c) | How did the introduction of Community Development Programme and Panchayat Raj Programme promote welfare of rural India ? Explain. | 10 | India after 1947 | Model answer |
Section B
| Q. | Question | Marks | Unit | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5(a) | “Immanuel Kant was an advocate of liberalism and nationalism.” | 10 | Enlightenment and Origins of Modern Politics | Model answer |
| 5(b) | “The rise of the Cordelier Club in France was significant for the revolutionary body.” | 10 | Enlightenment and Origins of Modern Politics | Model answer |
| 5(c) | “The Meiji reign (1868-1912) was an epoch making in the industrial history of Japan.” | 10 | Industrialization | Model answer |
| 5(d) | “Globalization tends to benefit the privileged sections of society and further marginalized those who are already disadvantaged.” | 10 | Industrialization | Model answer |
| 5(e) | ‘The July Revolution of 1830 marked a significant turning point in the advancement of liberalism and constitutionalism in France.’ Analyse. | 10 | Nation-State System | Model answer |
| 6(a) | The Vienna Settlement of 1815 was based on three principles, restoration, legitimacy and compensation. Elucidate. | 20 | Nation-State System | Model answer |
| 6(b) | The conquests of Napoleon were ephemeral but his civilian work was built on granite. Explain. | 20 | Enlightenment and Origins of Modern Politics | Model answer |
| 6(c) | Review the features of the ‘New Imperialism’ in the context of the revival of colonialism in the nineteenth century. | 10 | Imperialism and Colonialism | Model answer |
| 7(a) | The Industrial Revolution in England accelerated the decline of traditional Indian handicrafts and cottage Industries. Critically examine the factors responsible for this decline and its impact on the Indian economy and society. | 20 | Industrialization | Model answer |
| 7(b) | Lenin was the brilliant strategist of the socialist revolution. Substantiate. | 20 | Revolution and Counter-Revolution | Model answer |
| 7(c) | ‘The League of Nations failed to achieve its objectives of maintaining international peace and security.’ Analyse the major factors responsible for its failure during the period 1919-1946. | 10 | World Wars | Model answer |
| 8(a) | ‘The Acerbo law played a crucial role in strengthening Mussolini’s hold on power by undermining democratic institutions in Italy.’ Examine. | 20 | Revolution and Counter-Revolution | Model answer |
| 8(b) | The European Union sought to create ‘Europe without frontiers’. Elaborate. | 20 | Unification of Europe | Model answer |
| 8(c) | Discuss the core principles and significance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. | 10 | Unification of Europe | Model answer |
2026 Paper II: where the marks sat
| Unit | Marks | Share of paper |
|---|---|---|
| Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule | 40 | 10.0% |
| Enlightenment and Origins of Modern Politics | 40 | 10.0% |
| Gandhi and Other Strands of the National Movement | 40 | 10.0% |
| Industrialization | 40 | 10.0% |
| Revolution and Counter-Revolution | 40 | 10.0% |
| Birth of Indian Nationalism | 30 | 7.5% |
| European Penetration and the Early British Raj | 30 | 7.5% |
| Nation-State System | 30 | 7.5% |
| Social, Cultural and Reform Movements | 30 | 7.5% |
| Unification of Europe | 30 | 7.5% |
| Indian Response to British Rule | 20 | 5.0% |
| Imperialism and Colonialism | 10 | 2.5% |
| India after 1947 | 10 | 2.5% |
| World Wars | 10 | 2.5% |
How the 2026 papers read against recent years
Our <a href=”/history-optional-pyq-analysis-paper-1/”>History Paper I PYQ analysis</a>, which counts every question from 2023 to 2026, puts the eighteenth century at the top of the written units, and 2026 is part of the reason: the dark age question and the Maratha polity question sit in the same paper for 35 marks. The same analysis calls the 750 to 1200 window the hinge of Paper I because it’s examined from both sections, and this year two of its three parts were again printed in Section B. On the map, eight of the 20 hints pointed to Stone Age or proto-historic sites, and none pointed to an inscription or a coin, the first time that has happened in the four papers UPSC currently publishes.
The <a href=”/history-optional-pyq-analysis-paper-2/”>History Paper II PYQ analysis</a> ranks the economic impact of British rule as the biggest unit over the same four years, and 2026 leaned on it hard: two statements in the compulsory Question 1, a 20-marker on cottage industries and the same argument again in Section B. Post-independence India stayed a 10-mark topic, in line with its 5 percent share across the four papers, and the safety valve thesis came back as a Question 1 statement, as it did in 2025. Like every Paper II since 2023, this one used only 10-mark and 20-mark parts.
The table below uses this page’s broader units, so its ranking can differ from our PYQ analysis pages, which split the syllabus into finer units and count them separately. Both counts are right; they answer different questions. In Paper I the map question is a fixed 50 marks every year, so the movement is in the written units. India from 750 to 1200 is the steadiest heavy unit, with 45, 45, 35 and 50 marks from 2023 to 2026, 175 in all, the most of any written unit. The Mahajanapadas and Mauryan unit rose from 15 marks in 2023 to 50 in 2024 and 70 in 2025, then fell back to 30 in 2026. The eighteenth century went the other way, from 65 marks in 2023 to 45 and then 20, before recovering to 35. The fifteenth and early sixteenth century got nothing in 2023 but 30, 35 and 30 since, and Sources went unasked in 2024 and 2025 before taking 20 marks in 2026.
In Paper II the Enlightenment and the origins of modern politics took the most marks over the four years, 190, though it swung from 70 in 2023 to 20 in 2024. The economic impact of British rule stayed between 20 and 40 marks a year, and 2026’s 40 is its highest in the four papers. The birth of Indian nationalism was unasked in 2023 and has taken 30 to 40 marks every year since, while the unification of Europe climbed from zero to 20, 20 and 30. Imperialism and colonialism held 40 marks in each of 2023, 2024 and 2025, then dropped to 10 in 2026, and India after 1947 went from 10 marks to 40 and back to 10.
Paper I: marks by unit, 2023 to 2026
| Unit | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Map Identification | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Sources | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Pre-history and Indus Valley Civilization | 35 | 35 | 30 | 30 |
| Aryans and the Vedic Period | 15 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Mahajanapadas and the Mauryan Empire | 15 | 50 | 70 | 30 |
| Early States of the Deccan and South India | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas | 30 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| India, 750-1200: Polity and Culture | 45 | 45 | 35 | 50 |
| Delhi Sultanate: State, Society and Culture | 45 | 35 | 25 | 45 |
| The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century | 0 | 30 | 35 | 30 |
| Akbar and the Mughal Empire | 35 | 35 | 55 | 20 |
| Economy and Society, 16th-17th Centuries | 0 | 15 | 30 | 15 |
| Culture during the Mughal Empire | 35 | 10 | 35 | 25 |
| The Eighteenth Century | 65 | 45 | 20 | 35 |
Paper II: marks by unit, 2023 to 2026
| Unit | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Penetration and the Early British Raj | 40 | 30 | 40 | 30 |
| Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule | 30 | 20 | 30 | 40 |
| Social, Cultural and Reform Movements | 30 | 10 | 40 | 30 |
| Indian Response to British Rule | 40 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Birth of Indian Nationalism | 0 | 40 | 30 | 30 |
| Gandhi and Other Strands of the National Movement | 50 | 40 | 20 | 40 |
| India after 1947 | 10 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| Enlightenment and Origins of Modern Politics | 70 | 20 | 60 | 40 |
| Industrialization | 20 | 30 | 10 | 40 |
| Nation-State System | 30 | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| Imperialism and Colonialism | 40 | 40 | 40 | 10 |
| Revolution and Counter-Revolution | 10 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| World Wars | 30 | 40 | 10 | 10 |
| Unification of Europe | 0 | 20 | 20 | 30 |
Questions in both tables link to worked model answers, collected under <a href=”/mains-practice-questions/history-optional-paper-1/”>History Paper I model answers</a> and <a href=”/mains-practice-questions/history-optional-paper-2/”>History Paper II model answers</a>. Each one gives the outline and key points first, then the full answer.
The unit names follow the official <a href=”/history-optional-syllabus/”>History optional syllabus</a>, and the <a href=”/history-optional-notes/”>History optional notes</a> cover both papers unit by unit. If you’re still deciding on the subject, <a href=”/history-optional/”>History optional for UPSC</a> covers what it asks of you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was asked in the UPSC History optional paper 2026?
Paper I opened with the compulsory 20-place map question and then covered prehistory, Harappan architecture, Greek, Chinese and Arab accounts of India, Nalanda and Vikramashila, Hoysala temples, the Cholas, the Qutub complex, Barani, Vijayanagara, Mughal painting and the eighteenth century. Paper II covered the Carnatic Wars, the Permanent Settlement, the safety valve thesis, Rammohan Roy, Quit India and the INA in Section A, and Kant, Napoleon, the Vienna Settlement, Meiji Japan, Lenin, the Acerbo law, the League of Nations, the EU and NATO in Section B.
How many questions and marks are there in each History optional paper?
Each paper prints 8 questions in two sections, each worth 50 marks, and you answer 5 for 250 marks in three hours. Questions 1 and 5 are compulsory: in Paper I that means the 50-mark map question and five 10-mark questions on medieval India, and in Paper II two sets of five 10-mark statements to examine critically.
Where can I download the official 2026 History optional question papers?
UPSC publishes the official Mains question papers as PDFs on the previous question papers page at upsc.gov.in, and both 2026 History papers are there. Each paper on this page also opens with its own download link.
How should I use the 2026 History paper in my preparation?
Treat the map question as a drill: work from the printed hints alone, then check each place against a site atlas and write the 30-word note. For the written questions, attempt one under time, then open its model answer and compare the structure before the facts.
How does the 2026 History paper compare with recent years?
The eighteenth century in Paper I and the economic critique of colonial rule in Paper II, the two biggest written units in our 2023 to 2026 count, both carried heavy marks again in 2026. Paper II again used only 10-mark and 20-mark parts, and post-1947 India again got a single short question.
Where can I find model answers to the 2026 History questions?
Questions on this page link to their worked model answers, and the full sets sit on the History Paper I and History Paper II model answer pages under Mains practice questions. Each answer gives an outline and key points before the full text.
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