90-DAY UPSC HISTORY STUDY PLAN

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🏺 PHASE 1: ANCIENT INDIA (Day 1–25)

Goal: Build foundation and conceptual clarity on early Indian civilization, empires, and culture.

Day	Topic	Sources	Focus Area
1–2	Introduction to Ancient India, Geographical Background	NCERT 6–12 + R.S. Sharma	Indian subcontinent’s features
3–5	Prehistoric Cultures: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic	R.S. Sharma	Tools, sites, lifestyle
6–7	Indus Valley Civilization	R.S. Sharma + NCERT	Town planning, trade, decline
8–9	Early Vedic & Later Vedic Age	R.S. Sharma	Society, polity, economy
10–11	Mahajanapadas, Rise of Magadha	R.S. Sharma	16 Mahajanapadas, Bimbisara, Ajatashatru
12–13	Jainism & Buddhism	R.S. Sharma + Nitin Singhania	Doctrines, councils, spread
14–15	Persian & Greek Invasions, Mauryan Empire	R.S. Sharma	Kautilya, Ashoka, Edicts
16–17	Post-Mauryan Period: Shakas, Kushanas, Satavahanas	R.S. Sharma	Gandhara art, Indo-Greek trade
18–19	Gupta Empire (Golden Age)	R.S. Sharma	Literature, Science, Administration
20–21	Harsha & Regional Kingdoms	R.S. Sharma	Harshavardhana, Pushyabhutis
22–23	South Indian Kingdoms – Sangam, Cholas, Pallavas	R.S. Sharma	Chola Administration, Architecture
24–25	Ancient Indian Culture – Art, Architecture, Literature	Nitin Singhania	Stupas, Temples, Universities

✅ Revision Day: Day 26 → Revise Ancient India through self-notes and PYQs.

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⚔️ PHASE 2: MEDIEVAL INDIA (Day 27–50)

Goal: Understand Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Bhakti-Sufi movements, and medieval culture.

Day	Topic	Sources	Focus Area
27–28	Early Medieval India (750–1200 AD)	Satish Chandra	Rajputs, Palas, Rashtrakutas
29–30	Foundation of Delhi Sultanate	Satish Chandra	Mamluk rulers, Iltutmish, Razia
31–32	Khalji & Tughlaq Dynasties	Satish Chandra	Alauddin’s reforms, Tughlaq policies
33–34	Sayyid & Lodi Dynasties	Satish Chandra	Administration and decline
35–36	Vijayanagara & Bahmani Kingdoms	Satish Chandra	Art, literature, temple architecture
37–38	Bhakti Movement	Satish Chandra + Nitin Singhania	Saints and impact
39–40	Sufi Movement	Satish Chandra + Nitin Singhania	Chisti, Suhrawardi orders
41–43	Mughal Empire – Babur to Akbar	Satish Chandra	Akbar’s policies, Mansabdari
44–45	Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb	Satish Chandra	Religious policies, architecture
46–47	Mughal Administration & Decline	Satish Chandra	Causes of decline
48–49	Regional States: Marathas, Sikhs, Mysore	Satish Chandra	Shivaji, Peshwas, Tipu Sultan
50	Medieval Culture – Architecture, Music, Literature	Nitin Singhania	Indo-Islamic styles, Miniature painting

✅ Revision Day: Day 51 → Revise Medieval India + Practice MCQs

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🇮🇳 PHASE 3: MODERN INDIA (Day 52–75)

Goal: Master India’s modern history – British rule, freedom struggle, reforms, and independence.

Day	Topic	Sources	Focus Area
52–53	Advent of Europeans	Spectrum + NCERT	Portuguese to British
54–55	British Expansion in India	Spectrum	Battles (Plassey, Buxar)
56–57	British Administration & Economic Policies	Spectrum	Land revenue systems
58–59	Social & Religious Reform Movements	Spectrum	Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Arya Samaj
60–61	Revolt of 1857	Spectrum	Causes, leaders, failure
62–63	Administrative Changes (1858–1905)	Spectrum	British Crown Rule
64–66	Early Nationalism (1885–1905)	Spectrum	Moderates vs. Extremists
67–68	Swadeshi & Partition of Bengal	Spectrum	Economic boycott, agitation
69–71	Gandhian Era (1915–1947)	Spectrum	All movements & Acts
72–73	Revolutionary & Left Movements	Spectrum	Bhagat Singh, HSRA, Communist groups
74	Constitutional Developments	Spectrum	Acts (1909, 1919, 1935)
75	Independence & Integration of States	Spectrum + NCERT	Mountbatten Plan, Patel’s role

✅ Revision Day: Day 76 → Revise Modern India + Attempt Spectrum-based mock test

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🌍 PHASE 4: WORLD HISTORY (Day 77–85)

Goal: Prepare Mains-relevant topics focusing on revolutions, wars, and global political change.

Day	Topic	Sources	Focus Area
77–78	Renaissance & Reformation	Norman Lowe	Humanism, Protestantism
79	American Revolution (1776)	Norman Lowe	Causes, impact
80–81	French Revolution & Napoleon	Norman Lowe	Liberty, equality, fraternity
82	Industrial Revolution	Norman Lowe	Inventions, impact
83	Unification of Italy & Germany	Norman Lowe	Bismarck, Garibaldi
84	World War I & Russian Revolution	Norman Lowe	Lenin, Bolshevism
85	World War II & Cold War	Norman Lowe	Fascism, UN, NAM

✅ Revision Day: Day 86 → Revise World History + Practice Mains answer writing

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🎨 PHASE 5: INDIAN CULTURE & HERITAGE (Day 87–90)

Goal: Revise cultural aspects for Prelims + Mains GS Paper 1.

Day	Topic	Sources	Focus Area
87	Indian Art and Architecture	Nitin Singhania	Temple styles, stupas
88	Dance, Music, Theatre	Nitin Singhania	Classical & folk forms
89	Literature, Religion & Philosophy	Nitin Singhania	Sanskrit texts, Bhakti-Sufi
90	UNESCO Heritage Sites & Revision	Nitin Singhania	Indian heritage overview

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📚 Booklist Summary

Segment	Book	Author
Ancient	India’s Ancient Past	R.S. Sharma
Medieval	History of Medieval India	Satish Chandra
Modern	A Brief History of Modern India	Spectrum
World	Mastering Modern World History	Norman Lowe
Culture	Indian Art & Culture	Nitin Singhania
NCERTs	Class 6–12 History	NCERT

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🧠 Smart Study Tips

• 🔹 Revise every 7 days (small recap sessions).
• 🔹 Solve 10–20 MCQs daily from Vision IAS / ForumIAS / Insights.
• 🔹 Use maps for Ancient & Medieval India (mark important sites).
• 🔹 For Mains, prepare crisp notes with introduction, body, conclusion format.
• 🔹 Practice 5 PYQs weekly from Modern India & World History.