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90 days study plan for History for UPSC CSE Prelims
History is an important part of the UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus. Every year on average, 15-20 questions are asked from this topic in the IAS prelims exam. In the prelims, 12-13 questions are asked from history and art & culture.
- The history syllabus for UPSC must be strategically covered so as to ensure you reap maximum benefits from your preparation.
- The entire history syllabus of the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) can be covered in 3 months (90 days). Students should dedicate at least 6 to 8 hours daily for preparation.
In this document, a 3-month (90 days), daily study plan is discussed, which will help you cover the entire syllabus of History for the UPSC CSE exam.
Why did we make this 90 days plan?
- UPSC syllabus is vast. And it is easy to get lost in it all if one doesn't have a plan.
- And EduRev experts saw a lot of students get lost in History, and wanted to get things right with EduRev's mission of "Study What Matters".
- We realized that by simply having a systematic plan, it is easy to cover History for UPSC in a deeply exhaustive way and in under 90 days!
- We made this plan for you so that you can cover History correctly, effectively, and in a TIMELY manner.
90 Days Daily Study Plan for History
Week 1: Syllabus, PYQs & Class 6 to 8 NCERTs
- Day 1: UPSC Syllabus
- Day 2: Previous year questions
- Day 3 & 4: Class 6th NCERT - Class 6 NCERT Textbook (History - Our Past)
- Day 4 & 5: Class 7th NCERT - Class 7 NCERT Textbook (History - Our Past I)
- Day 5 & 6: Class 8th NCERT - Class 8 NCERT Textbook (History - Our Past II)
- Day 7: Class wise 6 to 8th NCERT tests
You should attempt the chapter-wise tests as well after reading the textbook of that chapter. EduRev gives you NCERT based tests for every chapter you read.
Week 2: Class 9 to 11 NCERTs
- Day 1 & 2: Class 9th NCERT - Class 9 NCERT Textbook (India & the Contemporary World - I)
- Day 3 & 4: Class 10th NCERT - Class 10 NCERT Textbook (India & the Contemporary World - II)
- Day 5 & 6: Class 11th NCERT - Class 11(Theme in World History)
- Day 7: Class wise 9 to 11th NCERT tests
Week 3: Class 12 NCERTs
Week 4: Class 12 NCERTs and Class wise tests
- Day 1 to 3: 12th standard OLD NCERT for Ancient history by RS Sharma - Old NCERT RS Sharma: Ancient India
- Day 4 to 6: 12th standard OLD NCERT for Medieval History by Satish Chandra - Old NCERT Satish Chandra: Medieval India
- Day 7: Chapter wise 12th NCERT tests
Week 5: NCERT Summaries and Spectrum for Modern History
- Day 1 & 2: NCERT summaries - NCERT Summary
- Day 3 to 7: Spectrum for Modern History: Summary & Tests
- Day 3: Sources and Approaches
- Day 3: Advent of Europeans And Consolidation of British Power in India
- Day 4: Rising Resentment Against Company Rule
- Day 4: Reform Movements
- Day 4: The Struggle Begins
- Day 5: National Movement (1905-1918)
- Day 5: Era of Mass Nationalism Begins (1919-1939)
- Day 6: Towards Freedom and Partition (1939-1947)
- Day 6: India Under British Rule: Governance and Other Aspects
- Day 7: Independence and After
Week 6: Spectrum Tests and Nitin Singhania: Indian Art & Culture
- Day 1 & 2: Spectrum Tests
- Day 2 to 7: Nitin Singhania: Indian Art & Culture (Summary & Tests)
- Day 2: Indian Architecture, Sculpture and Pottery
- Day 2: Indian Paintings & Handicrafts
- Day 3: Indian Music
- Day 3: Indian Dance Forms
- Day 4: Indian Puppetry
- Day 4: UNESCO's List of Tangible & Intangible Cultural Heritage
- Day 4: Indian Languages, Literature & Religions
- Day 5 & 6: Additional Topics: Nitin Singhania
- Day 6 & 7: Nitin Singhania Tests
Understand and learn from Videos and notes in Nitin Singhania: Indian Art & Culture course and then attempt tests also to test yourself.
Week 7: Mock-Test based learning
Mock test-based learning: UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 Mock Test Series
Once you've completed your preparation for History. We recommend you to start attempting mock tests of History, available under the UPSC Prelims Mock Test Series by clicking here.
Week 8: Topic-wise Ancient History
- Day 1: Indus Valley Civilisation
- Day 2: Prehistoric Period & Sources of Ancient History
- Day 2: Vedic Period
- Day 3: The Sangam Age
- Day 3: Territorial States & First Magadha Empire
- Day 4: Buddhism & Jainism
- Day 5: The Mauryan Empire
- Day 6 & 7: The Gupta Period
- Day 7: Additional Topics of Ancient India
Week 9: Topic-wise Medieval History
- Day 1: Chronology - Medieval History
- Day 1: Political And Social Conditions (800-1200 A.D)
- Day 2: The Delhi Sultanate
- Day 3: The Mughal Empire & Sher Shah Suri
- Day 3: South India And The Cholas (800-1200 A.D.)
- Day 4: Provincial Dynasties of North India & Deccan
- Day 4: The Vijayanagar Empire
- Day 5: The Religious Movements in The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries: Bhakti & Sufi Movements
- Day 6: Shivaji and Maratha Nationalism
- Day 7: Beginning of European Commerce
Week 10: Topic-wise Modern History
- Day 1: Introduction to Modern India
- Day 1: The Advent of Europeans in India
- Day 2: The Decline of Mughal Empire And The Rise of Autonomous States
- Day 3: Expansion & Consolidation of British Power in India
- Day 3: The Revolt of 1857
- Day 4: The Economic Impact of British Rule in India
- Day 4: Reform Movement
- Day 5: The Freedom Struggle
- Day 5: Social And Cultural Awakening, The Lower Caste, Trade Union And Peasants Movements
- Day 6: Modern Nationalism in India (1858 - 1905)
- Day 6: Nationalist Movement (1905-1947)
- Day 7: India under British Rule: Governance & other Aspects
Week 11: Revision through Notes and Summaries
- Day 1 & 2: Revision Notes
- Day 3 to 7: Second reading of NCERTs class 6 to 8 -
Week 12: Revision through Summary Notes and Videos and Mock Tests
Second reading of NCERTs class 9 to 12
- Day 1: Class 9th NCERT - Class 9 NCERT Textbook (India & the Contemporary World - I)
- Day 2 & 3: Class 10th NCERT - Class 10 NCERT Textbook (India & the Contemporary World - II)
- Day 3 & 4: Class 11th NCERT - Class 11(Theme in World History)
- Day 5 & 6: Class 12th OLD or NEW depends on the student
- Mock test-based learning: UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 Mock Test Series - Day 6 - 7
With our timetable keep your progress tracked and study what matters.
Other Important Links:
1. Overall Understanding of Exam.
We have also similarly created a structured syllabus & even a stepwise guide to help to crack for UPSC CSE which you can check from the links below:
2. Prepare with Study plan for each subject:
- 90 Days Study plan for Indian Polity for UPSC CSE Prelims
- 90 Days Study plan for Geography for UPSC CSE Prelims
You can find the subject-wise strategy to study each subject efficiently for UPSC CSE along with their detailed syllabus and much more in the course How To Study For UPSC.
We hope this helps you in covering History for UPSC CSE effectively and quickly. We recommend you to save/bookmark this article and refer to it daily during your 90-day journey for covering History.
The document 90 days study plan for History for UPSC CSE Prelims is a part of the UPSC Course History for UPSC CSE.
All you need of UPSC at this link: UPSC
FAQs on 90 days study plan for History for UPSC CSE Prelims
| 1. How should I divide History topics across 90 days to prepare for UPSC Prelims? |  |
Ans. A structured 90-day plan typically allocates 30 days to ancient history foundations, 30 days to medieval and early modern periods, and 30 days to modern Indian history with current affairs integration. Within each phase, dedicate specific weeks to geography, polity interconnections, and revision cycles. Refer to mind maps and flashcards on EduRev to consolidate chronological understanding and reinforce key periods effectively.
| 2. Which History topics are most frequently asked in UPSC CSE Prelims exams? | |
Ans. Modern Indian history dominates UPSC Prelims with nationalist movements, freedom struggle leaders, and constitutional development appearing regularly. Ancient Indian empires, medieval dynasties, and cultural history also feature consistently. Previous year questions reveal that independence era events, Mughal administration, and Mauryan period policies appear repeatedly. Students should prioritise these high-frequency topics while maintaining balanced coverage across all periods for comprehensive UPSC exam readiness.
| 3. What's the best way to memorise dates and events for History without getting confused? | |
Ans. Creating event timelines and grouping parallel occurrences by century prevents date confusion. Chronological mapping helps students visualise which events overlapped across regions. Flashcards linking specific dates to defining characteristics, rather than isolated numbers, improve retention significantly. Practice previous year questions to identify which dates actually appear in exams versus superfluous details that drain study time unnecessarily.
| 4. How much time should I spend on ancient versus modern Indian History in my UPSC preparation? | |
Ans. Allocate roughly 25% to ancient history, 20% to medieval periods, and 55% to modern Indian history, reflecting actual exam weightage. Modern history's dominance stems from its relevance to current affairs and constitutional questions. However, ancient foundations strengthen understanding of cultural continuity tested in integrated history-geography questions, making skipping any period risky for comprehensive UPSC Prelims performance.
| 5. What resources help create a personalized 90-day History study schedule for UPSC? | |
Ans. Structured notes, PPTs, and visual worksheets clarify complex periods and interconnections. Mind maps compress vast historical narratives into digestible formats, while MCQ tests identify weak areas requiring extra revision cycles. EduRev offers comprehensive study materials-detailed notes, flashcards, and video explanations-enabling candidates to customise their 90-day timeline based on individual learning pace and baseline History knowledge for optimal UPSC preparation outcomes.
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