YugMap Bharat, artharth India

Recommended reading

A curated shelf for exam preparation and for curious readers — from NCERT basics to the standard references and the best popular histories. Every note is our own.

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Preparing for
Any NCERT basicsUPSC PrelimsUPSC MainsSSCState PSCGeneral reading
Era
All Prehistory & HarappanAncient IndiaMedieval IndiaModern IndiaWorld historyNeighbouring countriesArt & culture
Type
All TextbookReferencePopular historyPrimary source / classic

Modern India 4

Reference

India's Struggle for Independence

Bipan Chandra et al. · Penguin

The standard narrative of the national movement from 1857 to 1947.

UPSC Prelims UPSC Mains State PSC General reading
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Reference

From Plassey to Partition and After

Sekhar Bandyopadhyay · Orient BlackSwan

A balanced, analytical history of colonial India; excellent for Mains answers.

UPSC Mains General reading
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Reference

The Marathas 1600–1818

Stewart Gordon · Cambridge University Press

How the Maratha state rose from Shivaji's swarajya to a subcontinental power.

General reading
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Reference

A History of Assam

Edward Gait · Various reprints

The classic history of Assam and the Ahom kingdom.

State PSC General reading
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