History Optional · Paper I · Medieval India
Early Medieval India, 750-1200 Notes · PYQs · Solved Answers
Free notes, every previous year question and the solved answers for Early Medieval India, 750-1200 (Paper I, Medieval India), arranged so you can read a topic and immediately see how UPSC has asked it. Syllabus: Major political developments, origin of Rajputs, the Cholas, Arab conquest of Sind, feudalism, agrarian economy, trade, society.
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1985–2025
Years covered
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Paper I · Unit 13
Early Medieval India, 750-1200 notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order. Read a topic, then open its previous year questions below.
Free notes
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Agrarian Economy in Early Medieval India
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Arab Conquest of Sind
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Chalukyas of Kalyani (Western Chalukyas)
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Chola: Art and Architecture
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Chola: Local Government
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Cholas : Economy, Society, Education and Literature
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Cholas: Administration, Village economy and Society
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Cholas: Polity and Administration
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Condition of Women in Early Medieval India (750–1200)
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Early Medieval India, 750-1200: Major Political Developments
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Hoyasala: Art and Architecture
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Hoysalas : Polity and Administration
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Indian Feudalism in Early Medieval Period
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Indian Science and Technology in Early Medieval India
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Medieval Indian History: Characteristics & Time-Periods
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Origin and the Rise of Rajputs
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Palas: Cultural Aspects
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Palas: Polity and administration
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Pandyas: Art and Architecture
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Pandyas: Economy, Society, Education and Literature
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Pandyas: Polity and Administration
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Paramaras: Polity and administration
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Rashtrakutas: Cultural Aspects
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Rashtrakutas: Polity and administration
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Senas: Polity and administration
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Society in Early Medieval India
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Trade and Commerce in Early Medieval India
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Urban Settlements in Early Medieval India
Free practice
Previous year questions: Early Medieval India, 750-1200
Every question UPSC has asked from this unit, year-wise, with a link to its solved answer.
Topic-wise question list
Year-wise question papers
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UPSC History Optional Question Paper 2026
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UPSC History Optional Question Paper 2025
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History Optional Question Paper: 2024
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History Optional Question Paper: 2023
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History Optional Question Paper: 2012
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History Optional Question Paper: 2011
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History Optional Question Paper: 2013
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History Optional Question Paper: 2014
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History Optional Question Paper: 2015
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History Optional Question Paper: 2016
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History Optional Question Paper: 2017
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History Optional Question Paper: 2018
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History Optional Question Paper: 2019
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History Optional Question Paper: 2021
History PYQ Master Pack
Solved PYQ answers: Early Medieval India, 750-1200
Topic-wise model answers, newest exam year first. Members open the full answer; everyone else sees the question and can join the pack.
PYQ Solutions
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“The dynamics of social mobility in early medieval India were shaped by a complex interplay of caste hierarchies, religious legitimation, economic transformation and political patronage.” Critically assess how these factors collectively reconfigured the structure of early medieval Indian society
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Discuss the various proponents of Indian feudalism.
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What were ‘Brahmdeya’ grants? How do you account for the large number of such grants in the early medieval period?
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Chola maritime expansion was driven largely by the concerns of overseas commerce. Elucidate.
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Evaluate the importance of tripartite struggle for the domination over north India during the eighth and ninth centuries
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Discuss the different stages of India feudalism and analyze its impact on Indian political system, (in about 150 words).
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Large number of land grants in hitherto non-arable tracts invariably meant expansion of agriculture in early medieval India. How did the management of hydraulic resources (different types of irrigation works) facilitate expansion of agriculture in this period?
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Critically analyze the changing nature of caste and gender relations during the early medieval period
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“Doubtless it was not a free state; it was any rate a state” (KAN Sastri). Reflect upon the nature of local self-government institutions in the Chola country.
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Explain the ingredients of the transitory nature of the early medieval India
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Analyze the significance of the Uttaramerur inscriptions of the Chola king Parantaka I.
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How could the local self-government under the Cholas adjust with their centralised administrative structure?
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Do the evidences of land ownership at our disposal support the theory of the prevalence of feudalism in early medieval India?
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Evaluating various theories regarding the Chola State, throw light on its village assemblies.
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Evaluate the role of nadu and nagaram in the growth of urbanisation under the Cholas.
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What kind of changes were visualised by historians on Indian feudalism? Examine critically.
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Assess the contribution of Cholas in the expansion of Indian culture outside India.
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Evaluate the socio-economic conditions from the Gupta Period to 1200 C.E. as gleaned from the various types of grants or danashasana.
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To what extent ‘monetary anaemia’ afflicted the erstwhile commercial economy during the early medieval period?
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How far can the village assemblies or communities under the Cholas be really called democratic?
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Write short essay on Applicability of the term ‘Indian Feudalism’ to early Medieval society.
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Show that the administrative system in India reached a very high level during the Chola period.
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Write brief essay on the Samanta system.
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The Cholas are said to have established a strong and well organised administration with an element of self-government at the local level. Do you agree? Give reasons.
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Were the Chola village assemblies democratic in nature? Give reasons for your answer.
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Critically evaluate the achievements of the Cholas.
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Write brief essay on Social structure of the Rajputs
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“Achieving dominance in south of the Vindhyas did not satisfy the ambitions of the Rashtrakutas, they also wanted to achieve dominance over the Gangetic Plains.” Elaborate and comment
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Give an account of the Society in Northern and Central India since the death of Harsha to the Muslim conquest of North India
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Assess the importance of the Cholas in the history of South India.
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Write a brief note on Land charters of north India (c. A-D. 750-1200).
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Discuss the contribution of Rajaraja I and Rajendra I for the expansion of the Chola empire. Analyse the causes and impact of the naval expeditions of the Cholas.
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Write brief essay on Local self-government under the Cholas.
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Critically assess the period of the Cholas in the history of South India.
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Bring out the salient features of the polity & social structure of the Rajputs. To what extent were they responsible for the weakness of the Rajput resistance to foreign invaders
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Main sources of information for the history of the 13th century
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What were the salient features of the bureaucratic machinery of the Cholas?
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