History Optional · Paper I · Medieval India
Economy and Society in the 16th and 17th Centuries Notes · PYQs · Solved Answers
Free notes, every previous year question and the solved answers for Economy and Society in the 16th and 17th Centuries (Paper I, Medieval India), arranged so you can read a topic and immediately see how UPSC has asked it. Syllabus: Population, agriculture, crafts and towns, commerce with Europe, fiscal and monetary system, mercantile classes, peasants, women, Sikh community.
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1989–2025
Years covered
32
Questions listed
13
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Free notes Previous year questions Solved answers All History Optional units
Paper I · Unit 22
Economy and Society in the 16th and 17th Centuries 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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Agriculture Production in Mughal India
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Bernier’s Account of India
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Commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French Companies
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Condition of Peasants in the 16th and 17th Centuries
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Condition of Women in the 16th and 17th Centuries
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Craft Production in Mughal Period (16th and 17th Century)
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Economy and Society in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries: Towns
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Evolution of the Sikh Community and the Khalsa Panth
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Fiscal and Monetary System, Prices in Mughal India
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Indian Mercantile Classes, Banking, Insurance and Credit Systems in Mughal India
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Mughal-Rajput Relations in the 16th and 17th centuries
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Population in Mughal India
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Potentiality of Emergence of Capitalism in Mughal India
Free practice
Previous year questions: Economy and Society in the 16th and 17th Centuries
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: Economy and Society in the 16th and 17th Centuries
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 principles of Sikhism represented a harmonious blend of Islamic and Indic religious beliefs and practices.” Comment.
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Gunpowder changed the character of warfare in India during the Mughal era. Elucidate.
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Evaluate the impact of Mughal revenue administration on the agrarian structure of North India. To what extent did it bring continuity and change in the rural socio-economic fabric?
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Critically assess the role of imperial Karkhanas in Mughal India. How did they reflect the ideological and functional imperatives of the Mughal State?
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Examine the process of urbanization caused by the establishment of European trading companies in India.
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Highlight the features of the Portuguese colonial enterprise.
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Analyze the rise of the Sikhs under Ranjit Singh.
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Trade and commerce in the Mughal Empire brought about the integration of the Indian subcontinent into a single market. Comment.
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Discuss the transformation of Sikh community from a Nirguna Bhakti sect into a politico-military organization.
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The emergence of early capitalism in the Mughal period was primarily due to urbanisation and commercialisation. Comment.
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“An important feature of agriculture in Mughal India has been the large number of crops raised by the peasants.” Illustrate by giving examples.
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The religion of the Sikhs was the main force of their unity. Comment.
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Assess the condition of peasantry during 13th to 17th centuries C.E.
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Will it not be correct to say that the rural economy in Mughal India was relatively self-sufficient?
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“India had been for hundreds of years the Lancashire of the Eastern world.” Critically examine this view.
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Analyse the Mughal monetary system and examine their policy of minting of coins.
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On the basis of the accounts of Europeans bring out the agrarian crisis of the 17th century CE India.
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Give a sketch of Indian trade with Europe during the Mughal period.
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Medieval Indian towns were merely an extension of villages. Comment.
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State the structure of medieval village society in Northern India. What were the passive forms of resistance of the peasants in the medieval period?
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Discuss different types of Karkhanas in Mughal India. How was the production organized in the Karkhanas?
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Critically evaluate various approaches to study medieval Indian towns.
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Write short essay: Estimates of population of Mughal India.
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Write short essay on Evolution of the Khalsa Panth.
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Delineate the striking features of agricultural and craft production during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in India. How did they impact the social fabric of the country?
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Examine the factors which were responsible for opening and development of European trade in India during the 16th and 17th centuries.
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Give your opinion on the urban development in India during the Mughal times
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Do you agree with the view that the advent of the Turks and the Mughals in India heralded many changes in the means of production? Give reasons in support of your answer
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Write a brief essay on Mughals and the British East India Company
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Analyse the distinguishing features of the land revenue system under the Mughals and point out its influence on the strength of the Mughal State
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The Mughals and the European trading companies
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