UPSC Notes

Administrative Unification under the British Empire The establishment of the British Empire allowed not only the political unification of the country but also Administrative and Economic unification. Pre-British India was divided into many feudal states, frequently struggling among themselves to extend their boundaries. A conception of unity existed, but that was limited to ‘geographical Unity’…

Annexation of Sindh & Punjab by British By 1818, the entire Indian subcontinent, except Punjab and Sindh, had been brought under British rule. They directly ruled some states, while in others, the British exercised paramount power. These areas were brought under British control through subsidiary alliance, the Principle of Paramountcy and, in several cases, through…

Early Political Activities: 1858-1905 The revolt of 1857 was the first major large-scale revolt against the British. However, it failed to overthrow British imperialism. The failure of the revolt in 1857 demonstrated that revolutions based on old outlooks and social forces were ineffective against modern imperialism. In this aspect, the need arises for the political…

Peasant Movements in India Peasant movements in India have been  pivotal in shaping the socio-political landscape, emerging as responses to oppressive feudal practices, high taxes, and exploitative colonial policies. Spanning from the 18th century to post-independence India, these movements varied in scope and impact, rallying for rights, fair land distribution, and against unjust economic burdens….

The Revolt of 1857 was one of the most significant watershed moments during British rule. During this revolt, various regions of north India spontaneously stood up against British rule. Garrison after garrison stood mutinied against their senior officers, and after the general public participation, it appeared that the British rule would end. However, the British…

Economic Impact of British Rule in India The British Empire in India was highly organized administratively. The fundamental difference between the earlier conquest of India and the British conquest is that the earlier conquerors made no basic changes in the country’s economic structure and gradually became a part of it. The British totally disrupted the…

Revolutionary Nationalism 2.0 Revolutionary Nationalism 2.0 in India marks a pivotal shift towards radical methods of freedom struggle , optimized by icons like Ashfaqulla Khan, Roshan Singh Ramprasad Bismil, & Bhagat Singh. This era, infused with the spirit of sacrifice and direct action, drew form global revolutionary ideologies to challenge British Colonialism. The non-cooperation movement…

The First Phase of the Revolutionary Movement in India (1907-17) With the decline of the mass phase of the Swadeshi movement and the lack of political activity, a new kind of political action emerged in the national movement. In this aspect, the highly motivated youth adopted the following methods: They adopted revolutionary activities as the…

National Movements in Princely States National movements in princely states of British India were the crucial phase of the country’s fight for independence. These states, which were nominally governed by India Princes under British suzerainty, presented unique challenges for nationalist activism. The movement aimed for political rights and self- governance inspired by the broader Indian…