When it comes to preparing for competitive examinations like WBCS (West Bengal Civil Service) or UPSC (Union Public Service Commission), choosing the right study material is half the battle won. Among the sea of history books available, “Indian History” by Krishna Reddy continues to be a top recommendation from toppers, teachers, and serious aspirants alike.
In this blog post, we’ll explore why Krishna Reddy’s history book stands out, including its syllabus coverage, pros & cons, and how to make the best notes from it.
📖 About the Book
-
Title: Indian History
-
Author: Krishna Reddy
-
Publisher: McGraw Hill Education
-
Recommended For: UPSC (Prelims + Mains), WBCS, SSC, State PSCs, and other civil services exams.
✅ Pros of Krishna Reddy’s History Book
-
Comprehensive Coverage
The book covers Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History in one single volume, making it a one-stop solution for civil services. -
Chronological & Systematic Approach
It presents history in a linear and logical sequence, which is extremely helpful for developing a clear timeline in the mind. -
Exam-Focused Content
Each topic is written with a focus on competitive exams, especially the UPSC & WBCS pattern. Important events, reforms, and movements are covered with great detail. -
Rich with Facts & Analysis
The book balances both factual details (dates, names, places) and analytical understanding, which helps in answering both objective (Prelims) and descriptive (Mains) questions. -
Well-Organized Subheadings
The use of bullet points, subheadings, and tables makes the content easy to scan and revise. -
Useful for State PSCs too
Aspirants of WBCS, UPPSC, BPSC, and other state-level exams also find this book extremely useful.
❌ Cons of Krishna Reddy’s History Book
-
Language Can Be Lengthy
Some students feel the book is slightly wordy or academic, especially in the Modern History section. -
Lacks Visual Aids
The book has very few maps, images, and flowcharts, which can make learning a bit monotonous. Visual learners might need extra sources. -
Overwhelming for Beginners
The sheer size of the book (700+ pages) can be intimidating for beginners. A basic NCERT reading is recommended before diving into this. -
Not Fully Updated with Recent Research
Since the book is written for a long-term perspective, latest discoveries or changes in historiography may not be fully covered.
🧾 Syllabus Covered in the Book
The book roughly aligns with the History portion of UPSC and WBCS syllabus, which includes:
📜 Ancient India:
-
Prehistoric Cultures in India
-
Indus Valley Civilization
-
Vedic Age
-
Mahajanapadas and Mauryan Empire
-
Post-Mauryan Empires: Satavahanas, Kushanas, etc.
-
Gupta Age and Post-Gupta Developments
-
Art, Culture, and Religion
🏰 Medieval India:
-
Delhi Sultanate
-
Mughal Empire
-
Vijayanagar and Bahmani Kingdoms
-
Bhakti and Sufi Movements
-
Regional Kingdoms
-
Socio-Economic and Religious Developments
🇮🇳 Modern India:
-
Advent of Europeans
-
British Expansion and Policies
-
Revolt of 1857
-
Socio-Religious Reform Movements
-
Freedom Struggle (1885–1947)
-
Gandhian Phase
-
Partition and Independence
-
Post-Independence Challenges (basic coverage)
📝 Best Notes Strategy for Krishna Reddy’s History Book
To make the most out of this book, use the following note-making strategy:
-
Divide Notes by Era: Use separate sections for Ancient, Medieval, and Modern.
-
Use Timeline-Based Notes: Prepare chronology for major dynasties, events, and reform movements.
-
Highlight Key Terms: Focus on important terms like Subsidiary Alliance, Ryotwari, Satyagraha, etc.
-
Make Mind Maps: For revolts, social movements, and policies.
-
Use Previous Year Questions (PYQs): Connect your notes with real UPSC and WBCS questions.
-
Focus More on Modern India: This is the most weightage section in both Prelims and Mains.
✅ How to Make Notes from Krishna Reddy's Book
📌 1. Structure Your Notes in 3 Sections:
-
Ancient India
-
Medieval India
-
Modern India
Use separate notebooks or digital folders for each.
🧠 2. General Note-Making Rules:
-
Write in bullet points.
-
Use highlighted keywords (e.g., terms like Subsidiary Alliance, Doctrine of Lapse).
-
Include important dates/events with short descriptions.
-
Add PYQs (Previous Year Questions) below each topic as practice.
| Chapter | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Prehistoric India | Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic cultures |
| Indus Valley Civilization | Town planning, Great Bath, trade, decline |
| Vedic Age | Early vs. Later Vedic, polity, economy, society |
| Mahajanapadas | 16 Mahajanapadas, rise of Magadha |
| Mauryan Empire | Administration (esp. Kautilya’s Arthashastra), Ashoka’s Dhamma |
| Post-Mauryan Period | Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, trade routes |
| Gupta Period | Golden Age of India, science, art, economy |
| Art & Architecture | Stupa, Chaitya, Rock-cut caves, Gupta temples |
| Chapter | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Delhi Sultanate | Administration, Iqta system, art and architecture |
| Bhakti & Sufi Movements | Saints (Kabir, Mirabai, Basavanna), their teachings |
| Mughal Empire | Akbar’s policies, Mansabdari system, architecture |
| Regional Kingdoms | Vijayanagar, Bahmani, Marathas, Rajputs |
| Socio-economic Life | Agriculture, trade, caste dynamics |
| Chapter | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Advent of Europeans | Portuguese, British, Carnatic Wars |
| British Policies | Land revenue systems: Zamindari, Ryotwari |
| Revolt of 1857 | Causes, leaders, failure, impact |
| Socio-Religious Reform | Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Arya Samaj, Aligarh Movement |
| Freedom Struggle (1885–1947) | INC formation, Partition of Bengal, Extremists vs Moderates,Home Rule, Gandhian Movements, Quit India |
| Revolutionary Movements | Bhagat Singh, Chittagong Armoury Raid |
| Subhas Chandra Bose | INA, Azad Hind Fauj |
| India after Independence (basic) | Integration of states, Nehruvian policies |
🏁 Conclusion
Krishna Reddy’s Indian History is a power-packed, reliable, and comprehensive book that can be your history backbone for both UPSC and WBCS. While it does require patience and strategic note-making, it can build a strong conceptual and factual foundation in Indian history.
Verdict: Highly Recommended 📚⭐
Do you want a PDF version of the note-making strategy or chapter-wise important topics?
Great! Here's a PDF-friendly version of the note-making strategy and a chapter-wise important topics list from Krishna Reddy’s Indian History, especially useful for UPSC & WBCS aspirants.
✅ Your PDF is ready! You can download it using the link below:
Click here to download Krishna Reddy History Notes Strategy PDF
No comments:
Post a Comment