Social Science

History

History

The systematic study and documentation of the human past.

Archaeological sources

Physical remains such as inscriptions, coins, monuments, pottery, etc. that provide information about the past.

Herodotus

The famous Greek historian recognized as the "Father of history."

Chronological order

Listing events in the order that they happened.

Era/period

A period of time joined by cultural/historical factors.

Decade

A unit of time equal to ten years.

Century

A unit of time equal to one hundred years.

Millennium

A unit of time equal to one thousand years.

B.C.E (Before the Common Era)/B.C (Before Christ)

Used to show that a year or century comes before the year 1 of the calendar used in much of the world.

C.E (The Common Era)

Used when referring to a year after the birth of Jesus Christ when the Christian calendar starts counting years.

A.D (Anno Domini)

Used when referring to a year after Jesus Christ was born.

Carbon Dating

The chemical analysis used to estimate the age of organic articles.

Inscriptions

Writings engraved on solid objects such as metals, rocks, pillars, and walls of caves.

Edicts

Official orders or royal commands issued by rulers in ancient times.

Artifacts

Articles of archaeological value.

Epigraphy

The study of old inscriptions or epigraphs.

Numismatics

The study of coins.

Geography

The study of the earth's surface.

Geology

The study of the earth's history, structure, and makeup.

Palaeontology

The study of fossils.

Meteorology

The scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting.

Ecology

The study of how organisms interact with one another and with their physical environment.

Anthropology

The scientific study of humans, human behavior, and societies in the past and present.

Greenland

The largest island in the world.

Sahara

The world's largest desert, covering about 9 million square kilometers.

Nile

The longest river in the world, with two major tributaries

Amazon

The world's largest river, also known as "The River Sea."

Dead Sea

A saltwater lake currently sinking about 1 meter every year, with a salinity of 342 parts per thousand.

Vatican City

The smallest country in the world.

Canada

The country with more than half of all the natural lakes in the world.

Mount Chimborazo

The peak in Ecuador that is closer to the moon than Mount Everest, the highest peak.

Nauru

An island country in the Pacific Ocean with no official capital.

Sargasso Sea

The only sea with no coast.

Istanbul

The only city located over two continents (Asia & Europe).

Lake Superior

The largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.

Pitcairn

The smallest island with a county status.

Constitution of India

The supreme law of India.

Lengthiest constitution

The Indian constitution is the ______________________ in the world.

Constitution Day

Commemorated on November 26 to recognize the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949.

Preamble

The introductory statement of the Indian constitution that outlines the ideals and objectives of the nation.

Secular state

The Indian constitution has created a __________ that gives equal protection to all religions.

Fundamental rights

Important rights guaranteed to the citizens of India.

Directive Principles

Principles that guide the government in making laws and policies.

Parliamentary form of government

The form of government in India that is federal in structure with certain unitary features.

Separation of Powers

The division of powers between the legislature, executive, and judiciary.

Articles

There are 448 ___________ in the Indian Constitution.

B.R Ambedkar

The Father of the Indian Constitution.

Fundamental Rights

Article 17 abolishes untouchability, Articles 14, 15, and 16 establish principles of equality and social justice.

Important abbreviations

ASEAN, PSC, IAS, UPSC, UNICEF, UNESCO.

Literary sources

Manuscripts, scrolls, books, and important documents used as sources for the modern history of India.

Archaeological sources

Monuments and archaeological findings used as sources for the modern history of India.

Other sources

Printing, reports, radio, and broadcast used as sources for the modern history of India.

First British Governor General

Warren Hastings

First Viceroy

Lord Canning

First Governor General of Indian Union

C Rajagopalachari

First President of India

Dr Rajendra Prasad

Deputy Prime Minister

Sardar Vallabhai Patel

First President of Indian National Congress

W.C Banerjee

First Education Minister of India

Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad

First Nobel Prize Winner

Rabindra Nath Tagore

First Chairman of Rajya Sabha

Dr S Radhakrishnan

First Indian Woman to win the Booker prize

Arundhati Roy

First Indian in the British Parliament

Dadabhai Naoroji

Mughal Empire

Factors such as religious policies, administrative inefficiencies, and external invasions contributed to its downfall.

Emergence of the British as the Central Controlling Authority

The British East India Company established themselves as the central controlling authority in India with the Battle of Plassey and the Treaty of Buxar.

Indian Rebellion of 1857

Also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, it marked the first widespread uprising against British rule in India.

Birth of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885

The formation of the INC marked the beginning of organized political resistance against British rule.

Partition of Bengal in 1905

The partition of Bengal sparked widespread protests and highlighted the divisive tactics employed by the colonial rulers.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of 1919

British troops opened fire on a peaceful gathering, galvanizing the Indian freedom movement.

Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920

Under Gandhi's leadership, the movement aimed to boycott British institutions and products, emphasizing non-violence as a tool of resistance.

Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930

Marked by the Salt March, Indians refused to obey certain laws, taxes, and restrictions imposed by the British.

Government of India Act 1935

Granted some degree of autonomy to India and paved the way for constitutional reforms.

World War II

India's involvement in the war had profound implications.

Quit India Movement of 1942

Sought immediate British withdrawal from India during the war.

Indian Independence Act of 1947

Led to the partition of India into two independent nations, India and Pakistan.

What did the Partition of India in 1947 lead to?

The partition of India and Pakistan resulted in one of the largest mass migrations in history and left a lasting impact on the subcontinent's history.

India-China War 1962

A brief but significant conflict over border disputes in the Himalayan region.

Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s

Agricultural innovations that significantly increased food production in India.

Indian Nuclear Program in 1974

Marked India's entry into the group of nuclear-armed nations.

The Emergency in 1975

A period of suspension of civil liberties and political dissent.

Assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984

Had far-reaching consequences and led to a wave of violence.

Economic Liberalization in 1991

Initiated reforms that set the stage for rapid economic growth.

Rise of Right-wing Politics from the Late 1990s

The rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India.

Kargil War of 1999

Highlighted ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.

2014 General Election

Witnessed the rise of Narendra Modi and the BJP to power.

Demonetization in 2016

The demonetization of high-denomination currency notes.

Abrogation of Article 370 in 2019

A significant political development in Jammu and Kashmir.

COVID-19 Pandemic

Posed unprecedented challenges to India's healthcare system and economy.

Three main cropping seasons in India

Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid.

Kharif Crops

Crops like rice, sorghum, maize, tea, rubber, coffee, guar, sesame, cotton, oilseeds, etc., are known as ______________.

Rabi Crops

Crops like wheat, oats, barley, pulses, oilseeds, etc., are known as _____________.

Zaid Crops

Seasonal fruits and vegetables like pumpkin, cucumber, bitter gourd,