Overview: The CUET exam pattern can differ in various participating universities, but students choosing a bachelor's in History will have a common CUET History Syllabus 2024. Your preparation process is much easier with a definite set of topics to study. The article explores all the units and sub-topics you can expect in the exam.

With the news of the central university entrance exam being conducted twice in the next academic year, we can shortly expect the CUET History Syllabus 2024 to be released on the official website. 

If you wish to study courses like B.A.(Hons.) History, BA Optional History in top universities like DU, AMU, JMI etc.; ensure you check the respective exam pattern and start your preparations soon. 

The History test consists of 1 paper with 50 questions, out of which 40 must be attempted. The syllabus has 15 units to be covered with important topics like Harappan Archaeology, Political and Economic History, Social Histories, History of Buddhism, Religious Histories, and Medieval society through Travellers and more. 

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CUET History Syllabus 2024 Highlights

Section II of the Central University Entrance Test curriculum includes 27 domain-specific topics, one of which is history.

The syllabus for history covers a wide range of topics taught in your classes 11 and 12. Covering the syllabus from NCERT textbooks will suffice your preparations. 

Since not many colleges offer UG programs with History specializations, the competition is usually very high; therefore, plan your preparations bearing the competition in mind. 

The following is a full outline of the Central University Entrance Test exam 2024 format:

• The National Testing Agency (NTA) has published the history syllabus for CUET that is based on topics of the 12th level.
• There will be one question paper with a total of 50 questions; you need to answer 40.
• The highest possible score is 200, and you will lose one mark for every incorrect answer.
• The examination will last for a total of 45 minutes and will consist of objective multiple-choice questions.
• The examination format will be a Computer-Based Test (CBT), which must be taken online in the exam centres. 

Check: CUET Cut Off

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CUET History Syllabus 2024

15 Units and their sub-topics for CUET History Syllabus 2024 are listed below: 

Unit I: The Story of the First Cities Harappan Archaeology

• Broad overview: Early urban centres.
• Story of discovery: Harappan civilization.
• Excerpt: Archaeological report on a major site.
• Discussion: How it has been utilized by archaeologists/ historians

Unit II: Political and Economic History: The narrative function of Inscriptions

• Broad overview: Political and economic history from the Mauryan through the Gupta periods in India.
• Story of discovery: Inscriptions and the decipherment of the script comprise the discovery narrative. Changing perspectives on political and economic history.
• Excerpt: Asokan inscription and Gupta period grant of land.
• Discussion: Discussion over historians' interpretation of inscriptions.

Unit III: Mahabharata-based Social History

• Broad overview: A survey of social history topics, including caste, class, kinship, and gender.
• Story of discovery: The transmission and printing of the Mahabharata constitute the discovery's history.
• Excerpt: This excerpt from the Mahabharata demonstrates its use by historians.

Unit IV: Buddhist History: Sanchi Stupa

• Broad overview:
• (a) A quick outline of the religious histories of the Vedic religion, Jainism, Vaishnavism, and Saivism.
• (b) Concentrate on Buddhism.
• Story of discovery: The discovery of the Sanchi stupa.
• Excerpt: Reproductions of sculptures found in Sanchi. Historical interpretations of sculpture and other sources for recreating the history of Buddhism are discussed.

Unit V: Medieval civilization through the eyes of Travellers

• General Overview: A summary of social and cultural life as described by travellers.
• The context of their writings: Where they travelled, why they travelled, what they wrote, and for whom they wrote are discussed.
• Excerpts: from Alberuni, Ibn Batuta, Bernier. 
• Discussion: What these trip narratives can tell us and how historians have interpreted them are discussed.

Unit VI: Religious Histories: The Bhakti-Sufi Tradition

• General Overview:
• (a) Summary of religious advancements throughout this period.
• (b) The doctrines and practices of Bhakti-Sufi saints.
• Story of Transmission: How Bhakti-Sufi compositions have been transmitted and preserved.
• Excerpt: A selection of excerpts from Bhakti Sufi literature.
• Discussion: Discussion over how historians have interpreted these.

Unit VII: New Construction: Hampi

• Broad Overview:
• (a) Outline of new buildings constructed during the Vijayanagar period, including temples, forts, and irrigation systems.
• (b) Relationship between the political system and architecture.
• Story of Discovery: The account of the discovery of Hampi.
• Excerpt: Images of Hampi's architectural structures.
• Discussion: The subject of this discussion is how historians have analyzed and interpreted these structures.

Unit VIII: Agrarian Relations: Ain-i- Akbari

• Broad overview:
• (a) Structure of agrarian interactions throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
• (b) Change patterns across the period.
• Story of Discovery: Account of the compilation and translation of the Ain-i-Akbari text.
• Excerpt: From the Ain-i-Akbari 
• Dialogue: How historians have utilized the book to recreate history.

Unit IX: The Mughal Court: Reconstructing History via Chronicles

• General Overview:
• (a) Summary of political history between the 15th and 17th centuries.
• (b) A discussion of the court and politics of the Mughals.
• Story of Discovery: An account of the production and transmission of court chronicles.
• Excerpts: From the Akbarnama and Padshahnama excerpts.
• Discussion: How historians have utilized texts to recreate political history.

Check: CUET Colleges 2024

Unit X: Colonialism and Rural Society: Official Reports as Evidence

• General overview:
• (a) Description of the lifestyles of zamindars, peasants, and artisans in the late 18th century.
• (b) East India Company, tax settlements, and surveys.
• (c) Changes throughout the nineteenth century
• Narrative of official documents: A description of why official investigations of rural societies were conducted, as well as the documents and reports that were generated.
• Excerpts: Firminger's Fifth Report, Francis Buchanan-Accounts, Hamilton's and the Deccan Riots Report.
• Discussion: What the official records reveal and do not reveal, and how historians have utilized them.

Unit XI: 1857 Representations

• Broad Overview:
• (a) The events of 1857 to 1858.
• b) How these occurrences were recorded and narrated.
• Emphasis: Lucknow
• Excerpts: Photographs from 1857. Extracts from current accounts.
• Discussion: How the photographs of 1857 influenced British perceptions of the events.

Check: CUET preparation Books

Unit XII: Colonialism and Indian Towns: Town Plans and Municipal Reports

• General Overview: In the 18th and 19th centuries, Mumbai, Chennai, hill stations, and cantonments expanded.
• Excerpts: Photographs and works of art Plans of urban areas From town plan report excerpts Focus on the urban planning of Kolkata
• Discussion: How the aforementioned materials can be utilized to reconstruct the history of cities? What these sources fail to disclose.

Unit XIII: Mahatma Gandhi in Contemporary Perspective

• Broad Overview:
• (a) The nationalist movement from 1918 to 1948
• (b) The character of Gandhian politics and leadership.
• Focus: Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 is the focus.
• Excerpts: Reports from English and Indian newspapers and other contemporary works are included.
• Discussion: How newspapers can be a source of historical information.

Check: CUET Mass Media & Communication Syllabus 2024

Unit XIV: Partition as Reported by Oral Sources

• Broad Overview:
• (a) The history of the 1940s
• (b) Nationalism, Communism, and Partition.
• Focus: Punjab and Bengal.
• Excerpts: Oral testimonials of individuals who experienced segregation.
• Discussion: Discuss how these have been analyzed to reconstruct the event's history.

Unit XV: The Constitution's Formation

• Broad Overview:
• (a) Independence and the new nation-state
• (b) The Constitution's creation. Focus: Constitutional Assembly deliberations
• Focus: The following are excerpts from the debates.
• Excerpts: What such debates convey
• Discussion: How they might be analyzed is discussed.

Conclusion

The above CUET Physics syllabus clearly briefs how and what sub-topics must be focused on for the exam preparations. Although there are several books in the market, reading each and every line of your NCERT books will enhance your preparations. 

Since History is a memory-based subject, revision plays an important role. As soon as you finish a chapter, solve History mocks to understand the type of questions that can appear from that chapter. 

Also check: CUET Preparation Strategy.