CUET History Question Paper 2027 [Pattern & Difficulty Level]

Unit

Chapter/Theme

Expanded Syllabus (Topics to Study)

Unit I

The Story of the First Cities: Harappan Archaeology

• Discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization

• Major archaeological sites (Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Dholavira, Lothal, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi)

• Town planning and urban features

• Drainage system

• Citadel and Lower Town

• Agriculture and irrigation

• Trade and commerce (internal and external)

• Crafts and industries

• Seals, script and weights

• Religious beliefs

• Burial practices

• Decline of the Harappan Civilization

• Archaeological sources and interpretation

Unit II

Political and Economic History: The Narrative Function of Inscriptions

• Importance of inscriptions as historical sources

• Ashokan inscriptions

• Prashastis (eulogies)

• Allahabad Pillar Inscription

 • Gupta administration

• Land grants

• Political structure

• Economic conditions

 • Taxation

• Role of Brahmanas

• Language and scripts (Brahmi, Kharosthi)

 • Decipherment of inscriptions by James Prinsep

• Limitations of inscriptions as evidence

Unit III

Mahabharata-based Social History

• Composition of Mahabharata

 • Vyasa and oral tradition

• Family and kinship

 • Marriage systems

 • Position of women

 • Caste (Varna and Jati)

• Social hierarchy

• Property rights

• Duties (Dharma)

 • Kingship

• Warfare

 • Krishna's role

 • Bhagavad Gita

• Historical interpretations of the epic

• Archaeological and literary evidence

Unit IV

Buddhist History: Sanchi Stupa

• Life of Buddha

 • Four Noble Truths

 • Eightfold Path

• Spread of Buddhism

• Patronage by Ashoka

• Sanchi Stupa architecture

 • Symbolism in Buddhist art

 • Chaityas and Viharas

• Sculptures and gateways (Toranas)

 • Buddhist councils

• Hinayana and Mahayana

• Importance of archaeological remains

Unit V

Agrarian Relations: Ain-i-Akbari

• Abul Fazl and Ain-i-Akbari

 • Mughal administration

 • Mansabdari system

• Jagirdari system

• Land revenue system

• Zabti and Dahsala

• Agriculture

• Crops

• Peasants

 • Zamindars

• Irrigation

 • Rural economy

• Revenue officials

 • Agrarian expansion

 • Social composition of villages

• Importance of Ain-i-Akbari as a historical source

Unit VI

Religious Histories: The Bhakti-Sufi Tradition

• Emergence of Bhakti movement

• Alvars and Nayanars

 • Nirguna and Saguna Bhakti

• Kabir

• Guru Nanak

• Mirabai

 • Tulsidas

• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

• Sufi movement

• Chishti and Suhrawardi orders

 • Khanqahs

• Dargahs

• Teachings of Sufi saints

 • Cultural synthesis

 • Religious tolerance

• Impact on society

Unit VII

New Construction: Hampi

• Vijayanagara Empire

 • Foundation by Harihara and Bukka

• Administration

 • Capital city of Hampi

 • Urban planning

• Markets

• Water management

• Temples (Virupaksha, Vittala Temple)

• Architecture

• Royal Centre

• Sacred Centre

• Economy

 • Trade

• Military organisation

• Fall of Vijayanagara

• Archaeological remains

Unit VIII

Medieval Civilisation through the Eyes of Travellers

• Importance of travel accounts

 • Ibn Battuta

 • Al-Biruni

 • François Bernier

 • Observations on Indian society

 • Administration

• Cities

• Trade

• Social customs

 • Women

 • Caste

• Economy

• Religious practices

 • Comparison of different travellers' accounts

 • Biases and limitations of travel narratives

Unit IX

Colonialism and Rural Society: Official Reports as Evidence

• British land revenue systems (Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, Mahalwari)

• Zamindars

 • Peasants

 • Indigo cultivation

 • Commercialisation of agriculture

• Revenue surveys

• Official reports

 • Census

• Colonial policies

• Peasant resistance

• Indigo Revolt

 • Deccan Riots

 • Famines

 • Rural indebtedness

• Historical interpretation using official records

Unit X

1857 Representations

• Causes of Revolt of 1857

• Political causes

• Economic causes

• Military grievances

• Religious factors

 • Major leaders (Rani Lakshmibai, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Nana Sahib, Tantia Tope, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Kunwar Singh)

• Spread of revolt

• Suppression

 • British responses

 • Folk traditions

 • Paintings

• Official records

• Nationalist interpretations

• Historiography of 1857

Unit XI

Mahatma Gandhi in Contemporary Perspective

• Gandhi's early life

 • South Africa

• Satyagraha

• Champaran Movement

• Kheda Satyagraha

• Ahmedabad Mill Strike

• Non-Cooperation Movement

• Civil Disobedience Movement

 • Salt March

 • Quit India Movement

• Khilafat Movement

• Constructive Programme

 • Harijan movement

• Communal harmony

 • Role in freedom struggle

 • Contemporary opinions about Gandhi

 • Sources and historical debates

Unit XII

The Constitution's Formation

• End of British rule

• Cabinet Mission

 • Constituent Assembly

• Drafting Committee

 • Role of B. R. Ambedkar

• Jawaharlal Nehru and Objectives Resolution

• Fundamental Rights

• Directive Principles of State Policy

 • Federalism

• Universal Adult Franchise

• Secularism

• Citizenship

 • Debates in the Constituent Assembly

• Adoption of the Constitution

• Preamble

• Significance of the Constitution

Book Name

Author/Publisher

Class 12 Textbook for History

NCERT

CUET (UG) Comprehensive Series

Supergrads

India’s Ancient Past

R.S. Sharma

CUET History Self-Scorer Practice Sets

Supergrads