RRB NTPC History and Indian National Movement Syllabus

History and Indian National Movement syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for History and Indian National Movement in RRB NTPC, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Ancient India

   4 topics

   • Prehistoric and Indus Valley Civilisation
     • Harappan town planning
     • Decline of the civilisation
   • Vedic Age
     • Early and later Vedic society
     • Vedic literature
   • Religious Movements
     • Buddhism and Jainism
   • Mauryan and Gupta Empires
     • Chandragupta and Ashoka
     • Gupta golden age
2. 2

   Medieval India

   4 topics

   • Delhi Sultanate
     • Five dynasties of the Sultanate
     • Administration and architecture
   • Mughal Empire
     • Babur to Aurangzeb
     • Mughal administration and culture
   • Bhakti and Sufi Movements
     • Major saints and reformers
   • Regional and Maratha Powers
     • Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms
     • Rise of the Marathas
3. 3

   Modern India and Freedom Struggle

   5 topics

   • Advent of Europeans and British Rule
     • East India Company and Battle of Plassey
     • Governors-General and Viceroys
   • Revolt of 1857 and Socio-Religious Reforms
     • Causes and impact of 1857
     • Reform movements and leaders
   • Indian National Congress and Early Nationalism
     • Moderates and extremists
     • Partition of Bengal and Swadeshi
   • Gandhian Era
     • Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience
     • Quit India Movement
   • Independence and Partition
     • Cabinet Mission and Mountbatten Plan
     • Integration of princely states

History and Indian National Movement flashcards for RRB NTPC

22 of 50 cards from the History and Indian National Movement deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the time period and name of the earliest known urban civilisation of the Indian subcontinent?

   The Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilisation, a Bronze Age urban culture dated to roughly 2600–1900 BCE (mature phase).

2. Who discovered the Indus Valley sites of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, and in which year?

   Harappa was excavated by Daya Ram Sahni (1921) and Mohenjo-daro by R. D. Banerji (1922), both under the ASI led by John Marshall.

3. On which rivers were Harappa and Mohenjo-daro respectively located?

   Harappa was on the Ravi river and Mohenjo-daro on the Indus river.

4. What are two distinctive features of Indus Valley town planning?

   A grid layout of streets at right angles and an advanced underground drainage system; cities had a raised citadel and a lower town.

5. What is the name and significance of the largest structure found at Mohenjo-daro?

   The Great Bath — a large brick-lined tank likely used for ritual bathing, showing the importance of water in Harappan religion.

6. Which Harappan site is famous for its dockyard, indicating maritime trade?

   Lothal (in Gujarat), which has the world's earliest known dockyard.

7. What metal was NOT known to the Harappans, distinguishing them from a later age?

   Iron — the Harappans used copper, bronze, gold and silver but had no knowledge of iron (they were a Bronze Age people).

8. What are the four Vedas in order of antiquity?

   Rigveda (oldest), Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda (youngest).

9. Which is the oldest Veda and what does it primarily contain?

   The Rigveda — a collection of 1,028 hymns (suktas) in 10 mandalas, mainly praising gods like Indra, Agni and Varuna.

10. What were the two main divisions of the Vedic Age?

    The Early (Rigvedic) Vedic Age (c. 1500–1000 BCE) and the Later Vedic Age (c. 1000–600 BCE).

11. What was the varna (fourfold class) order described in the Purusha Sukta of the Rigveda?

    Brahmanas (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (traders/farmers), and Shudras (servants).

12. In which Veda and hymn is the Gayatri Mantra found?

    In the Rigveda, dedicated to the Sun god Savitri (Savitr).

13. Name the four Vedic texts/classes attached to each Veda for interpretation.

    Samhitas (hymns), Brahmanas (rituals), Aranyakas (forest texts), and Upanishads (philosophy).

14. Who founded Jainism's final form and who is regarded as its 24th and last Tirthankara?

    Vardhamana Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara; Rishabhanatha (Adinatha) is regarded as the first.

15. What are the three jewels (Triratna) of Jainism?

    Right faith (Samyak Darshana), Right knowledge (Samyak Jnana), and Right conduct (Samyak Charitra).

16. Where and when did Gautama Buddha attain enlightenment and deliver his first sermon?

    He attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and delivered his first sermon (Dharmachakra Pravartana) at Sarnath.

17. What are the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?

    Suffering exists (Dukkha); suffering has a cause (desire); suffering can end (Nirvana); the Eightfold Path leads to its end.

18. Into which two major sects did Buddhism split, and at which council?

    Hinayana and Mahayana — the split crystallised at the Fourth Buddhist Council under Kanishka in Kashmir.

19. Who founded the Mauryan Empire and with whose help, and in which year?

    Chandragupta Maurya founded it around 321 BCE with the guidance of Chanakya (Kautilya/Vishnugupta).

20. Which ancient treatise on statecraft and economy was written by Kautilya?

    The Arthashastra.

21. After which battle did Ashoka embrace Buddhism, and in what year?

    After the Kalinga War, fought around 261 BCE, whose bloodshed led to his conversion to Buddhism.

22. What script was mainly used in Ashoka's edicts, and who deciphered it?

    The Brahmi script, first deciphered by James Prinsep in 1837.

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