Important Topics of World History for UPSC Mains 2025
Important Topics of World History for UPSC Mains 2025 refer to crucial global events, revolutions, ideologies, and decolonization movements that shaped the modern world. Find out important topics of World History for UPSC Mains 2025 here.
Deeksha Dixit3 Jun, 2025
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Important Topics of World History for UPSC Mains 2025: World History forms part of GS Paper 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Mains exam. If we analyze its World History weightage in UPSC Mains, then roughly 1 question has been asked every year in the exam since 2017. This means candidates should devote relatively proportionate time to this section.
Therefore, experts recommended focusing on frequently repeated and expected topics in World History for UPSC Mains 2025. A list of important topics of World History for UPSC Mains 2025 is shared here for the benefit of candidates to score well in the exam.Important Topics of World History for UPSC Mains 2025
It has been observed over the years that World History is getting relatively less weightage than other subjects in the UPSC GS 1 Paper. For instance, in 2024, there was just one question, while there were no questions from World History in UPSC Mains 2023 and 2022. Hence, a good strategy is to comprehensively revise important World History topics for Mains 2025. Here is the list of important topics of World History for UPSC Mains 2025 GS Paper I:| Important Topics of World History for UPSC Mains 2025 | |
| Topic | Subtopics |
| Industrial Revolution | Origins, Causes, Inventions, Social and Economic Impact, Spread to other parts of the world |
| French Revolution | Causes, Major Events, Key Figures, Impact on Europe and the World |
| Russian Revolution | Causes, Major Events, Lenin and Stalin’s Role, Impact on Global Politics, including India |
| Nationalism in Europe | Rise of nationalist movements, Unification of Italy and Germany, Impact |
| Emergence of Superpowers | World Wars, Cold War, Consequences, and the Rise of the US and USSR |
| Decolonization | Processes, Key Figures, Impact on Asia, Africa, and Latin America, End of Colonial Empires |
| Miscellaneous | Renaissance and Reformation, Age of Discovery, American Revolution, Nazism, and Fascism, Disintegration of USSR, Globalization |
| Other Topics | The Great Depression, Lenin’s New Economic Policy, International Organizations and Movements, Formation and role of major international bodies post-World War II |
Also Read: Important Topics For UPSC Mains 2025
How to Study World History for UPSC Mains?
Ideally, candidates should understand the key events and their consequences in World History and do maximum answer practice writing. A good strategy for preparing the World History for UPSC Mains is as follows:- Refer to Limited Sources: Candidates should refer to one reliable source instead of studying from multiple books. For instance, refer to the Old NCERT Class X Book by Arjun Dev and the PWOnlyIAS UPSC Wallah World History book to comprehensively prepare the World History syllabus.
- Study Broader Themes: Instead of focusing on isolated events, try to identify the main themes and trends that shaped the course of world history, such as industrialization, imperialism, nationalism, and decolonization. Analyze their short-term and long-term impact.
- Chronology and Connections: Familiarize yourself with the chronology of events and how they are interconnected. This will help in reading between the lines and analyzing the consequences from social, political, and economic perspectives
- Make Timelines: Create timelines for major events in chronological order. Make revision notes of the cause-and-effect relationship between different events. This will help you with a quick revision of factual information.
- Practice Answer Writing: Regularly practice writing answers to world history questions from previous years. Join a test series and focus on clarity, coherence, and presentation while writing answers.
World History Previous Year Questions in UPSC Mains
World History Mains PYQs generally covered themes of Revolutions, World Wars, the Cold War, Decolonization, etc. Aspirants should thoroughly analyze the previous year's UPSC Mains GS 1 question papers to understand the nature, scope, and level of detail required in their answers. Here are the World History questions that have been asked in the UPSC Mains from 2017 to 2024:| Year | Questions | Word Limit | Marks |
| 2024 | How far is it correct to say that the First World War was fought essentially for the preservation of balance of power? | 150 Words | 10 Marks |
| 2021 | ”There arose a serious challenge to the Democratic State System between the two World Wars.” Evaluate the statement. | 250 Words | 15 Marks |
| 2019 | Explain how the foundations of the modern world were laid by the American and French Revolutions. | 250 Words | 15 Marks |
| 2018 | Why indentured labour was taken by the British from India to their colonies? Have they been able to preserve their cultural identity over there? | 250 Words | 15 Marks |
| 2017 | What problems are germane to the decolonization process in the Malay Peninsula? | 150 Words | 10 Marks |
| Click Here for Solved World History Questions | |||
| Click Here to Download Free High-Quality Solutions for all UPSC Mains PYQs for 2025 | |||
Important Topics of World History for UPSC Mains 2025 FAQs
Can I skip World History for the UPSC Mains 2025 exam?
No, even though fewer questions are asked from World History, it's crucial for comprehensive preparation and better scoring.
How much time is required to cover World History for UPSC Mains?
Around 2-3 weeks of dedicated study is sufficient to cover World History comprehensively for UPSC Mains along with answer writing and 2-3 days are sufficient for revision.
What are important topics in World History for UPSC Mains 2025?
Key topics include the Industrial Revolution, French Revolution, Russian Revolution, Nationalism in Europe, World War, and Decolonization.
How can I cover world history for UPSC Mains?
Focus on understanding key events and their consequences, make timelines, refer to one reliable source, and practice answer writing.
How many questions are asked from world history in IAS Mains?
Typically, one question has been asked in the exam since 2017, making it essential to cover important topics effectively.
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