RAS PRE EXAM INDIAN HISTORY SYLLABUS: 
Indian History (Code No. 18)1. Foundations of Indian Culture and Civilization; Indus Civilization. Vedic Culture, Sangam Age.
2. Religious Movements : Buddhism, Jainism, Pauranika Hindusm.
3. The Mauryan Empire.
4. Trade and commerce in the pre-Gupta and Gupta periods.
5. Agrarian structure in the post-Gupta period.
6. Changes in the social structure of ancient India.
7. Political and social conditions of India between 800-1200 A.D.
8. The Delhi Sultanate ; administration and agratrian system.
9. The provincial dynasties; Vijayanagar Empire, society and administration.
10. The Indo-Islamic culture; religious movements of the 15th and 16th centuries.
11. The Mughal Empire (1526-1707); Mughal polity; agrarian system, art, architecture and culture under the Mughals.
12. Beginning of trade with Europe.
13. The Maratha kingdom and confederacy.
14. The decline of the Mughal Empire; the autonomous states with special reference to Bengal, Mysore and Punjab.
15. The East India Company and the Nawabs of Bengal.
16. British economic impact in India.
17. The Revolt of 1857 and other popular movements against the British rule in the 19th century.
18. Social and cultural awakening; the lower castes, trade union and peasant movements.
19.The Freedom struggle.

RAS MAIN EXAM INDIAN HISTORY SYLLABUS:  
HISTORY PAPER-I (Code No. 18)
(Indian History from earliest times to 1757 A.D.) 1. Influence of geographical factors in Indian history, cultural unity in diversity.
2. Indus Valley Civilization; salient features, extent chronology, town planning economic life, religion.
3. Vedic Culture, political, social and religious ideas.
4. Cultural significance of the Epics, Ramayana and Mahabharat; the Sangam Age.
5. Rise of the Janapadas and the growth of the Magadhan empire.
6. Buddhism and Jainism; evolution, main teachings and contributions.
7. Mauryan Empire; political history, administration, Ashoka's Dhamma, contribution to Indian culture.
8. The Imperial Guptas; Samudra Gupta, Chandra Gupta II and Skanda Gupta.
9. Cultural achievement of the Gupta age; religion, philosophy, literature, art, sciences and codification of laws.
10. India's cultural contacts with the outside world; West Asia, Central and South East Asia.
11. The Imperial Kanauj, Harsha and his achievements, tripartite struggle.
12. Cultural contribution of the Chalukyas, Pallavas. Rashtrakutas and Cholas, Chola administration, Sankaracharya.
13. The establishment and expansion of Delhi sultanate; theory of kingship, Khiliji imperialism, economic policy of khiljis and Tughluqs. Mangol menance, nature of Afghan sovereignty;
14. Rajput resistance to the Turks with special reference to Prithvi Raj III, Ratan Singh of Chittor, Hammir of Ranthambhor and Kumbha; cultural achievements of Kumbha.
15. The administrative, social, economic and cultural conditions during the Sultanate period.
16. The Bhakti movement and its social significance; Hindu-Muslim cultural synthesis.
17. Establishment of the Mughal rule : the revival of the Afghans under Sher Shah, expansion and consolidation of the Mughal power (1556-1707).
18. Disintegration of Mughal empire; Mughal-Rajput relations. Deccan and North-West frontier policies, Shivaji and the Maratha Challenges.
19. Religious policy of the Mughals, Mughal administration, land revenue and Mansabdari systems, social and economic conditions, arts and literatures.
HISTORY PAPER-II (Code No. 18)
(Indian History 1757-1950 and Main Currents of Modern World History)
1. Establishment of British rule in Bengal, Peshwas and the emergence of Maratha confederacy, British policy towards the Indian states (1772-1858). Ranjit Singh and British relations with Punjab.
2. Decline of cottage industries; growth of new administrative, revenue and judicial systems.
3. The outbreak of 1857 - its nature, causes and consequences.
4. Role of Christian missionaries in India, the growth of English education and press.
5. Social and religious reform movements of the 19th century; ideas and contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Rai, Dayanand and Vivekanand.
6. Nature of British imperialism; liberal and conservative trends in administration-Ripon and Curzon.
7. Rise of nationalism; birth of Indian National congress, national movement under moderates and extremists.
8. The growth of Muslim League and communalism in Indian politics.
9. Economic drain, railways, causes of industrial and agricultural backwardness.
10. Emergence of Gandhi and mass movements; technique of Satyagraha.
11. Constitutional development; Indian Councils Act of 1909; Govt. of India Acts, 1919 and 1935.
12. August offer, Cripps' Mission, Quit India Movement, Simla Conference, Cabinet Mission Plan, Indian independence, legacy of the British rule.
13. Renaissance; its meaning, nature and impact, Reformation and its impact.
14. Mercantilism and industrial revolution.
15. War of American Independence.
16. French Revolution and its impact; Nepoleon Bonaparte.
17. Growth of Nationalism; unification of Germany and Italy.
18. Growth of colonialism and imperialism.
19. Causes and consequences of the First World War.
20. Ressian Revolution of 1917.
21. Economic depression of 1930.
22. Causes and effects of the Second World War.
23. Modernization of Japan; Communist Revolution in China.
24. Colonial struggles in South-East Asia, Indo-China and Africa; Rise of Arab Nationalism upto Suez Crisis.