History in News for UPSC Prelims 2025 Examination

Source: The post is based on the article “No idols, no arms: the Pattanam mystery” published in The Hindu on 2nd April 2023. What is the News? Recent excavation has revealed that the Pattanam Site in Kerala was a thriving urban centre from the 5th century B.C. to the 5th century A.D., with its peak phase from 100… Continue reading Pattanam Site: No idols, no arms: the Pattanam mystery

Source: The post is based on the article “Kathua’s ‘Basohli Painting’ gets GI tag” published in The Times of India on 3rd April 2023. What is the News? The world-famous ‘Basohli Painting’ from Kathua district has obtained the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag. This is the first time in the history of GI registration that the Jammu region got… Continue reading Kathua’s ‘Basohli Painting’ gets GI tag

Source: The post is based on the article “How a ‘hybrid’ gamosa sparked protests across Assam” published in Indian Express on 1st April 2023 What is the News? A newly formed Bangla Sahitya Sabha Assam (BSSA) used a hybrid creation — an Assamese gamosa and a Bengali gamcha, each cut in half and sewn together… Continue reading Assamese Gamosa: How a ‘hybrid’ gamosa sparked protests across Assam

Source: The post is based on the article “Stolen Chola-era Hanuman idol brought back to India” published in The Hindu on 24th March 2023 Contents1 What is the News?2 About the Chola era3 Sources of Chola Kingdom4 Who are the important rulers of Chola empire?5 Administration and Governance What is the News? A rare variety… Continue reading Stolen Chola-era Hanuman idol brought back to India

Source: The post is based on the article “Getting it right: a historian’s effort to document the life of Bhagat Singh” published in The Hindu on 23rd March 2023 What is the News? Prime Minister has paid tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru on Martyrs’ Day (Shaheed Diwas) What is Shaheed Diwas?… Continue reading Getting it right: a historian’s effort to document the life of Bhagat Singh

Source: The post is based on the article “Do you know India’s geoheritage sites of Jhamarkotra and Zawar?” published in The Hindu on 20th March 2023 Contents1 What is the News?2 What is a fossil park at Jhamarkotra?3 What are stromatolites?4 What is Zawar? What is the News? Society of Earth Scientists (SES), a group… Continue reading Do you know India’s geoheritage sites of Jhamarkotra and Zawar?

Source: The post is based on the article “Difficult to allocate public fund to art and culture: Centre” published in The Hindu on 20th March 2023. Contents1 What is the News?2 About the issue3 Why India’s public fund to art and culture is less?4 How India is promoting public funding of art and culture? What is the… Continue reading Difficult to allocate public fund to art and culture: Centre

Source: The post is based on the article “A political and economic history of the Ajanta Caves” published in the Livemint on 11th March 2023. Contents1 What is the News?2 What is the political and economic history of the Ajanta Caves?3 About Ajanta caves4 What is the evolution of Ajanta Caves?5 What are the later developments? What… Continue reading A political and economic history of the Ajanta Caves

Source: The post is based on the article “13th-century temple discovered at Pushpagiri Kshetram in Kadapa district” published in The Hindu on 2nd March 2023. What is the News? 13th-century Hindu temple ruins have been recently unearthed in a hillock in the Pushpagiri Kshetram in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh. The architectural features of the ruins… Continue reading 13th-century temple discovered at Pushpagiri Kshetram in Kadapa district

Source: The post is based on the article “Land mafias damage rampart of ancient fortified city of Sisupalgarh ” published in The Hindu on 2nd March 2023. What is the News? Land mafias have damaged a portion of the wall of the fortified ancient city of Sisupalgarh. What is Sisupalgarh? Sisupalgarh, believed to have been… Continue reading Sisupalgarh: Land mafias damage rampart of ancient fortified city of Sisupalgarh

Source: The post is based on the article “What is Lavani, and why is Maharashtra’s folk dance form in controversy?” published in Indian Express on 17th February 2023 What is the News? NCP leader has directed members of his party to not organize public shows in the name of Lavani. What is Lavani? The word… Continue reading What is Lavani, and why is Maharashtra’s folk dance form in controversy?

Source: The post is based on the article “Towards sustainability: Arunachal’s Apatanis use a unique, integrated cultivation method; it needs encouragement” published in Down To Earth on 17th February 2023 What is the News? The Apatanis Tribe from Arunachal Pradesh practices a distinctive form of agriculture where rice and fish are grown together. About Apatani… Continue reading Towards sustainability: Arunachal’s Apatanis use a unique, integrated cultivation method; it needs encouragement

Source: The post is based on the article “Tree rings unlock mystery of Hittite Empire’s fall in 12th century BCE” published in The Print on 9th February 2023 What is the News? Researchers have found that a three-year drought may have led to the fall of the Hittite empire in the Middle East 3000 years… Continue reading Tree rings unlock mystery of Hittite Empire’s fall in 12th century BCE

Source: The post is based on the article “Victory City: A brief history of the kingdom of Vijayanagara, in which Salman Rushdie’s latest novel is situated” published in Indian Express on 10th February 2023 What is the News? Salman Rushdie released a new novel “Victory City” – a fictionalized story of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. About… Continue reading ‘Victory City’: A brief history of the kingdom of Vijayanagara, in which Salman Rushdie’s latest novel is situated

Source: The post is based on the article “The sacred Shaligram: 140 mn-year-old stones to be used for the idol of Lord Ram in Ayodhya” published in Indian Express on 9th February 2023. What is the News? Two sacred Shaligram stones arrived in Ayodhya for crafting the idols of Lord Ram and Janaki at the… Continue reading The sacred Shaligram: 140 mn-year-old stones to be used for the idol of Lord Ram in Ayodhya

Source: The post is based on the article “Stone-age carvings found in Aravalis in Gurugram” published in TOI on 7th February 2023. What is the News? Various Paleolithic paintings found in the Aravalli hills and the latest discovery of stone carvings in the Badshahpur area of Gurugram has widened the trove of history in the… Continue reading Stone-age carvings found in Aravalis in Gurugram

Source: The post is based on the article “Dhamaal: The incredible story of how East African culture shaped the music of a state in India” published in Down To Earth on 7th February 2023. What is the News? The story of Dhamaal performance traditions by Siddis reveals the rich and complex mixing of cultures in… Continue reading Dhamaal: The incredible story of how East African culture shaped the music of a state in India

Source: The post is based on the article “Shumang Leela: The art of gender-bending” published in The Hindu on 29th January 2023. What is the News? A traditional style of theatre art called Shumang Leela from Manipur has entertained and informed audiences for centuries. What is Shumang Leela? Shumang Leela is a traditional form of… Continue reading Shumang Leela: The art of gender-bending

Source: The post is based on the article “Padma award is an honour for the Etikoppaka toy craft, says C.V. Raju” published in PIB on 27th January 2023 What is the News? Shri C V Raju from Etikoppaka village, Visakhapatnam,Andhra Pradesh has been conferred with Padma Shri for preserving the traditional method of making Etikoppaka… Continue reading Padma award is an honour for the Etikoppaka toy craft, says C.V. Raju

Source: The post is based on the article “Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas, and criticism of the holy book” published in Indian Express on 28th January 2023 Contents1 What is the News?2 What is Ramcharitmanas?3 Who is Goswami Tulsidas?4 Which portions of Ramcharitmanas are criticized? What is the News? Bihar Education Minister has said that the Ramcharitmanas… Continue reading Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas, and criticism of the holy book

Source: The post is based on the article “Puri’s Jagannath Temple: Why non-Hindus and foreigners can’t enter here” published in Indian Express on 22nd January 2023. Contents1 What is the News?2 What is Lord Jagannath Temple?3 Why are non-Hindus not allowed inside the temple?4 How can Non-Hindus then worship Lord Jagannath?  What is the News?… Continue reading Puri’s Jagannath Temple: Why non-Hindus and foreigners can’t enter here

Source: The post is based on the article “Assam’s Charaideo Maidam nominated for UNESCO world heritage tag: Assam CM” published in The Hindu on 23rd January 2023 What is the News? Assam chief minister has said that Charaideo Moidams (pyramids) is India’s nomination for UNESCO’s world heritage site status in the cultural category for 2023-24.… Continue reading Assam’s Charaideo Maidam nominated for UNESCO world heritage tag: Assam CM

Source: The post is based on the article “Archaeological Survey of India all set to begin Excavation at Purana Qila again” published in PIB on 18th January 2023. What is the News? The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is all set to begin  excavation at Delhi’s Purana Qila again.  What is Purana Qila? Purana Qila… Continue reading Archaeological Survey of India all set to begin Excavation at Purana Qila again

Source: The post is based on the article “Roman secret to durable architecture? Self-healing concrete” published in Down To Earth on 13th January 2023. What is the News? New research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, and laboratories in Italy and Switzerland have discovered the secret behind Roman construction abilities. What was the… Continue reading Roman secret to durable architecture? Self-healing concrete

Source: The post is based on the article “Gujarat’s Harappan necropolis reveals death rituals of 5,000 years ago” published in The Hindu on 13th January 2023. What is the News? Excavations at one of the biggest necropolises at Juna Khatiya village (Kutch, Gujarat) show rows of graves with valuable items such as Ceramic pots, beaded… Continue reading Juna Khatiya Site: Gujarat’s Harappan necropolis reveals death rituals of 5,000 years ago