Alagiri B
UPSC content author · 53 articles
Articles by Alagiri B
Ahmedabad Mill Strike 1918The Ahmedabad Mill Strike of 1918 was Gandhi's first industrial Satyagraha — textile workers won a 35% wage increase after his first-ever hunger fast. Covers causes, Gandhi's role, Anasuya Sarabhai, and the founding of the Majur Mahajan Sangh.Agrarian Relations in India — Historical SurveyA historical survey of the social and economic relations governing land, labour, and surplus across ancient, Mughal, and colonial India — covering zamindars, jagirdars, peasant movements, and post-independence land reforms.Ancient Indian Education — Gurukul, Nalanda, and TaxilaAncient Indian education was organised around residential teacher-student communities called gurukuls, and later around great monastic universities such as Taxila and Nalanda, which attracted scholars...World History — Key Historical MapsWorld history maps are an essential study tool for UPSC GS-1, which tests the global political geography from the 18th century through the post-Cold War era — including European colonialism's reach ac...Partition of India 1947 — MapPartition of India 1947 map refers to the territorial division of British India on 14–15 August 1947 into two independent dominions — India and Pakistan — demarcated by the Radcliffe Line drawn by Sir...Freedom Movement — Key Sites MapFreedom movement key sites map charts the geographical spread of India's independence struggle (1857–1947) across the subcontinent, tracking how every region contributed to the nationalist cause — fro...British Expansion in India — Map SeriesBritish expansion in India map refers to the phased territorial conquest by the British East India Company (EIC) from the Battle of Plassey (1757) to the annexation of Punjab (1849) and Awadh (1856),...Vijayanagara Empire — MapVijayanagara Empire map refers to the territorial extent of the Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 CE), the last great Hindu empire of South India, founded by Harihara I and Bukka Raya on the southern ban...Indian Temple Architecture: Nagara, Dravida and Vesara Styles and their Key ExamplesA comprehensive study note on Indian temple architecture covering the three canonical styles — Nagara, Dravida, and Vesara — their structural features, regional spread, key examples, and dynasties, mapped to the UPSC Art and Culture syllabus.French Revolution: Causes, Phases, Napoleon Bonaparte and its Global LegacyA comprehensive study of the French Revolution covering its root causes, five key phases from Constitutional Monarchy to Napoleon's Empire, the Napoleonic Code, and the revolution's enduring global legacy including its impact on India, Haiti, and Latin America.Russian Revolution 1917: February Revolution, Bolsheviks, Lenin and the Soviet StateComprehensive study notes on the Russian Revolution 1917 — covering the February and October revolutions, Bolshevik ideology, Lenin's April Theses, the formation of the Soviet state, and the revolution's impact on India's independence movement.Sher Shah Suri: Administrative Reforms, Grand Trunk Road and the RupeeThe Sher Shah Suri administrative reforms, Grand Trunk Road, and rupee represent one of medieval India's most consequential governance overhauls. Reigning for just five years (1540–1545 CE), this Afgh...Bahmani Sultanate and the Deccan Sultanates: Mahmud Gawan, Bijapur and the Five Successor StatesThe Bahmani Sultanate Deccan Mahmud Gawan Bijapur story spans nearly two centuries of Islamic rule in peninsular India — from Alauddin Bahman Shah's revolt against the Delhi Sultanate in 1347 CE to th...Irfan Habib: Historian of Medieval India and the Mughal EconomyIrfan Habib historian (born 1931) is widely regarded as the foremost Marxist historian of medieval India, renowned for his definitive study of the Mughal agrarian system. As Professor Emeritus at Alig...Annie Besant, Home Rule League and the Theosophical Society: Moderate Nationalism and its LimitsAnnie Besant — Irish-born theosophist, Home Rule League founder, and Congress president — represents the most ambitious phase of moderate nationalism, bridging constitutional agitation and Gandhi's mass politics from 1893 to 1920.Vedic Age: Rig Vedic Period, Later Vedic Society and the Emergence of Varna SystemA comprehensive study note on the Vedic Age covering the Rig Vedic and Later Vedic periods, Aryan migration, the four Vedas, political institutions, the emergence of the varna system, the status of women, and the philosophical revolution of the Upanishads.Fascism, Nazism and the Causes of World War II: Mussolini, Hitler and the Road to 1939A comprehensive study note covering Italian Fascism under Mussolini, German Nazism under Hitler, their ideologies, key events, and the direct causes of World War II — with a comparison table and FAQ section tailored for UPSC aspirants.Vijayanagara Empire: Krishnadeva Raya, Hampi Architecture and South Indian Polity 1336–1565A comprehensive study of the Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1565 CE) covering its foundation, the four dynasties, the golden age of Krishnadeva Raya, Hampi's UNESCO-listed architecture, the Battle of Talikota, and the empire's lasting legacy for South Indian culture.Rashtrakutas of Deccan: Amoghavarsha, Tripartite Struggle and Arab-Contact LiteratureA comprehensive study of the Rashtrakuta Empire of the Deccan — covering the dynasty's origins, the Kailasa Temple at Ellora, Amoghavarsha I's cultural legacy, the Tripartite Struggle for Kanauj, Arab traveler accounts, and the empire's eventual decline.Round Table Conferences 1930–1932: Gandhi, Communal Award and the Poona PactA complete study note on the three Round Table Conferences (1930–1932), Gandhi's participation at the Second RTC, the Communal Award of 1932, and the Poona Pact between Gandhi and Ambedkar — essential for UPSC Modern History.Chalukyas of Badami: Pulakesi II, Pattadakal Temples and the Deccan between Pallavas and RashtrakutasThe Chalukyas Badami Pulakesi Pattadakal Deccan legacy stands as one of early medieval India's most significant political and cultural achievements — a dynasty that ruled the Karnataka-Deccan Plateau...Rajput Kingdoms: Prithviraj Chauhan, Paramara, Chandela and Medieval RajputanaRajput kingdoms were the dominant powers of medieval India from c. 600–1200 CE, filling the vacuum left after the collapse of the Gupta and Harsha empires; the most celebrated of their rulers was Prit...Harsha of Kanauj: The Harshacharita, Hiuen Tsang's Account and Post-Gupta IndiaA comprehensive study of Harshavardhana's empire at Kanauj, reconstructed through the Harshacharita of Banabhatta and Hiuen Tsang's eyewitness account — covering post-Gupta fragmentation, Harsha's administration, and the Tripartite Struggle that followed his death.Decolonization in Asia and Africa: Indonesian Revolution, Vietnam War and African Independence MovementsA comprehensive study of decolonization across Asia and Africa — covering the Indonesian Revolution (1945–1949), the Vietnam War (1946–1975), and African independence movements in Ghana, Kenya, Algeria, and Congo — with key leaders, timelines, and the international forces that ended European colonial rule.Civil Disobedience Movement 1930: Gandhi's Dandi March, Salt Satyagraha and the Simon Commission BoycottA comprehensive study note on the Civil Disobedience Movement, covering the Simon Commission boycott, the Nehru Report, the Lahore Session and Purna Swaraj resolution, Gandhi's Eleven Demands, the Dandi March, the Salt Satyagraha, the Dharasana incident, and the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.Carnatic Wars, Dupleix, Robert Clive and the Battle of Plassey: Anglo-French Rivalry in IndiaA comprehensive study of the three Carnatic Wars, Dupleix's political genius, Robert Clive's military campaigns, and how the Battle of Plassey transformed the British East India Company from a trading body into the foundation of territorial empire in India.Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari and Mahalwari: British Land Revenue Systems and the Agrarian CrisisA comprehensive study note on the Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, and Mahalwari land revenue systems — their origins, architects, mechanics, agrarian consequences, and the peasant movements they produced.R.S. Sharma: Historian of Ancient India and FeudalismR.S. Sharma historian — Ram Sharan Sharma (1919–2011) was India's foremost Marxist historian of ancient and early medieval history, celebrated for his materialist analysis of social stratification, hi...Aurangzeb: Religious Policy, Deccan Campaigns, Jizya and the Mughal Empire's Last Expansionist PhaseAurangzeb Alamgir (1658–1707 CE), the last of the Great Mughals, reimposed jizya, waged prolonged Deccan campaigns, and presided over an empire that reached its greatest territorial extent — yet collapsed within decades of his death. This article covers his religious policy debate, Maratha conflict, and historical legacy.Pallava Dynasty: Mahabalipuram Shore Temple, Kanchipuram and Pallava Art and ArchitectureA comprehensive study note on the Pallava dynasty — their key rulers, the rock-cut and structural monuments at Mahabalipuram (Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, Arjuna's Penance), the temple city of Kanchipuram, and the dynasty's enduring influence on Southeast Asian art, architecture, and scripts.Indian Classical Dance Forms: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Kuchipudi and MohiniyattamA comprehensive guide to all eight Indian classical dance forms — Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Kathakali and Sattriya — covering their origins, distinctive features, Natyashastra principles, and 20th-century revival. Essential for UPSC GS1 Art and Culture.Italian and German Unification: Mazzini, Garibaldi, Cavour, Bismarck and the Making of Modern EuropeExplore how the Italian German unification led by Garibaldi, Bismarck, Mazzini, and Cavour reshaped nineteenth-century Europe through nationalism, diplomacy, and military power.Swami Vivekananda & Ramakrishna Mission: Chicago Parliament and Practical VedantaExplore how Swami Vivekananda's journey from Ramakrishna's disciple to the stage of the 1893 Chicago Parliament, and the founding of the Ramakrishna Mission, transformed Hinduism into a globally engaged philosophy of social service — Practical Vedanta.Tribal Movements in India — Historical SurveyTribal movements in India are the diverse forms of resistance by Adivasi (indigenous/forest-dwelling) communities against colonial land alienation, forest reservation, forced labour, and post-independ...Dadabhai Naoroji's Drain Theory: Economic Drain, Colonial Deindustrialization and Indian PovertyDadabhai Naoroji's drain theory showed how British colonial rule transferred India's wealth to Britain through Home Charges, guaranteed railway returns, and trade asymmetry — the foundational economic argument of Indian nationalism and a framework that still shapes reparations debates today.Scramble for Africa: Berlin Conference 1884, European Colonialism and the Partition of AfricaA comprehensive study of how 14 European powers partitioned Africa at the Berlin Conference of 1884–85, the economic and strategic causes of the Scramble, African resistance including the Battle of Adwa, and the colonial legacy that shapes the continent today.Akbar's Administration: Mansabdari System, Din-i-Ilahi, Sulh-i-Kul and the Mughal StateA comprehensive study note on Akbar's administrative genius — the Mansabdari system, Din-i-Ilahi, Sulh-i-Kul, Rajput policy, Todar Mal's revenue reforms, and the Navaratnas — essential for UPSC Prelims, GS-I Mains, and History Optional.Mauryan Empire and Ashoka: Chandragupta, Dhamma, Rock Edicts and the Spread of BuddhismA comprehensive study of the Mauryan Empire covering Chandragupta's rise, Bindusara's reign, Ashoka's transformation after the Kalinga War, his policy of Dhamma, the Ashokan rock edicts and pillar edicts, the Lion Capital of Sarnath, and the spread of Buddhism to Sri Lanka and the Hellenistic world.Chola Empire: Rajaraja I, Rajendra Chola, Maritime Expansion and the Brihadeeshvara TempleA comprehensive study material on the Chola Empire covering Rajaraja I, Rajendra Chola, maritime expansion, the Brihadeeshvara Temple at Thanjavur, Chola administration, Nataraja bronzes, and imperial decline — essential for UPSC History.Jainism and Mahavira: Tirthankaras, Anekantavada, Ahimsa and the Two Major Jain SectsA comprehensive study of Jainism covering Mahavira's life, the 24 Tirthankaras, Anekantavada, Ahimsa, the Pancha Mahavrata, and the Digambara–Shvetambara schism — essential for UPSC Ancient History preparation.Delhi Sultanate: Five Dynasties, Administrative System and the Transformation of North IndiaThe Delhi Sultanate five dynasties administration represents one of the most consequential political formations in Indian history — a succession of five ruling houses (1206–1526 CE) that introduced Tu...Sepoy Mutiny 1857: First War of Independence — Causes, Events, Centres, and ConsequencesA comprehensive study guide on the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 — covering the nomenclature debate, causes, key centres and leaders, and the consequences that transformed British colonial rule in India.Brahmo Samaj and Ram Mohan Roy: Bengal Renaissance and 19th-Century Social ReformA comprehensive study note on the Brahmo Samaj, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, and the Bengal Renaissance — covering sati abolition, women's rights, key leaders, and the evolution of 19th-century social reform in India.Gupta Empire: Golden Age of Ancient India — Samudragupta, Chandragupta II and Classical ArtsA comprehensive study of the Gupta Empire — from Chandragupta I's founding marriage to Samudragupta's conquests, Chandragupta II's golden age, and the classical achievements in literature, science, art, and architecture that defined ancient India's most celebrated era.Swadeshi Movement 1905: Bengal Partition, Boycott and the Rise of Anti-Colonial NationalismThe Swadeshi Movement Bengal Partition 1905 was India's first organised mass anti-colonial uprising, triggered when Lord Curzon divided Bengal on October 16, 1905, into two provinces along religious l...Mountbatten Plan (June 3 Plan) 1947Mountbatten Plan 1947 (June 3 Plan) was the British blueprint for partitioning British India into two independent dominions — India and Pakistan. Announced on 3 June 1947 by Lord Mountbatten, the last...Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2026: Parliament Expands Apex Court Bench to 38 JudgesParliament passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 — Lok Sabha on 3 August and Rajya Sabha on 5 August — permanently increasing the apex court's sanctioned bench strength from 34 to 38 judges (including the Chief Justice). The legislation replaces an Ordinance promulgated on 16 May 2026 and amends Section 2 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.Open Justice and Live-Streaming: Supreme Court on Reporting of Court Proceedings (2026)Open Justice and Live-Streaming: Supreme Court on Reporting of Court Proceedings (2026)
Featured Snippet: On 5 August 2026, the Supreme Court clarified that news outlets can report court proceedings without sharing audio-video clips of live-streamed hearings. The clarification fo...RBI Keeps Repo Rate at 5.25%: August 2026 Monetary Policy ExplainedRBI Keeps Repo Rate at 5.25%: August 2026 Monetary Policy Explained
Featured Snippet: In its August 2026 meeting (3–5 August), the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% and retained a "neutral" stance....Indian Renaissance and Orientalism: Colonial Knowledge, Intellectual Response and Cultural NationalismA comprehensive study of how European Orientalism produced colonial knowledge about India, and how Indian reformers and nationalists of the Bengal Renaissance responded through social reform and cultural nationalism — essential for UPSC Modern History and Art & Culture.Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilisation: Origins, Features and Decline — Part 3: 5. EconomyPart 3: Economy — agriculture (wheat, barley, cotton — first in Eurasia); Chanhudaro crafts; bead materials (carnelian to faience); Lothal dock (217 m × 36 m); maritime trade with Oman (Magan), Bahrain (Dilmun), Mesopotamia (Meluhha).Quit India Movement 1942: August Revolution and British ResponseThe Quit India Movement (August 1942) was the Indian National Congress's most radical anti-British uprising, launched after the failure of the Cripps Mission, calling for immediate British withdrawal; Gandhi's "Do or Die" speech triggered a mass uprising that the British suppressed with imprisonment of all Congress leaders and intense military force.Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 1919: Rowlatt Act, Dyer's Order, and AftermathJallianwala Bagh Massacre was one of the most horrific acts of colonial violence in Indian history — on 13 April 1919, Brig. General Reginald Dyer ordered British Indian troops to fire without warning...