RSSB Teaching Associate History syllabus

1Ancient India

• 1. Reconstructing Ancient India: Literary and Archaeological Sources.
• 2. Pre and Proto History of India
• (a) Paleolithic to Neolithic- Chalcolithic Transition – Major Sites, Tools and Culture.
• (b) Saraswati-Sindhu River - Valley Civilization (Harappan Civilization) – Origin and Extent, Major sites and settlement pattern, trade and craft, religious practices, decline and significance of Later Harappan phase.
• 3. Vedic Age- Vedic Vangmaya, Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the Later Vedic period; Political, Social and Economic life; Religion, ritual and philosophy. Significance of the Vedic Age.
• 4. State formation and the rise of Mahajanpadas: Republics and Monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Economic growth- craft, guild, money and trade; Emergence of Jainism, Buddhism and Ajivak sects; Rise of Magadha. Invasion of Alexander and its impact on India.
• 5. Mauryan Empire- Foundation of the Mauryan Empire, political achievements of Chandragupta, Bindusara and Ashoka; Ashoka and his Dhamma, Ashokan Edicts; Polity, Administration and Economy; Art and Architecture.
• 6. Post Mauryan Period: Shung and Kanvya; Contact with outside world-Indo-Greek, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas; growth of urban centres, trade and economy, Development of religious sects: Vaishnav, Shaiva, Mahayana; Art, Architecture, and Literature.
• 7. Early State and Society in Deccan and South India: Megalithic period, The Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, Economy, Sangam literature and culture; Art and Architecture.
• 8. Imperial Guptas- Political history, polity, society, economy, trade and commerce, literature and art.
• 9. Economy during Post-Gupta period- trade and commerce, banking & currency.
• 10. Harshvardhan- conquest, polity, religion, art and literature.
• 11. Rise of regional states- Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas, Rashtrakutas, Pratiharas and Palas.
• 12. India’s contact with outside World- West Asia, Central Asia and East-Asia.
• 13. Pre-Medieval India (700A.D. to 1200A.D.)- Society and Economy, Feudalism and its impact on socio-political life, Development of regional cultural identities and regional political powers. Development of philosophy and religion during the period.
• 14. Development of diverse art, literature and culture in ancient India - Architecture, sculpture, music, literature of classical languages, Development of education, philosophy, science and technique.

2Medieval Indian History

• 1. Source of Medieval Indian History: Archaeological and Literary.
• 2. Foundation and Consolidation of Delhi Sultanate 1206 to 1290 A.D.
• 3. Territorial expansion of Sultanate during Khalji and Tughlaq period.
• 4. Rise of Provincial dynasties Vigayanagar, Bahamani and Jaunpur- Polity and Cultural contribution.
• 5. The Sayyid and the Lodis; the disintegration of Sultanate. Polity of the Sultanate.
• 6. Society, Culture and Economy during Sultanate period (from 13th century to the close of 15th century)-
• (a) Composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Sufi movement.
• (b) Persian literature, Literature in the regional languages of North India, Sultanate architecture and provincial variants, Development of music and paintings, Evolution of a Composite Culture, Cultural Synthesis in Medieval India.
• (c) Economy: Agricultural Production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production, trade and commerce. Technology and craft during Sultanate period.
• 7. Mughal Empire, first phase: Babur, Humayun, the Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration.
• 8. Portuguese colonial enterprise.
• 9. Territorial Expansion Akbar, Jahangir, Shahjahan and resistance of Indian powers.
• 10. Aurangzeb and Decline of Mughal Empire in 18th Century and emerging regional powers.
• 11. Period of cooperation and conflicts 1556-1707.
• 12. Policies of the Mughals-Deccan, religious, Rajputs and North-West Frontier policies.
• 13. Administrative System- Central, Provincial and Revenue administration, Mansabdari and Jagirdari system.
• 14. Art and Cultures- Architecture, Painting, Music and Literature
• 15. Economic Life- Agriculture, Industries, Trade and Commerce, Banking and Currency system.
• 16. Rise of the Marathas- Shivaji- conquests, civil and military administration, nature of Chauth and Sardeshmukhi, concept of Hindu Padpatshahi.
• 17. Expansion of Maratha power under Peshwas-Maratha Confederacy, civil and military administration under the Peshwas, Third battle of Panipat-1761.
• 18. Society and Culture in later Medieval India –
• a) Composition of Society, Bhakti movement and Sufi movement.
• b) Literary tradition of Persian, Sanskrit and regional languages. Mughal and Sur Architecture, Regional forms of Architecture. Music and Paintings during Mughal period
• c) Economy: Agricultural production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production, trade and commerce, technology and craft, education, science & technique during the period.

3Philosophy of History and Historiography

• (A) Philosophy of History Analytical and Speculative Philosophy of History. Analytical Philosophy of History: Nature of historical evidence, inference and fact; Proof and sources of history: Literary- primary, secondary and tertiary and archaeological sources. Historical Explanation. General-laws model; historical objectivity; causation. The idealist tradition: Dilthey-Croce-Collingwood Postmodern 'End of History' - the postmodern challenge. Speculative Philosophy of History. Brief survey of various Speculative philosophers of history- Vico, Herder, Hegel, Marx, Spengler, Toynbee and Fukuyama. Indian Historians: Barni, Abul Fazal, R.C Majumdar, J.N. Sarkar, D.D. Kosambi and K.M. Ashraf.
• (B) Historiography A brief survey of various traditions of historiography: Indian (Ancient, Medieval and Modern); Chinese (Confucius), Graeco-Roman (Heredotous), Judeo-Christian, Islamic Historian (Ibn Khardum), Ranke and scientific history, Marxist, Colonial, Nationalist, Cambridge, Subaltern and Postmodern.

4Modern India

• 1. 18th century transition: (a) Decline of Mughal Empire (b) Emergence of regional powers
• (c) Advent of European powers
• 2. Establishment and Expansion of British Rule-Bengal, Avadh, Mysore, Maratha and Sikhs.
• 3. Capitalism, Imperialism and Transition to colonial economy:
• (a) Land revenue settlements in British India; Economic impact of the revenue arrangements; Commercialization of agriculture; decline of cottage industry; Rise of landless agrarian labourers; Impoverishment of the rural society.
• (b) Dislocation of traditional trade and commerce; De-industrialisation; Drain of wealth; British capital investment, European business enterprise and its impact.
• 4. Early Structure of the British Raj: The Early administrative structure; From diarchy to direct control; The Regulating Act (1773); The Pitt's India Act (1784); The Charter Act (1833); The Voice of free trade and the changing character of British colonial rule; The English utilitarian and India.
• 5. Indian Response to British Rule I: Socio-culture changes:
• (a) The introduction of western education in India; The rise of press, literature and public opinion; The evolution of modern Indian languages and literature; Progress of Science; Christian missionary activities in India.
• (b) Social and Religious Reform Movements: The Brahmo Movement; Devendra Nath Tagore; Iswarchandra Vidyasagar; The Young Bengal Movement; DayanadaSaraswati; Social reform movements of Maharashtra and other parts of India; The contribution of Indian renaissance to the growth of modern India; Sir Saiyad Ahmed Khan and Aligarh Movement. Islamic revivalism- the Feraizi and Wahabi Movements.
• (c) Movements for the upliftment of Dalits and women.
• 6. Indian Response to British Rule II: Revolts and uprisings
• (a) Peasant movement and tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries including the Rangpur Dhing (1783), the Kol Rebellion (1832), the Mopla Rebellion in Malabar (1841- 1920), the Santal Hul (1855), Indigo Rebellion (1859-60), Deccan Uprising (1875) and the Munda Ulgulan (1899-1900); The Great Revolt of 1857 —Origin, character, causes of failure, the consequences; The shift in the character of peasant uprisings in the post-1857 period; the peasant movements of the 1920s and 1930s.
• 7. Emergence of Indian Nationalism:
• (a) Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism; Politics of Association; The Foundation of the Indian National Congress; objectives of Early Congress; the Moderates and Extremists; The Partition of Bengal (1905); The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal; the economic and political aspects of Swadeshi Movement; The beginning of revolutionary extremism in India.
• (b) Age of Gandhian Politics : Character of Gandhian nationalism; Gandhi's popular appeal; Rowlatt Satyagraha; the Khilafat Movement; the Non-cooperation Movement; National politics from the end of the Non-cooperation movement to the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement; the two phases of the Civil Disobedience Movement; Simon Commission; The Nehru Report; the Round Table Conferences; the election of 1937 and the formation of ministries; Cripps Mission; the Quit India Movement; the Wavell Plan; The Cabinet Mission.
• (C) Other strands in the National Movement: Nationalism and the Peasant Movements; Nationalism and Working-class movements; The Revolutionaries: Bengal, the Punjab, Maharashtra, U.P. the Madras Presidency and outside India; Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauz). The Left; The Left within the Congress: Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, the Congress Socialist Party; the Communist Party of India, other left parties.
• 8. Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India between 1858 and 1935.
• 9. Growth of Muslim League and communalism in Indian Politics; Circumstances leading to partition of India.
• 10. Post-Independence Nation-building- the Linguistic reorganization of the states, Five-year planning, Institutional building during Nehruvian Era, development of science and technology.

5History of Modern World

• 1. Renaissance- Causes and Impact; Reformation- Causes, growth and significance; Counter Reformation and its impact; geographical discoveries of 15th-16th centuries.
• 2. Enlightenment and Modern outlook: Major Ideas of Enlightenment and development of scientific attitude, Industrial Revolution- Causes and Impact on Society.
• 3. Idea of Nation–States– Formation of French and British Nation state, American Revolution- Causes and effects.
• 4. French Revolution and Napoleonic Era- Causes, important events and impact, contribution of Napoleon Bonaparte.
• 5. Rise of Nationalism in 19th century and disintegration of empires. Nation building in Germany and Italy.
• 6. Growth of imperialism and colonialism in the 19th century-Asia and Africa. World War I: Causes and Consequences, The First World War and Paris Peace Conference.
• 7. Russian Revolution of 1917- Causes and significance.
• 8. The great depression and its impact, Rise of Fascism and Nazism.
• 9. Second World Wars- Causes, important events and impact.
• 10. World organization- League of Nations and U.N.O.
• 11. Liberation from Colonial Rule: Latin America, Arab World, South Asia and South- East Asia, Chinese Revolution of 1949.
• 12. Cold War- Emergence of two blocks.
• 13. Emergence of Third World and Non-alignment.
• 14. Dismantling Soviet Union and the End of Cold War.

6Political and Cultural History of Rajasthan

• 1. Sources- Archaeological and Literary sources.
• 2. Pre and Proto History of Rajasthan- Paleolithic to Chalcolithic Transition – Major Sites- Kalibanga, Ahar, Bagore, Ganeshwar, Balathal, tools and culture.
• 3. Rajasthan in Early Historical Period – major sites, Republics in Post Mauryan period.
• 4. Gupta and Post Gupta period: Origin of the Rajput – Guhils, Gurjar-Pratihar, Parmar, Rathore, Bhati, Tomar and Chauhan
• 5. Society, culture and polity in ancient Rajasthan.
• 6. Medieval Rajasthan- Political powers of Sultanate Age- Chauhan, Guhils, Rathore and Parmar
• 7. Rajput resistance- Prithviraj-III, Hamir of Ranthambhor, Rawal Ratan Singh and Kanhaddeo.
• 8. Mughals and Rajput States-Rajput Resistance - Sanga, Maldeo, Chadrasen and Pratap.
• 9. Rajput Cooperation with the Central Power- Man Singh, Rai Singh, Mirja Raja Jai Singh, Jaswant Singh.
• 10. Feudal System in Rajasthan.
• 11. Political and Cultural achievements of rulers in medieval Rajasthan.
• 12. Rajasthan in 18th century- Instability and origin of new political powers- Jat, Maratha and British.
• 13. Company Paramountcy and structural changes in the polity of Rajasthan.
• 14. Role of Rajasthan in the revolt of 1857.
• 15. Awakening in Rajasthan- Social changes and political awakening.
• 16. Tribal and Peasants movements in Rajasthan.
• 17. Freedom Struggle in Rajasthan.
• 18. Economic life of Rajasthan (1818 to 1948 A.D.)- Agriculture, Industry, Trade and Commerce. Economic impact of British Rule- (Land Revenue, Agriculture, Industry, Mines, Salt, Opium, Trade and Commerce, Migration of Marwari Traders, Transport and Communication).
• 19. Integration of Rajasthan- its various stages.
• 20. Development of art- Architecture, Sculpture, Paintings, Music, Dance and Drama from pre - history to modern times.
• 21. Development of literature throughout the historical period in Rajasthan.

Paper-I — common to every subject

1History, Art, Culture, Literature and Heritage of Rajasthan

• Ancient Civilizations of Rajasthan with special Reference to Mesolithic (Late Stone Age) sites in Rajasthan i.e. Nimbahera, Bagor and Mandia.
• Major dynasties of Rajasthan and its rulers through the Ages and their cultural achievements (1000-1800 A.D.).
• Political resistance of Rajput rulers against Muslim Power. Special reference to Rattan Singh, Hammir, Kanhad dev and Maldev, Chandrasen and Pratap.
• (i) Bhakti Movement and Sufism in Medieval Rajasthan, Special reference to Mira, Dadu and Khawaja Moin-ud-din Chishty. Saints: Special emphasis to be paid to teachings of Ramdevji, Gogaji, Tejaji, Pabuji, Mallinath, Dhanna, Pipa, Haridas, Raidas, Jasnath and other Sects.
• (ii) Folk gods and goddesses.
• Political Awakening and Freedom Movement in Rajasthan: 1857, Peasant and Tribal Movements, Prajamandal Movements, Contribution of Women in Social and Political awakening.
• (i) Folk Culture: Fairs and Festivals, Different Schools of Painting, Folk Tales and Gathas, Folk Songs, Folk Dances, Folk Music and Instruments.
• (ii) Dress and Ornaments, Handicrafts.
• Rajasthani Language: Origin and Development.
• Main Dialects and Region.
• Rajasthani Scripts: Mudia and Devnagari.
• (a) Rajasthani Literature: Its Evolution.
• (i) Early Period
• (ii) Pre-Medieval Period
• (iii) Post- Medieval Period
• (iv) Modern Period.
• (b) Famous Writers and their Works.
• Tourism and Rajasthan: Heritage, Tourism Policy and Vision.

2Geography of Rajasthan

• Physiographic regions, Rivers and lakes.
• Climate, Natural Vegetation, Soil, Minerals and Energy Resources – Renewable and Non-renewable.
• Population – Characteristics, Livestock, Biodiversity and its conservation.
• Production and Distribution of Major crops, Major Irrigation Projects, Major Industries.
• Drought and Famines, Desertification, Environmental Problems, Disaster Management and Pandemics.

3Political and Administrative System of Rajasthan

• Governor, Chief Minister and Council of Ministers.
• State Legislative Assembly, High Court and Judicial System of Rajasthan.
• Rajasthan Public Service Commission, State Election Commission, State Finance Commission, State Human Rights Commission, State Commission for Women, State Information Commission, Lokayukta and Auditor General.
• Chief Secretary, Government Secretariat, Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Divisional Commissioner, District Administration, Institutions of Panchayati Raj and Urban Local- Self Government.
• Government Policies and Right based Citizenship: Right to Information, Guaranteed Delivery of Public Services, Citizen's Charters, Social Audit, Jan Soochna Portal, Rajasthan Sampark Portal etc.

4Economy of Rajasthan

• Characteristics of state economy.
• Occupational distribution.
• Compositional trend of state domestic product.
• Major Sectoral Issues.
• (i) Agricultural Sector: Characteristics of agricultural sector in Rajasthan. Major rabi and kharif crops with special reference to oil seeds and spices. Irrigated area and trends, Problems of migrant workers and their rehabilitation. Agricultural credit.
• (ii) Livestock: Trends in livestock population. Milk production in Rajasthan.
• (iii) Industrial Outlook: Major industries of Rajasthan. Constraints to development of industries. MSMEs in Rajasthan. Roles and problem of small industries. Industrial sickness. Major state public sector enterprises. SEZ in Rajasthan. Role of RIICO and RFC. Agro-processing policy (2020).
• (iv) Service Sector: Primary education, Development in recent years. Health programmes of state government. Mid-day meal programme. Indira Rasoi Yojana.
• (v) Infrastructure Development: Progress in national highways, state highways and village roads. Power: Progress in power generation. Recent progress in solar power projects.
• (vi) Handicrafts of Rajasthan.
• (vii) Major items of exports from Rajasthan.
• (viii) Latest major welfare schemes of state government with special reference to economically and socially backward classes, disabled people, old aged people. Steps taken for women empowerment and child development.
• (ix) Regional economic inequalities in Rajasthan.

5Contemporary Events

• Major Contemporary Events and Issues of Rajasthan.
• Persons and Places in News.
• Sports and Games.

Official syllabus from RSSB Advertisement 06/2026 (Teaching Associate), verbatim. Paper-I (General Studies of Rajasthan) is common to all subjects.