World History PYQs (2013–2024)
| Year | Theme(s) | Question(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | World Wars / Balance of Power | First World War & Balance of Power |
| 2023 | Economic / Industrial Impact | Socio-economic effects of Railways worldwide |
| 2022 | – | NIL |
| 2021 | Political Systems / Interwar | Interwar challenge to Democratic State System |
| 2020 | – | NIL |
| 2019 | Revolutions (Modern World) | American & French Revolutions |
| 2018 | – | NIL |
| 2017 | Decolonisation | Decolonization in the Malay Peninsula |
| 2016 | Decolonisation / Anti-colonial Struggles | Anti-colonial struggles in West Africa; role of Western-educated elite |
| 2015 | Industrial Revolution; World Wars | Industrial Revolution in England (quality of life, comparison with India); Germany’s responsibility for World Wars I & II |
| 2014 | Decolonisation & Global Developments; Cold War Crisis; Communism/Lenin | Global developments motivating anti-colonial struggle in India; Suez Crisis (1956); Lenin’s NEP & influence on India |
| 2013 | Industrial Revolution; Imperialism / Colonisation; Revolutions (American); Economic Crisis | Japan’s Industrial Revolution; Partition of Africa; American Revolution (mercantilism); Great Depression (policy instruments) |
Theme-wise Distribution (2013–2024)
- Industrial Revolution & Economic History → 4 questions
(2013 – Japan, 2015 – England, 2013 – Great Depression, 2023 – Railways) - Revolutions (American & French) → 2 questions
(2013, 2019) - Decolonisation / Anti-colonial Struggles → 4 questions
(2014, 2016, 2017, 2014 again linked to India’s struggle) - World Wars & Interwar Politics → 4 questions
(2015, 2021, 2024, part of 2015 Germany) - Cold War & Global Crises → 2 questions
(2014 – Suez Crisis, 2014 – Lenin NEP)
Trend Analysis
- 2013–2015: Wide coverage (Industrial Rev, Imperialism, Revolutions, WWs, Depression, Decolonisation).
- 2016–2017: Mostly Decolonisation-focused.
- 2018–2020: Very few / NIL questions (downtrend).
- 2021–2024: Revival with World Wars & Interwar focus (2021, 2024) and economic history (2023).
Important Topics
High Priority Topics
- World Wars (I & II) & Interwar Period
- Decolonisation & Anti-colonial Struggles
- Industrial Revolution & Economic Transformations
Medium Priority Topics
- American & French Revolutions
- Cold War & Related Crises
- Imperialism & Colonisation
Low Priority Topics
- Great Depression
- Political Ideologies (Lenin, Marxism, Fascism, Nazism)
- Minor Cold War Events (Suez Crisis, Cuba, Vietnam, etc.)