UPSC CSE 2026: Master History Timelines for Fast Revision & Top Ranks!

To help you prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026, we have compiled a comprehensive list of 100 high-yield questions and answers focusing on History Timelines (Ancient, Medieval, and Modern India).

These are designed to help you master chronological ordering, which is a frequent and challenging theme in the UPSC Prelims.

Ancient India (Pre-history to 750 AD)

1. Question: Arrange the following in chronological order: (A) Harappan Civilization, (B) Mesolithic Age, (C) Neolithic Age, (D) Palaeolithic Age.

   Answer: D – B – C – A.

2. Question: Which was the first animal to be domesticated during the Mesolithic period?

   Answer: Dog.

3. Question: Arrange these Rig Vedic tribes by their geographic location from West to East: Purus, Bharatas, Yadus.

   Answer: Yadus – Purus – Bharatas.

4. Question: List the chronological order of the Four Buddhist Councils.

   Answer: 1st: Rajgriha (483 BC), 2nd: Vaishali (383 BC), 3rd: Pataliputra (250 BC), 4th: Kundalvana (72 AD).

5. Question: Order these dynasties of Magadha: (A) Nanda, (B) Haryanka, (C) Shishunaga, (D) Maurya.

   Answer: B (Haryanka) -> C (Shishunaga) -> A (Nanda) -> D (Maurya).

6. Question: In which year did Alexander the Great invade India?

   Answer: 326 BC.

7. Question: Arrange the following Mauryan rulers: (A) Ashoka, (B) Chandragupta Maurya, (C) Bindusara.

   Answer: B -> C -> A.

8. Question: When was the Kalinga War fought?

   Answer: 261 BC.

9. Question: Arrange these foreign invaders in order of their arrival: (A) Kushans, (B) Indo-Greeks, (C) Shakas, (D) Parthians.

   Answer: B -> C -> D -> A.

10. Question: Who founded the Vikrama Era and in which year?

    Answer: King Vikramaditya in 57 BC.

11. Question: When did the Shaka Era begin?

    Answer: 78 AD (started by Kanishka).

12. Question: Arrange these Gupta rulers chronologically: (A) Samudragupta, (B) Chandragupta I, (C) Chandragupta II, (D) Skandagupta.

    Answer: B -> A -> C -> D.

13. Question: In whose reign did Fa-Hien visit India?

    Answer: Chandragupta II (399–414 AD).

14. Question: Arrange these regional powers of the Post-Gupta period: (A) Pushyabhutis, (B) Maukharis, (C) Maitrakas.

    Answer: C -> B -> A.

15. Question: When was the Battle of Hydaspes fought?

    Answer: 326 BC.

Medieval India (750 AD to 1707 AD)

16. Question: Arrange the Tripartite Struggle participants: Palas, Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas.

    Answer: They were contemporaries (8th–10th Century AD).

17. Question: When did Mahmud of Ghazni raid the Somnath Temple?

    Answer: 1025 AD.

18. Question: Arrange the Battles of Tarain: 1st and 2nd.

    Answer: 1st: 1191 AD, 2nd: 1192 AD.

19. Question: List the Delhi Sultanate dynasties in order.

    Answer: Slave (Mamluk) -> Khalji -> Tughlaq -> Sayyid -> Lodi.

20. Question: When did Ibn Battuta visit India?

    Answer: 1333 AD (during Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign).

21. Question: Year of the founding of the Vijayanagara Empire.

    Answer: 1336 AD.

22. Question: Year of the founding of the Bahmani Kingdom.

    Answer: 1347 AD.

23. Question: When did Vasco da Gama reach Calicut?

    Answer: 1498 AD.

24. Question: Order the First Three Battles of Panipat.

    Answer: 1st: 1526, 2nd: 1556, 3rd: 1761.

25. Question: Arrange Mughal Emperors: (A) Jahangir, (B) Humayun, (C) Akbar, (D) Babur.

    Answer: D -> B -> C -> A.

26. Question: Year of the Battle of Khanwa.

    Answer: 1527 AD.

27. Question: When was the Din-i-Illahi promulgated?

    Answer: 1582 AD.

28. Question: Arrange the Sikh Gurus: (A) Guru Nanak, (B) Guru Arjan Dev, (C) Guru Gobind Singh.

    Answer: A -> B -> C.

29. Question: When was the East India Company formed?

    Answer: 1600 AD.

30. Question: When did Shivaji Maharaj’s Coronation take place?

    Answer: 1674 AD.

Modern India (1707 AD to 1947 AD)

31. Question: Year of the Battle of Plassey.

    Answer: 1757.

32. Question: Year of the Battle of Buxar.

    Answer: 1764.

33. Question: Arrange the Anglo-Mysore Wars (I to IV).

    Answer: I: 1767-69, II: 1780-84, III: 1790-92, IV: 1799.

34. Question: When was the Regulating Act passed?

    Answer: 1773.

35. Question: Year of the Permanent Settlement in Bengal.

    Answer: 1793.

36. Question: When did Raja Ram Mohan Roy found Brahmo Samaj?

    Answer: 1828.

37. Question: Year of the Sati Prohibition Act.

    Answer: 1829.

38. Question: When was the First Railway line opened in India?

    Answer: 1853 (Bombay to Thane).

39. Question: Date of the commencement of the Revolt of 1857.

    Answer: May 10, 1857 (Meerut).

40. Question: When was the Indian National Congress founded?

    Answer: 1885.

41. Question: Year of the Partition of Bengal.

    Answer: 1905.

42. Question: When was the Muslim League formed?

    Answer: 1906.

43. Question: Year of the Surat Split of INC.

    Answer: 1907.

44. Question: When did Mahatma Gandhi return to India from South Africa?

    Answer: January 9, 1915.

45. Question: Year of the Lucknow Pact.

    Answer: 1916.

46. Question: Arrange the Gandhian Movements: (A) Kheda, (B) Champaran, (C) Ahmedabad Mill Strike.

    Answer: B (1917) -> C (Feb 1918) -> A (March 1918).

47. Question: Date of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.

    Answer: April 13, 1919.

48. Question: Year of the Non-Cooperation Movement launch.

    Answer: 1920.

49. Question: When did the Chauri Chaura incident happen?

    Answer: February 4, 1922.

50. Question: Year of the Swaraj Party formation.

    Answer: 1923.

51. Question: When did the Simon Commission arrive in India?

    Answer: 1928.

52. Question: Year of the Nehru Report.

    Answer: 1928.

53. Question: When was the Purna Swaraj declaration made?

    Answer: 1929 (Lahore Session).

54. Question: Date of the Dandi March start.

    Answer: March 12, 1930.

55. Question: Year of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.

    Answer: 1931.

56. Question: Year of the Poona Pact.

    Answer: 1932.

57. Question: When was the Government of India Act 1935 passed?

    Answer: 1935.

58. Question: Year of the August Offer.

    Answer: 1940.

59. Question: When did the Cripps Mission visit India?

    Answer: 1942.

60. Question: Date of the Quit India Resolution.

    Answer: August 8, 1942.

Chronological Events – Quick Fire

61. Q: Foundation of Arya Samaj? A: 1875.

62. Q: Vernacular Press Act? A: 1878.

63. Q: Ilbert Bill Controversy? A: 1883.

64. Q: Morley-Minto Reforms? A: 1909.

65. Q: Ghadar Party foundation? A: 1913.

66. Q: Home Rule League? A: 1916.

67. Q: Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms? A: 1919.

68. Q: Rowlatt Act? A: 1919.

69. Q: Khilafat Movement? A: 1919.

70. Q: Kakori Train Robbery? A: 1925.

71. Q: Chittagong Armoury Raid? A: 1930.

72. Q: Communal Award? A: 1932.

73. Q: Forward Bloc formation? A: 1939.

74. Q: Individual Satyagraha? A: 1940.

75. Q: INA (Indian National Army) formation? A: 1942.

76. Q: Wavell Plan? A: 1945.

77. Q: INA Trials? A: 1945.

78. Q: Cabinet Mission? A: 1946.

79. Q: RIN Mutiny? A: 1946.

80. Q: Direct Action Day? A: August 16, 1946.

81. Q: Interim Government formation? A: September 1946.

82. Q: Mountbatten Plan? A: June 3, 1947.

83. Q: Indian Independence Act? A: July 1947.

84. Q: Death of Aurangzeb? A: 1707.

85. Q: Third Battle of Panipat? A: 1761.

86. Q: Pitt’s India Act? A: 1784.

87. Q: Charter Act (End of EIC monopoly in India)? A: 1813.

88. Q: Wood’s Despatch? A: 1854.

89. Q: Hindu Widow Remarriage Act? A: 1856.

90. Q: Indigo Revolt? A: 1859.

91. Q: Indian High Courts Act? A: 1861.

92. Q: Satyashodhak Samaj? A: 1873.

93. Q: First Census in India (Mayo)? A: 1872.

94. Q: First Synchronous Census (Ripon)? A: 1881.

95. Q: Hunter Commission (Education)? A: 1882.

96. Q: Partition of Bengal Annulment? A: 1911.

97. Q: Transfer of Capital to Delhi? A: 1911.

98. Q: Butler Commission? A: 1927.

99. Q: Second Round Table Conference? A: 1931.

100. Q: Quit India Movement “Do or Die” speech? A: 1942.

How to Use This for UPSC 2026?

1. Flashcards: Convert these into digital flashcards for daily active recall.

2. Timeline Drawing: Draw a physical timeline on a wall chart and place these events.

3. Connectivity: Always try to link the “Why” with the “When.” For example, the Rowlatt Act (1919) led directly to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919).

Good luck with your UPSC 2026 preparation! Consistently reviewing these timelines will give you a significant edge in the exam.