The CUET History syllabus for 2025 is essential for students aiming to pursue undergraduate courses like B.A. History (Hons), BSW, B.A. Sociology, B.A. Archaeology, and similar programs. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the CUET exam annually across 380 cities, including 26 international locations, at multiple centers.
To secure admission, candidates must select History as one of their domain subjects, aligned with the requirements of their chosen university or college. Knowing the detailed CUET History syllabus is crucial for effective preparation.
Table of Contents
The NTA is expected to conduct the CUET History exam in the third week of May 2025, with the exam schedule likely to be released in April 2025. Students should regularly visit the official NTA website (nta.ac.in) for updates on the syllabus, exam schedule, and notifications.
CUET History Syllabus 2025 Unit-wise
Unit I: The Story of the First Cities Harappan Archaeology
Broad overview: Early urban centres.
Story of discovery: Harappan civilization.
Excerpt: Archaeological report on a major site. Discussion: how it has been utilized by
archaeologists/historians.
Unit II: Political and Economic History: How Inscriptions tell a story
Broad overview: Political and economic history from the Mauryan to the Gupta period. Story of discovery: Inscriptions and the decipherment of the script. Shifts in the understanding of political and economic history.
Excerpt: Asokan inscription and Gupta period land grant.
Discussion: Interpretation of inscriptions by historians.
Unit III: Social Histories using the Mahabharata
Broad overview: Issues in social history, including caste,class, kinship, and gender.
Story of discovery: Transmission and publications of the Mahabharata.
Excerpt: From the Mahabharata, illustrating how it has been used by historians.
Unit IV: A History of Buddhism: Sanchi Stupa
Broad overview:
(a) A brief review of religious histories of Vedic religion, Jainism, Vaisnavism, and Saivism.
(b) Focus on Buddhism.
Story of discovery: Sanchi stupa.
Excerpt: Reproduction of sculptures from Sanchi. Discussion: Ways in which sculpture has been interpreted by historians, a n d other sources for reconstructing the history of Buddhism.
Unit V: Medieval Society Through Travellers’ Accounts
Broad Overview: Outline of social and cultural life as they appear in travellers’ accounts. Story of their writings: A discussion of where they travelled, why they travelled, what they wrote, and For whom they wrote.
Excerpts: from Alberuni, Ibn Batuta, Bernier.
Discussion: What these travel accounts can tell us and how they have been interpreted by historians?
Unit VI: Religious Histories: The Bhakti-Sufi Tradition
Broad Overview:
(a) Outline of religious developments during this period.
(b) Ideas and practices of the Bhakti-Sufi saints.
Story of Transmission: How Bhakti-Sufi compositions have been preserved
Excerpt: Extracts from selected Bhakti Sufi works.
Discussion: Ways in which these have been interpreted by historians.
Unit VII: New Architecture: Hampi
Broad Overview:
(a) Outline of new buildings during the Vijayanagara period — temples, forts, irrigation facilities.
(b) Relationship between architecture and the political system.
Story of Discovery: Account of how Hampi was found.
Excerpt: Visuals of buildings at Hampi.
Discussion: Ways in which historians have analyzed and interpreted these structures.
Unit VIII: Agrarian Relations: The Ain-i-Akbari
Broad overview:
(a) Structure of agrarian relations in the 16th and 17th centuries.
(b) Patterns of change over the period
Story of Discovery: Account of the compilation and translation of Ain-i-Akbari
Excerpt: From the Ain-i-Akbari
Discussion: Ways in which historians have used the text to reconstruct history.
Unit IX: The Mughal Court: Reconstructing Histories through Chronicles
Broad Overview:
(a) Outline of political history c. 15th-17th centuries.
(b) Discussion of the Mughal court and politics.
Story of Discovery: Account of the production of court chronicles, and their subsequent translation and transmission
Excerpts: from the Akbarnama and Padshahnama.
Discussion: Ways in which historians have used the texts to reconstruct political histories.
Unit X: Colonialism and Rural Society: Evidence from Official Reports
Broad overview:
(a) Life of zamindars, peasants, and artisans in the late 18th century
(b) East India Company, revenue settlements, and surveys.
(c) Changes over the nineteenth century.
Story of official records: An account of why official investigations into rural societies were undertaken and the types of records and reports produced.
Excerpts: From Firminger’s Fifth Report, Accounts of FrancisBuchanan-Hamilton, and DeccanRiots Report. Discussion: What do the official records tell and do not tell, and how they have been used by historians?
Unit XI: Representations of 1857
Broad Overview:
(a) The events of 1857-58
(b) How these events were recorded and narrated.
Focus: Lucknow.
Excerpts: Pictures of 1857. Extracts from contemporary accounts.
Discussion: How the pictures of 1857 shaped British opinion of what had happened.
Unit XII: Colonialism and Indian Towns: Town Plans and Municipal Reports
Broad Overview: The growth of Mumbai, Chennai, hill stations, and cantonments in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Excerpts: Photographs and paintings. Plans of cities. Extract from town plan reports. Focus on Kolkata town planning.
Discussion: How the above sources can be used to reconstruct the history of towns? What these sources do not reveal.
Unit XIII: Mahatma Gandhi Through Contemporary Eyes
Broad Overview:
(a) The nationalist movement 1918-48,
(b) The nature of Gandhian politics and leadership.
Focus: Mahatma Gandhi in 1931.
Excerpts: Reports from English and Indian language newspapers and other contemporary writings. Discussion: How newspapers can be a source of history.
Unit XIV: Partition through Oral Sources
Broad Overview:
(a) The history of the 1940s;
(b) Nationalism, Communalism, and Partition.
Focus: Punjab and Bengal.
Excerpts: Oral testimonies of those who experienced partition.
Discussion: Ways in which these have been analyzed to reconstruct the history of the event.
Unit XV: The Making of the Constitution
Broad Overview:
(a) Independence and the new nation-state.
(b) The making of the Constitution.
Focus: The Constitutional Assembly debates.
Excerpts: From the debates.
Discussion: What do such debates reveal and how they can be analyzed?
Download CUET History Syllabus PDF
CUET History Syllabus in Hindi PDF
CUET History Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025
| Particulars for CUET History Paper | Details |
| CUET Exam Conduction Body | National Testing Agency |
| Mode of the examination | Computer-based test mode |
| Language of exam | 13 languages – English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu |
| Type of questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Total number of Questions | 50 questions (all compulsory) |
| Duration of Exam | 60 minutes |
| Maximum Score | 250 |
| Negative marking | Yes |
| Marking Scheme | +5 for each correct answer -1 for each incorrect answer |
| CUET History Mapping for Courses | B.A. (Hons) History B.A. in Archaeology B.A. in Social Work |
CUET History Books
To score well in the CUET 2025 History exam and secure admission to your preferred CUET-accepting college, it’s important to refer to the right study materials. Here’s a list of recommended books to help with your preparation:
- NCERT Themes in Indian History – I
- NCERT Themes in Indian History – II
- NCERT Themes in Indian History – III
- CUET (UG) History Guide by Arihant Experts
- India’s Ancient Past by R.S. Sharma
- CUET History Practice Papers by GKP
CUET History Syllabus 2025 FAQs
What topics are included in the CUET History syllabus?
The syllabus covers Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History, along with world history topics like industrialization, revolutions, and global conflicts.
What is the format of the CUET History exam?
The exam consists of multiple-choice questions designed to test your understanding of historical concepts and events.
What are the best books for CUET History preparation?
Apart from NCERT books, consider resources like India’s Ancient Past by R.S. Sharma and CUET History guides by Arihant Experts.
How much time should I dedicate to History preparation daily?
Depending on your current knowledge, dedicating 2-3 hours daily for consistent study and revision is advisable.
Are maps an important part of CUET History?
Yes, maps are important for understanding geographical context, especially for ancient and medieval history.
Is CUET based on NCERT syllabus?
Yes, CUET is based on the NCERT syllabus. Candidates preparing for CUET UG can refer NCERT books for preparation to ace the examination.
Is Class 12 NCERT enough for CUET?
Since the CUET syllabus is in line with the Class 12 Board exam syllabus, it can be safely assumed that the NCERT books are enough to cover the syllabus of the exam.
Is 300 a good score in CUET?
Good scores in CUET range between 650-750. The average score in CUET ranges between 400 and 650. Low scores in CUET range between 200-400.
Is 500 a good score in CUET?
According to the CUET exam analysis, a score of 500-650 marks can be considered a good score in CUET UG.
What is the syllabus for history in CUET?
The important topics covered in CUET History Syllabus 2025 comprise political and economic history, Harappan archaeology, social histories, the history of Buddhism, religious histories, and medieval society through travellers. The syllabus comprises a wide range of historical themes and events.
What is the subject code for CUET PG History?
CUET PG History (HUQP09) is divided into four broad units. There are 75 MCQ questions, all based on Subject-Specific Knowledge.
