History in CUET 2026 — Overview

CUET History (Code 314) is one of the most popular domain subjects among Humanities students, chosen by aspirants targeting B.A. (Hons) History, B.A. Programme, and integrated arts programmes at Central Universities like DU, BHU, JNU, Allahabad, and Hyderabad. The paper has 50 compulsory MCQs to be answered in 60 minutes, for a maximum of 250 marks.

The entire syllabus is based on the NCERT Class 12 History textbooks — "Themes in Indian History" (Part I, Part II, and Part III). The syllabus spans from the Harappan civilisation to the framing of the Indian Constitution, covering ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history through a thematic lens. CUET History questions test factual recall and conceptual understanding of these themes.

Complete Unit-Wise Syllabus

The CUET History syllabus covers 15 themes across 3 books from the NCERT Class 12 curriculum. Here is the complete breakdown:

Theme	Topics	NCERT Book & Chapter
1. Bricks, Beads & Bones	Harappan Civilisation: urban planning, drainage, Great Bath, seals, script, decline theories, archaeological sources	Part I — Ch 1
2. Kings, Farmers & Towns	Early states & economies (600 BCE – 600 CE), Mauryan Empire, Ashoka’s inscriptions, agrarian changes, trade guilds, numismatics	Part I — Ch 2
3. Kinship, Caste & Class	Mahabharata as source, family & marriage norms, social hierarchies, varna & jati, property rights, patrilineal & matrilineal systems	Part I — Ch 3
4. Thinkers, Beliefs & Buildings	Buddhism & Jainism origins, Sanchi Stupa, Bharhut, Amaravati, early temple architecture, Vedic & heterodox traditions	Part I — Ch 4
5. Through the Eyes of Travellers	Al-Biruni’s Kitab-ul-Hind, Ibn Battuta’s Rihla, François Bernier’s accounts, perspectives on Indian society & economy	Part II — Ch 5
6. Bhakti-Sufi Traditions	Bhakti movement (Alvars, Nayanars, Kabir, Nanak, Mirabai), Sufi orders (Chishti, Suhrawardi), Dargahs, Khanqahs, religious tolerance	Part II — Ch 6
7. An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara	Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi architecture, Krishna Temple, Royal Centre, Sacred Centre, Abdur Razzaq & Domingo Paes accounts	Part II — Ch 7
8. Peasants, Zamindars & the State	Mughal agrarian relations, Ain-i-Akbari, revenue system, village community, zamindars, peasant revolts	Part II — Ch 8
9. Kings & Chronicles	Mughal courts, Akbar & the Akbarnama, Mughal administration, painting traditions, court rituals, chronicles as historical sources	Part II — Ch 9
10. Colonialism & the Countryside	Permanent Settlement, Mahalwari & Ryotwari systems, Paharias & Santhals, Deccan riots, colonial land revenue policies	Part III — Ch 10
11. Rebels & the Raj (1857)	Revolt of 1857: causes, leaders (Rani Lakshmibai, Nana Saheb, Bahadur Shah Zafar), aftermath, British repression, visual sources	Part III — Ch 11
12. Colonial Cities	Urbanisation under British rule, Bombay/Calcutta/Madras, hill stations, cantonments, new civic planning, architecture	Part III — Ch 12
13. Mahatma Gandhi & the National Movement	Gandhi’s philosophy, Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India, Salt March, mass mobilisation, role of peasants & workers	Part III — Ch 13
14. Understanding Partition	Partition of India 1947, oral histories, communal violence, refugee experiences, Two-Nation Theory, Cabinet Mission, Mountbatten Plan	Part III — Ch 14
15. Framing the Constitution	Constituent Assembly debates, fundamental rights, directive principles, key members (Ambedkar, Nehru, Patel), vision of the republic	Part III — Ch 15

Chapter-Wise Weightage (PYQ Analysis 2022–2025)

Based on an analysis of CUET History papers from 2022 to 2025, here is the approximate weightage by period. Focus your preparation on Modern Indian History first — it accounts for nearly 40% of the paper.

Theme / Period	Approx. Questions	Weightage	Priority
Mahatma Gandhi & National Movement	7–8	14–16%	★★★ High
Partition & Constitution	5–7	10–14%	★★★ High
Mughal Period (Peasants, Kings, Chronicles)	7–10	15–20%	★★★ High
Revolt of 1857 & Colonial Cities	4–6	8–12%	★★★ High
Bhakti-Sufi Traditions	3–5	6–10%	★★ Medium
Harappan Civilisation	3–4	6–8%	★★ Medium
Colonialism & the Countryside	3–4	6–8%	★★ Medium
Ancient India (Kings, Kinship, Thinkers)	3–5	6–10%	★★ Medium
Travellers & Vijayanagara	2–4	4–8%	★ Low

Deleted Topics for 2026

NTA has not deleted any History topics from the CUET 2026 syllabus. All 15 themes from NCERT Class 12 — Themes in Indian History (Part I, II, and III) — remain intact and examinable.

NCERT Chapters & Books

Book	Themes	Period Covered
Themes in Indian History — Part I	Themes 1–4	Ancient India: Harappa, Mauryas, Mahabharata, Buddhism & early architecture
Themes in Indian History — Part II	Themes 5–9	Medieval India: Travellers, Bhakti-Sufi, Vijayanagara, Mughal agrarian & court life
Themes in Indian History — Part III	Themes 10–15	Modern India: Colonialism, 1857, Cities, Gandhi, Partition, Constitution

Total themes: 15 | Total pages: ~500 | A focused student can complete one thorough reading in 3–4 weeks, prioritising Part III first.

How to Score 200+ in CUET History

Scoring 200+ (80%+) in CUET History is achievable with a structured, NCERT-focused approach. History is fact-heavy, so systematic revision is key. Here is a step-by-step strategy:

Step 1: Complete NCERT Reading — Start with Part III (Week 1–2)

• Read NCERT Themes in Indian History Part III first (Modern India) — it carries the highest weightage
• Then read Part II (Medieval India) and finally Part I (Ancient India)
• Highlight dates, names, places, key events, and source references (e.g., "According to Bernier...")
• Create timeline charts for each theme — chronological clarity is critical

Step 2: Make Thematic Notes (Week 2–3)

• For each theme, create a 1-page summary: key facts, important personalities, sources used, and NCERT-specific details
• Focus on source-based questions: CUET frequently quotes passages from the textbook and asks "Who wrote this?" or "What does this source reveal?"
• Practise identifying the theme from a given passage — this is a common CUET question type

Step 3: Previous Year Papers (Week 3–4)

• Solve CUET History PYQs from 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025
• Identify patterns: Gandhi & National Movement questions appear every year, Mughal themes are heavily tested
• Time yourself: aim for 50 MCQs in 50 minutes (10-minute buffer for source-based questions)

Step 4: Mock Tests & Revision (Week 4 onwards)

• Take at least 10–15 full-length History mock tests before the exam
• Use the CUET Gurukul CBT Simulator for the authentic NTA interface experience
• After each mock, go back to the exact NCERT paragraph for every wrong answer
• Target: 40+ correct out of 50 consistently in mocks

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Reading non-NCERT history books: Bipin Chandra, Spectrum, or other competitive exam books are unnecessary for CUET. Stick to the 3 NCERT textbooks — questions are directly from these pages.
2. Ignoring source-based questions: CUET History frequently quotes NCERT passages and asks contextual questions. If you skip the textbook extracts and only read summaries, you will miss 5–8 easy marks.
3. Confusing dates and personalities across themes: Mixing up Mughal emperors, Bhakti saints, or freedom fighters is common. Create separate timelines for Ancient, Medieval, and Modern periods.
4. Skipping Part I (Ancient India): While it carries lower weightage (10–15%), Harappan Civilisation questions are straightforward and factual. Easy marks should not be left on the table.
5. Not revising regularly: History is memory-intensive. Without revision every 3–4 days, facts fade quickly. Use spaced repetition — revise Part III every 3 days, Part II every 5 days.

Frequently Asked Questions