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{Test-5} Vision IAS Prelims Test Series 2026 PDF

Vision IAS Prelims Test Series 2026 – Test 5 (Ancient & Medieval History, Art & Culture) PDF | Syllabus, Topics & Sources

The Vision IAS All India GS Prelims Test Series 2026 moves forward with Test 5, scheduled for 22 June 2025, focusing on Ancient & Medieval History along with Indian Art and Culture — a scoring yet conceptually demanding segment of UPSC Prelims.

This test has been designed to build a strong historical foundation while integrating culture, heritage, and art-based questions that frequently appear in UPSC Prelims and Mains.

The paper ensures aspirants understand chronological evolution, cultural transitions, and civilizational developments — helping in both factual recall and analytical understanding.

🧾 Test 5 Overview

DetailsInformation
Test Code6314
Test Date22 June 2025
SubjectAncient & Medieval History, Art and Culture
TypeFundamental Test
ModeOnline & Offline
Current Affairs CoverageMarch 2025
Question StandardUPSC GS Paper I Level
No. of Questions100 MCQs

📚 Syllabus Coverage

A. Ancient Indian History

  • Prehistoric Period – Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic cultures
  • Harappan / Indus Valley Civilization – Features, Town Planning, Economy, Religion, Decline
  • Vedic Age – Early & Later Vedic Period, Literature, Political & Social Life
  • Mahajanapadas and Rise of Kingdoms
  • Religious Movements – Jainism, Buddhism, and related philosophies
  • Mauryan & Post-Mauryan Period – Administration, Art, Economy, Ashokan Edicts
  • Sangam Age and Early Kingdoms of South India
  • Gupta Empire & Post-Gupta Period – Administration, Literature, Science & Technology

B. Indian Art & Culture

  • Architecture: Indus Valley, Mauryan, Sunga, Kushana, Satavahana, Gupta, Chola, Vijayanagara, Indo-Islamic, Modern Architecture
  • Sculpture: Schools of Indian Sculpture (Mathura, Gandhara, Amaravati)
  • Paintings: Cave Paintings (Ajanta, Bagh), Miniature Paintings (Mughal, Rajput, Pahari, Deccan), Folk & Modern Art
  • Religion and Philosophy: Six Schools of Indian Philosophy, Ajivika, Lokayata, Jainism, Buddhism, and Bhakti–Sufi synthesis
  • Music & Dance: Classical Music (Hindustani & Carnatic), Classical Dance Forms, Folk Dances of India
  • Theatre & Puppetry: Folk and Modern Theatre Traditions, Puppetry Forms
  • Festivals, Language, Literature & Crafts: Evolution of Indian Languages, Important Literary Works, Handicrafts, UNESCO Heritage Sites
  • Science and Technology in Ancient & Medieval India: Astronomy, Metallurgy, Medicine, Mathematics

C. Medieval Indian History

  • Early Medieval India – Regional Kingdoms in North & South India
  • Delhi Sultanate – Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid & Lodi Dynasties
  • Vijayanagara & Bahmani Kingdoms
  • Religious Movements – Bhakti & Sufi Movements
  • Mughal Empire – Administration, Society, Economy, Culture, Architecture
  • Maratha Confederacy & Decline of Mughal Empire
  • Cultural Developments under the Mughals and Regional States

D. Current Affairs Integration (March 2025)

  • Recent Archaeological Discoveries
  • UNESCO Heritage Site Additions
  • Government Schemes for Cultural Preservation

📖 Reference Sources

Primary References

  • Old NCERT: Ancient India
  • Old NCERT: Medieval India
  • Class XI NCERT: Introduction to Indian Art – Part I
  • Class XII NCERT: Themes in Indian History – Part I & II
  • CCRT Website: ccrtindia.gov.in
  • LotusArise: Art and Culture Notes
  • Vision IAS Value Addition Material – Art & Culture
  • Quick Revision Module (QRM): Ancient, Medieval & Culture

Secondary References

  • A History of Ancient & Early Medieval India by Upinder Singh
  • The Wonder That Was India by A.L. Basham
  • LotusArise Notes – Art & Culture
  • TN Board History Class XI
  • The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, Yojana, Kurukshetra

🎯 Objectives of Test 5

  • Strengthen conceptual clarity in Ancient and Medieval Indian History.
  • Reinforce memory-based learning through thematic coverage and chronological sequencing.
  • Integrate culture and heritage aspects with static history for comprehensive understanding.
  • Prepare aspirants for map-based and personality-linked art & culture questions.

🧠 Key Topics to Revise Before the Test

  1. Sites of Indus Valley Civilization – Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Dholavira, Lothal.
  2. Religious Reform Movements – Basic Doctrines of Buddhism & Jainism.
  3. Mauryan Administration & Ashokan Edicts.
  4. Gupta Age – Golden Era Achievements in Art, Science, and Literature.
  5. Bhakti & Sufi Movements – Saints, Philosophy, and Literature.
  6. Art & Architecture – Cave Temples, Stupas, Chola Temples, Indo-Islamic Styles.
  7. UNESCO Heritage Sites – Recent Additions and Key Locations.
  8. Folk & Classical Art Forms – Dances, Music, Paintings, and Handicrafts.

💡 Vision IAS Mentoring and Enrichment Support

  • 1-on-1 Mentoring: Personalized analysis and improvement strategy for History & Culture.
  • Post-Test Discussion: Faculty-led review (Offline/Online) for key conceptual topics.
  • Sandhan Personalized Tests: Choose topic-wise subtests (e.g., Buddhism, Gupta Art, Mughal Period).
  • Performance Analytics: Sectional scorecards with All India Rank and detailed insights.
  • Quick Revision Material (QRM): Ready-reference for factual recall and last-minute brushing.

📥 Download Section

📘 Download Vision IAS Prelims Test Series 2026 – Test 5 PDF (Ancient & Medieval History, Art & Culture)

🧩 Expert Preparation Tips

  1. Use Timeline Notes – Connect events chronologically from Prehistoric to Mughal Era.
  2. Read NCERT + Vision IAS Notes – Focus on keywords and features of civilizations & cultures.
  3. Map Practice: Identify ancient sites, dynasties, and architectural locations.
  4. Revise Cultural Themes – Art, Literature, Religion, and Science from Gupta to Mughal period.
  5. Use CCRT + NIOS Sources – Ideal for supplementing culture questions.
  6. Current Affairs Linkage: Note recent UNESCO additions and excavation updates.

Conclusion

The Vision IAS Prelims Test 5 (Ancient & Medieval History, Art & Culture) is a crucial component for aspirants aiming to excel in the static portion of UPSC Prelims 2026.

By mastering historical continuity, civilizational depth, and India’s rich cultural fabric, aspirants can maximize their score potential in this section — often considered the deciding factor in UPSC Prelims cut-off.

Stay tuned with UPSCClub.com for authentic PDF downloads, answer keys, analysis, and strategy breakdowns for all Vision IAS Prelims 2026 tests.

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