Allahabad University (AU) M.A. Ancient History 2026-27

All Allahabad University courses / PG courses

M.A. Ancient History at Allahabad University has 435 seats for 2026-27 across the main campus and 5 constituent colleges. Admission is through PGAT-I of PGAT 2026, test code 01.

Test

PGAT-I of PGAT 2026

Course code

01

Seats

435

Test mode

Online and offline

Registration fee

Rs. 1,000; Rs. 500 for SC, ST and PwD

Non-subject applicants

Allowed, up to 10% of seats

M.A. Ancient History seats 2026-27, college-wise

15% of the seats are reserved for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC and 10% for EWS candidates; 5% are for persons with disabilities. Reservation rules.

M.A. Ancient History eligibility

A three-year bachelor's degree (B.A., B.Sc. or B.Com., pass or honours) from the University of Allahabad or a university recognised by the UGC. Final-year students can apply.

The subject must have been one of the candidate's subjects in the final year of B.A., or the main subject of B.A. (Honours).

Graduates who did not study this subject (B.A., B.Sc. or B.Com.) can be taken as non-subject applicants on up to 10% of the approved seats. They do not sit this paper: their merit is the average of their scores in the two PGAT papers of their own final-year subjects, and it cannot be lower than that of the last subject applicant admitted in the same category.

PGAT 2026 syllabus for M.A. Ancient History

• Early Cultures and Civilizations of India: Definition of Archaeology and relation with other disciplines;
• Palaeolithic cultures: Salient features, Geographical distribution, Belan Valley, Son Valley; Mesolithic Cultures: Salient features, Geographical distribution - Vindhyas, Ganga Plains; Neolithic Cultures: Salient features, Geographical distribution - South India, Vindhyas and Ganga Plains; Harappan Civilization: Origin and extent, salient features, chronology and decline;
• Chalcolithic Cultures:
• a. Central India and Deccan: Kayatha Culture, Ahar Culture, Jorwe Culture
• b. Copper-Hoards and Ochre Colour Pottery (OCP) Iron Age: Antiquity of Iron; PGW and NBPW Cultures; Sites: Atranjikhera, Hastinapur, Kausambi, Taxilla, Arikamedu;
• Paper-II: History of India upto the Kushanas (C. 600 B.C.-C.319 A.D.)
• Sources: Literary Indian and Foreign sources Epigraphic Numismatic Archaeological Sources Early State Formation
• The Mahajanapadas: Rise of Magadha from Bimbisara to Mahapadma Nanda, Persian Invasion, Alexander’s Invasion, bases and features of monarchical states; Nature of Republics
• Mauiyan Empire and its Decline, Magadhan Expansion in the time of Chandragupta Maurya - administration, society and economy in the Mauryan Period; Asoka and his Dhamma; Decline of the Mauryan Empire.
• Political Fragmentation C. 200 BC - AD 300 Early History of Sungas and Satavahanas Achievements of Pushyamitra Sunga and Gautamiputra Satkami Saka-Satavahana Struggle, Decline of Satavahana dynasty
• Foreign Invasions and Dynasties: Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Pahlavas, and Kusanas: Kaniska -I : date and achievements Outline of Ancient World Civilizations: Earliest Civilizations-I Egyptian Civilization: Political development under the Pharaohs; Egyptian Religion, Art and Intellectual Achievements Earliest Civilizations-II: Mesopotamian Civilizations: Salient features Sumerian Civilization Babylonian Civilization
• Assyrian Civilization Chaldean Civilization
• Greek Civilization Homeric Age
• Periclean Age: Contribution of Pericles
• Salient features of Hellenic and Hellenistic Civilizations Roman Civilization
• Julius Caesar and Augustus - Their contributions Roman Culture: Law, Art, Literature,
• Religion and Science; Roman Legacy
• Development of Christianity under Roman Empire.
• Ancient Palestine, Iran and China:
• Achaemenid Empire; Zarathustra and his reforms
• Parthian Civilization, Sassanian Civilization Chou and Chin Periods: Cultural Achievements Confucius & Lao-Tzu History of Ancient India (C 319 AD to 1200 AD) Gupta Dynasty Gupta Rulers their achievements: Chandragupta-I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta-II, Kumargupta I, Skandagupta and the Huna invasion, Decline of the Guptas, Vakataka-Gupta Relation, Huna invasion, Maukharis, Later Guptas Harsha Career and achievements, relation with contemporary rulers, (Harsha’s relationship with Pulakesin -II), visit of Hiuen Tsang Gurjara-Pratihar, Pala, Rastrakuta; Political History of Gurjara Pratihar, Pala and Rastrakuta, Tripartite struggle, Cultural Achievements Pallava Dynasty; Political and Cultural Achievements of Pallavas Chalukya Dynasty; Political and Cultural Achievements of Chalukyas of Vatapi, Vengi and' Kalyani Chola Dynasty Political History, Administration, relations wilth contemporary powers, Cultural achievements.
• Indian Culture: Foundation of Indian Culture; Sources of Study; Definition and Characteristics; Harappan Civilization; Vedic Culture;
• Main Features of Ancient Indian Society; Varnasrama System; Ancient Indilan Education System, Taxila, Nalanda and Vikramashila; Position of Women; Guilds and their roles, Ancient Indian Religions; Saivism; Vaisnavism; Jainism; Buddhism;
• Socio-Spiritual Streams; Sankaracharya; Bhakti Movement; Interaction between Islam and Indian Society with special reference to impact on Indian society Social and Religious Movements in Nineteenth Century India.
• Concepts and Currents in History: Nature and characteristics of history, objectivity and subjectivity in history, causation in history, history is science or art.
• Introduction to approaches of history - Oriental, (Colonial), Nationalist, Marxist Philosophy of history with special reference to Hegel, Ranke, Karl Marx, Spengler, Toyanbee Nationalism: Germany, Italy, India, Imperialism and colonialism: World War-II and Revolutions - Russian and Chinese.
• Ancient Indian Art and Architecture: Beginnings of Indian Art; Characteristic Features of Ancient Indian Art; Pre-historic Art; Harappan Art & Architectur Mauryan, Sunga and Kusana Art; Asokan Pillars, Capital Figures, Folk Art; Stupa: Bharhut, Sanchi, Amrawati; Rock-cut Cave Archiltecture (Chaitya/Vihara)-Karle, Bhaja; Kusana Art: Evolution of Buddha Images Mathura Style Gandhara Style; Gupta Art: Essential features; Beginning of temple Architecture-Bhitargaon temple; Deogarh temple; Ancient Indian Paintings with special reference to Ajanta Temple architectural styles: Nagara, Dravid, Besara Art & Architecture under; Chalukyas: Aihole, Pattadakal; Chandela: Khajuraho temples; Orissan Temples: Lingaraja and Konark Art & Architecture under; Rashtrakutas: Kailash Temple of Elora; Pallavas: Rathas of Mahabalipuram; Cholas: Brihadishwara Temple of Tanjavur.

Test pattern

150 multiple choice questions for 300 marks in two hours, with no negative marking. The first 50 questions (2 marks each) are on general awareness, English, Hindi, reasoning and mental ability. The other 100 are on the two final-year subjects of graduation, 50 on each at 4 marks; the score in this subject is the common part plus its own 50 questions.

5% of the marks is cut for each gap year after graduation, up to 15%.

More PG courses at Allahabad University

M.A. EconomicsM.A. EducationM.A. English LiteratureM.A. HindiM.A. Medieval and Modern HistoryM.A. / M.P.A. Music (Vocal)M.A. / M.P.A. Music (Sitar)M.A. / M.P.A. Music (Tabla)M.A. PaintingM.A. PhilosophyM.A. Political ScienceM.A. SanskritM.A. SociologyM.A. Urdu

Questions about M.A. Ancient History