India Since Independence: Bipin Chandra

In this post we will be looking at what are some of the chapters that are relevant for UPSC mains from the book listed above. This is unlike conventional book reviews where emphasis is on assessing the whole book and summarizing its content. The need to reduce the number of pages to read or number of books to refer is a common demand for student preparing for civil service examination. This is true specially in case of students looking forward to appear for mains in the immediate future. The dilemma to balance endless sources of study material and limited time is a difficult one to manage.

India since Independence is a well written book with impartial evaluation of significant events in the post independent India. The book is divided into 41 chapters spread out in 770 pages. So out here I will list the respective chapters from the book and interlink it with the topics mentioned in the syllabus that it can be helpful for. 

No.	Chapter  Title	UPSC Syllabus
4 5	§  The Evolution of Constitution and main features §  The Architecture of the Constitution: Basic Features and Institutions	Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
7 8 9 10	§  Consolidation of India As a Nation §  Consolidation of India As a Nation: The Linguistic Reorganization of the States §  Consolidation of India As a Nation: Integration of the Tribals §  Consolidation of India As a Nation: Regionalism and Regional Inequality	Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
12	§  Foreign Policy: The Nehru Era	India and its neighbourhood- relations.
25 26 27 28	§  Indian Economy, 1947-1965: the Nehruvian Legacy §  Indian Economy, 1965-1991 §  Economic Reforms Since 1991 §  The Indian Economy in the New Millennium	Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
29 30 31 32	§  Land Reform: Colonial impact and legacy of the national and peasant movements §  Land Reforms: Zamindari Abolition and Tenancy Reforms §  Land Reforms : Ceiling and the Bhoodan Movement §  Land Reforms: Cooperatives and an Overview	Land reforms in India.
33 34	§  Agriculture Growth and the Green Revolution §  Agrarian Struggles Since Independence	Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
35	§  Revival and Growth of Communalism	Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
37	§  Caste, Untouchability, Anti-caste Politics and Strategies	Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
38	§  Indian Women Since Independence	Role of women and women’s organization,

This is in case of a strategic approach to preparation for students with shortage of time, otherwise the ideal suggestion would be to read the book from cover to cover.