NIOS 315 — History — Textbook & Study Material

Download the official textbook for NIOS 315 — History and see the full chapter list so you know exactly what to cover.

Official textbook download

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1
Understanding Indian History
Chapter 2
From Janapadas to Empire
Chapter 3
The Harappan Civilization
Chapter 4
The Vedic Age (1500bc–600bc)
Chapter 5
The Guptas and Their Successors (AD300–750)
Chapter 6
The Geographical Setting and Pre-historic Cultures of India
Chapter 7
Post Mauryan Developments
Chapter 8
India Between AD 750–1200
Chapter 9
Establishment and Expansion of the Delhi Sultanate
Chapter 10
Administrative System and Institutions
Chapter 11
Understanding Eighteenth Century India
Chapter 12
Economy
Chapter 13
Cultural Developments in Medieval India
Chapter 14
Establishment of the Mughal Rule
Chapter 15
Emergence of Regional States in India: Twelfth to Eighteenth Century
Chapter 16
Economic Effects of British Colonialism
Chapter 17
Social Changes in Modern India
Chapter 18
Establishment of British Rule in India Till 1857
Chapter 19
Popular Resistance to Company Rule
Chapter 20
Nationalism
Chapter 21
Indian National Movement
Chapter 22
World War I and the Russian Revolution
Chapter 23
Cultural Change in the Twentieth Century
Chapter 24
Social Transformation
Chapter 25
National Liberation Movements, Decolonisation and Development, 1945-present
Chapter 26
The Inter-war Period and The Second World War
Chapter 27
The Cold War Era and Its Politics
Chapter 28
The World in 1900: The Nineteenth Century Legacy
Chapter 29
Towards the Formation of the State
Chapter 30
The Medieval State
Chapter 31
Early States
Chapter 32
Colonial State
Chapter 33
Cultural Communication
Chapter 34
Cultural Production
Chapter 35
Contemporary Cultural Situation

Frequently asked questions

Is the NIOS 315 — History textbook available for free?

Yes — the book linked above is a free download. We link to the source rather than re-hosting it, so you always get the current edition. Check the edition against the syllabus for your exam year.

Is the NIOS 315 — History textbook enough to score well, or do I need extra notes?

The official textbook is the core — most exam questions are set directly from it, so read it thoroughly first. Add concise notes and solved past papers for revision and exam practice rather than switching to unofficial books.

How should I study the NIOS 315 — History textbook chapter by chapter?

Cover the high-weightage chapters first (use the exam pattern as a guide), make a one-page summary per chapter, and immediately solve a few past-paper questions on it. Active recall beats passive re-reading.

How can I prepare for NIOS 315 — History faster?

Begin with the most-frequently-asked topics and the last few years of question papers, then test yourself under timed conditions. If you want guided help, you can use the free AI study tutor for NIOS 315 — History — practise past-paper questions and get instant feedback — or a focused NIOS 315 — History study guide that condenses the syllabus into the topics that matter most — both are free to start.

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