Bihar STET History Syllabus 2026 (Paper 2): Topic-wise Breakdown
A topic-wise breakdown of the Bihar STET History Paper 2 syllabus — ancient, medieval and modern India, world history, historiography and pedagogy — plus the areas asked most often.
The Bihar STET history syllabus for Paper 2 covers Ancient, Medieval and Modern Indian history, World history, historiography and the Teaching Aptitude/Art of Teaching section for the Higher Secondary (Classes 11-12) level. Per the official notification, Paper 2 has 150 objective questions worth 150 marks in 2 hours 30 minutes, with one mark per correct answer and no negative marking.
This guide breaks every unit down topic-wise, including the areas asked most often, and links to full-length practice tests. If you want to turn the syllabus into a study plan, the Bihar STET History (Paper 2) test series has 216 tests mapped to these exact units; start with the free mock test before you decide to subscribe.
Bihar STET History Syllabus 2026: Paper 2 Exam Pattern
Before the topic list, it helps to know how the paper is structured. The Bihar STET history syllabus sits inside a single 150-mark objective paper that also tests teaching aptitude, so subject knowledge alone is not enough — you need to prepare both halves. The table below summarises the pattern as per the official STET 2026 notification.
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Paper | Paper 2 — Higher Secondary level (Classes 11-12) |
| Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Total questions/marks | 150 questions / 150 marks |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Sections | History (Subject Content) + Teaching Aptitude/Art of Teaching |
| Marking scheme | +1 for each correct answer, no negative marking |
The official notification does not publish a fixed question-wise split between the History content section and the pedagogy section, so treat both as equally important while revising. For the full subject list, eligibility and a Paper 1 vs Paper 2 comparison, see Bihar STET 2026: Paper 1 & Paper 2 subjects, exam pattern and eligibility guide. You can also check dates, eligibility and the test series on the Bihar STET History Paper 2 exam page.
Ancient Indian History Topics for Bihar STET Paper 2
The ancient India section of the Bihar STET history syllabus usually mirrors what you studied at graduation level. Focus on:
- Pre-history and proto-history: Palaeolithic to Chalcolithic cultures
- Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilisation — town planning, economy, religion, decline
- Vedic Age — Rig Vedic and Later Vedic society, polity and religion
- Rise of Mahajanapadas, origin of Buddhism and Jainism
- Mauryan Empire — Ashoka's inscriptions, administration, Arthashastra
- Post-Mauryan period — Kushanas, Satavahanas, the Sangam Age
- Gupta Age — polity, economy, science, art and literature
- Post-Gupta regional kingdoms — Vardhanas, Chalukyas, Pallavas
Medieval Indian History Syllabus for STET Paper 2
This unit runs from early regional kingdoms to the decline of the Mughals and is a high-scoring area if you keep dynasties and dates organised chronologically:
- Early medieval powers — Rajputs, Palas, Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas
- Delhi Sultanate — Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid and Lodi dynasties
- Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms
- Mughal Empire — administration, Mansabdari and land revenue systems
- Bhakti and Sufi movements
- Rise of Maratha power and decline of the Mughal Empire
- Medieval economy, trade, society and art-architecture
Modern Indian History and Freedom Movement Topics
This is usually the most scoring section because it has the clearest chronology, from the advent of Europeans to Independence:
- Advent of Europeans and establishment of British rule
- Socio-religious reform movements — Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Aligarh Movement
- Revolt of 1857 — causes, course and consequences
- Formation of the Indian National Congress; Moderate and Extremist phases
- Gandhian era — Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India movements
- Revolutionary, peasant and labour movements
- Partition, Independence and integration of princely states
World History Syllabus in Bihar STET Paper 2
World history topics overlap with what you prepared for other competitive exams, so recall-based revision works well here:
- Renaissance and the Age of Exploration
- American War of Independence and the French Revolution
- Industrial Revolution and its social impact
- Rise of nationalism; unification of Germany and Italy
- Russian Revolution of 1917
- World War I and World War II — causes and consequences
- Decolonisation, the Cold War and the United Nations
Historiography Topics for Bihar STET History
Historiography is often under-revised but asked consistently. Cover:
- Sources of Indian history — archaeological, epigraphic, numismatic and literary
- Meaning, scope and methods of historiography
- Colonial, nationalist, Marxist and subaltern schools of historical writing
- Contributions of major historians of Indian history
Teaching Aptitude and Pedagogy Section in Paper 2
The second half of the Bihar STET history syllabus tests how you would teach History at the Higher Secondary level, not just what you know. Typical areas include aims and objectives of teaching History, methods of teaching (lecture, source-based, project method), teaching aids and resources, curriculum and textbook development, and evaluation techniques including Bloom's taxonomy and continuous assessment. Practise this section separately with 30 practice questions on Teaching Aptitude & Pedagogy to check your readiness.
Which Bihar STET History Topics Are Most Asked?
Based on past STET and similar TET-level papers, examiners repeatedly return to a handful of high-yield areas. Prioritise these if you're short on time, but don't skip the rest of the syllabus:
- Harappan civilisation and Vedic society — sources and social structure
- Mauryan and Gupta administration, art and architecture
- Bhakti-Sufi movements and Mughal administrative systems
- Causes and consequences of the Revolt of 1857
- Phases and leaders of the Indian National Movement
- World War I and II — causes and outcomes
- Schools of historiography — nationalist vs Marxist vs subaltern
- Teaching methods and Bloom's taxonomy in the pedagogy section
Treat this as a revision priority list, not a replacement for covering the full Bihar STET history syllabus — STET papers do draw questions from every period.
How to Prepare for Bihar STET History Paper 2
- Build a timeline-based revision chart for each period so dates and dynasties don't get mixed up.
- Read NCERT Class 11-12 History textbooks first, then move to graduation-level reference books for depth.
- Revise the pedagogy section with the same seriousness as subject content — it forms a major share of the paper.
- Attempt full-length, timed mock tests to build speed for the 2 hour 30 minute CBT format.
- Check your admit card and exam-day checklist close to the date — see the Bihar STET exam day guide for History Paper 2 for admit card and last-minute revision tips.
For structured practice across every unit covered above, the Bihar STET History (Paper 2) test series has 216 tests and 5,879 questions with solutions in Hindi and English, built around this exact syllabus.
Ready to test yourself against the full Bihar STET history syllabus? Start with the free mock test, then unlock the complete Bihar STET History (Paper 2) test series for ₹99 to practise all 216 tests before exam day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the syllabus of Bihar STET Paper 2 History?
The Bihar STET Paper 2 History syllabus covers Ancient, Medieval and Modern Indian history, World history, historiography, and a Teaching Aptitude/Art of Teaching section, combined into one 150-mark objective paper as per the official notification.
How many questions are asked from History in Bihar STET Paper 2?
Paper 2 has 150 questions in total, covering both History subject content and the Teaching Aptitude/Art of Teaching section. The official notification does not publish a separate question count for each part, so prepare both sections thoroughly.
Is the Bihar STET History Paper 2 syllabus the same as UGC NET History?
No. Both cover similar historical periods broadly, but Bihar STET Paper 2 is pitched at the Higher Secondary (Classes 11-12) teaching level and also tests pedagogy, while UGC NET focuses on research-level History without a teaching-methods section.
Which books are best for Bihar STET History Paper 2 preparation?
Start with NCERT Class 11 and 12 History textbooks for Ancient, Medieval, Modern Indian and World history, then revise with your graduation-level reference books for depth. For the pedagogy section, a standard B.Ed. teaching-of-history methodology book works well.
When is the Bihar STET 2026 History Paper 2 exam?
Per the official portal, the Bihar STET 2026 CBT window runs from 25 October to 20 November 2026 across multiple shifts; check your admit card on the official registration portal for your specific date, since some papers were later rescheduled.