MHI-105 IGNOU Guess Paper 2026-27

MHI-105 Guess Paper: Term-End Exam (TEE) Preparation Guide

This structured guess paper aligns with the official IGNOU curriculum for MHI-105 and leverages solved previous year question patterns (June/Dec sessions) to prioritize high-scoring topics. The exam carries 100 marks, divided into short-answer (20 marks), medium-answer (40 marks), and long-answer (40 marks) sections, with a 3-hour time limit.

Chapter-wise Weightage & Focus Areas

• Unit 1: Prehistoric and Protohistoric Economies
  • Focus on Paleolithic/Neolithic subsistence strategies (hunting-gathering vs. agriculture).
  • Key questions: Compare Mesolithic tools with early agricultural tools; analyze the role of rivers (Indus, Ganga) in early settlements.
  • Previous year trends: 15-20% of questions from this unit (short/medium answers).
• Unit 2: Vedic and Early State Economies
  • Emphasis on Vedic trade (gold, horses), barter systems, and early state taxation (e.g., Bali in Rigveda).
  • Key questions: Describe the economic role of Srenis (mercantile guilds); explain the impact of Maurya administrative reforms (Chanakya’s Arthashastra).
  • Previous year trends: 25-30% of questions (medium/long answers).
• Unit 3: Imperial Economies (Gupta to Early Medieval)
  • Analyze Gupta trade routes (Silk Road, maritime links), coinage systems, and agrarian reforms (Varahamihira).
  • Key questions: Compare Maurya and Gupta economic policies; discuss the decline of urban centers post-Guptas.
  • Previous year trends: 20-25% of questions (long answers).
• Unit 4: Regional Economies (Chola, Vijayanagara, Bahmani)
  • Focus on Chola temple economy, Vijayanagara’s agrarian surplus, and Bahmani Sultanate’s revenue systems.
  • Key questions: Evaluate the Chola brahadeya land system; analyze Vijayanagara’s trade with Southeast Asia.
  • Previous year trends: 15-20% of questions (medium answers).
• Unit 5: Economic Thought and Early Colonial Impact
  • Cover pre-colonial economic theories (Kautilya, Madhava) and early Portuguese/Dutch trade disruptions.
  • Key questions: Critique Kautilya’s Arthashastra vs. Madhava’s Sangita Shastra; discuss Portuguese trade monopolies in Goa.
  • Previous year trends: 10-15% of questions (short/medium answers).

3-Hour Exam Time Management Tips

• Allocate 30 minutes to read the question paper and plan answers (prioritize long-answer questions first).
• For short answers (20 marks): Focus on Unit 1, Unit 5 (high recall value); use bullet points for clarity.
• For medium answers (40 marks): Allocate 15-20 minutes per question; integrate Unit 2/3 case studies (e.g., Maurya taxation, Gupta trade).
• Long answers (40 marks): Spend 25-30 minutes on Unit 4