333 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on medieval Indian history are on this page, in 6 chapters. They cover the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagar Empire and regional kingdoms, the Mughal Empire, the Marathas, medieval art, architecture, literature and music, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements. Each question has an answer and an explanation, and the formats match the exam: facts, statements, match-the-list and assertion-reason.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 161–170 of 333 questions
Browse Medieval Indian History chapters
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · The Marathas
Q161. Consider the following regions targeted during the Maratha expansion under the Peshwas: I. Malwa II. Gujarat III. Bundelkhand IV. Bengal V. Punjab Which of these regions were directly incorporated or repeatedly subjected to Maratha military campaigns by the year 1758?
Explanation
By 1758 the Marathas had campaigned in Malwa, Gujarat and Bundelkhand and also raided Bengal and reached Punjab. All five regions are therefore correct.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · The Marathas
Q162. Which of the following statements about the Maratha Confederacy is incorrect?
Explanation
The Maratha Confederacy was a loose alliance in which chiefs recognised the Chhatrapati as nominal head, the Peshwa was the executive head and chiefs had internal autonomy. It had no highly centralised treasury and unified standing army, so C is incorrect.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · The Marathas
Q163. In the Maratha administrative vocabulary, the term ‘Mokasa’ referred to:
Explanation
Mokasa meant the portions of Chauth given to chiefs in return for military service.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · The Marathas
Q164. Match List-I (Maratha Treaties/Agreements) with List-II (Year) and select the correct answer:
Maratha Treaties/Agreements
Year
A. Treaty of Purandar (with Mughals)
i. 1731
B. Treaty of Warna
ii. 1802
C. Treaty of Salbai
iii. 1665
D. Treaty of Bassein
iv. 1782
Explanation
The Treaty of Purandar with the Mughals was in 1665, the Treaty of Warna in 1731, the Treaty of Salbai in 1782 and the Treaty of Bassein in 1802. This gives A-iii, B-i, C-iv, D-ii.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · The Marathas
Q165. What was the primary cause of the Third Battle of Panipat (1761)?
Explanation
The Marathas expanded into Punjab, which provoked the Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali and led to the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · The Marathas
Q166. Given below are two statements. Read the statements and choose the correct option. Statement I: During the Third Battle of Panipat, the Marathas were able to secure strong military alliances with the Rajputs, Jats, and Sikhs. Statement II: The Maratha policy of indiscriminate extraction of tribute had alienated major North Indian powers prior to the battle.
Explanation
The Marathas did not win firm allies among the Rajputs, Jats and Sikhs, so Statement I is wrong. Their heavy tribute demands had alienated the North Indian powers, so Statement II is correct.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · The Marathas
Q167. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option. Assertion (A): The Third Battle of Panipat did not decide who was to rule India, but rather who was not. Reason (R): The mutual exhaustion of the Marathas and the Afghans paved the way for the rise of British power in India.
Explanation
Panipat did not decide who would rule India but who would not, since the Marathas and the Afghans both lost strength. This exhaustion left room for British power to rise, so R explains A.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · The Marathas
Q168. Who was the actual commander of the Maratha army during the disastrous Third Battle of Panipat in 1761?
Explanation
Sadashivrao Bhau commanded the Maratha army at the Third Battle of Panipat, with Vishwasrao as the nominal head. Both were killed.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · The Marathas
Q169. During the Third Battle of Panipat, an important artillery unit of the Maratha army was commanded by a Muslim general who fought valiantly until his death. Who was he?
Explanation
Ibrahim Khan Gardi, a Muslim general, commanded an important artillery unit of the Marathas at Panipat and fought until he died.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · The Marathas
Q170. All of the following were consequences of the Maratha defeat at the Third Battle of Panipat, except:
Explanation
Panipat damaged Maratha prestige in the north, killed leaders such as Vishwasrao and Sadashivrao Bhau and gave the Company time to consolidate in Bengal. The Confederacy did not disintegrate immediately, so D is the exception.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
161
(d) I, II, III, IV and V
162
(c) The Confederacy maintained a highly centralized treasury and a unified standing army.
163
(d) Portions of Chauth given to chiefs for providing military service
164
(a) A-iii, B-i, C-iv, D-ii
165
(b) Expansion into Punjab, provoking Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali
166
(b) Statement II is correct but Statement I is incorrect.
167
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
168
(c) Sadashivrao Bhau
169
(a) Ibrahim Khan Gardi
170
(d) Immediate disintegration of the Confederacy into warring states
Key facts from Medieval Indian History
The RPSC syllabus names the Sultanate period, the political and cultural achievements of Vijayanagar, Mughal administration and policies, the Marathas, medieval art and literature, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements.
Delhi Sultanate questions revolve around reforms: Alauddin Khalji’s market control and cash salaries, Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s public works and the Iqta system.
Mughal and Maratha questions pair a ruler with a battle, treaty or institution, such as Panipat 1526, Khanwa 1527, Purandar 1665 and the Ashtapradhan.
Art questions link monuments, painters and poets to their patron, for example the Buland Darwaza with Akbar and the Bani Thani with Savant Singh of Kishangarh.
Bhakti questions test founders, philosophies and texts, such as Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita and Kabir’s Bijak.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Medieval Indian History?
This page has 333 practice MCQs on Medieval Indian History. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters are in the medieval Indian history set?
Six chapters: the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagar Empire and regional kingdoms, the Mughal Empire (administration and policies), the Marathas, medieval art, architecture, literature and music, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements.
Is medieval history in the RAS Prelims syllabus?
Yes. RPSC includes the Sultanate period, Vijayanagar, Mughal administration and policies, the Marathas, medieval art and literature, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements in the ancient and medieval part of Indian History.
How can I revise medieval history quickly?
Make a timeline of rulers, battles and treaties for each chapter, and a table of reforms, buildings and texts against their rulers. Then attempt the chapter questions, read each explanation, and repeat the ones you missed.
