Q11. Who among the following Governors abolished the system of Dual Government in Bengal?
British Imperialism and Early Resistance: RAS Prelims MCQs
50 RAS Prelims MCQs on British imperialism and early resistance follow the Company from its charter to the Mysore and Maratha wars. The Treaty of Allahabad, Dual Government, the four Anglo-Mysore wars, Tipu Sultan’s reforms and the Maratha struggle with the British are asked as facts, treaties and sequences.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 11–20 of 50 questions
Q12. Which of the following statements correctly identifies a critical early step taken by Hyder Ali in his rise to power in Mysore?
Explanation
Hyder Ali recognized early on that military modernization was essential to withstand both Maratha and British pressure. With French assistance, he established a sophisticated arsenal at Dindigul in 1755 to manufacture modern weapons. This technological advancement, combined with his tactical brilliance, allowed him to modernize the Mysore army and consolidate his power as the state’s de facto ruler.
Q13. Match List I: (Personalities) with List II: (Role/ Description in the Mysore context) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Personalities | Role/Description in the Mysore context |
|---|---|
| A. Nanjaraj | i. Titular ruler of Mysore |
| B. Hyder Ali | ii. Dalwai who controlled Mysore before Hyder Ali |
| C. Chikka Krishnaraja Wodeyar | iii. Maratha Peshwa who repeatedly defeated Hyder Ali |
| D. Madhavrao | iv. Commander who rose to become the de facto ruler of Mysore |
Explanation
Nanjaraj served as the powerful minister or Dalwai who initially controlled the administration of Mysore. Hyder Ali rose through the ranks of the army to become the actual ruler, while Chikka Krishnaraja Wodeyar remained the titular monarch. Madhavrao, the energetic Maratha Peshwa, proved to be a formidable adversary who defeated Hyder Ali in several military campaigns during the 1760s.
Q14. Which of the following regions was NOT an early target of Hyder Ali’s territorial expansion?
Explanation
Hyder Ali focused his territorial expansion on the southern and western regions of the Indian peninsula. He successfully annexed territories such as Bidnur, Sira, and the Malabar coast to increase Mysore’s wealth and maritime access. Awadh, being a major province in Northern India, was far beyond his geographic sphere of influence and was never a target of his military campaigns.
Q15. What was a primary cause for the Marathas launching expeditions against Hyder Ali between 1764 and 1771?
Explanation
The Marathas claimed the right to collect Chauth, a form of tribute, from various southern territories. Hyder Ali’s rapid rise and his refusal to acknowledge Maratha suzerainty or pay the demanded tributes led to several invasions by Peshwa Madhavrao. These conflicts were primarily driven by the Maratha desire to maintain their regional dominance and secure their traditional revenue sources.
Q16. Consider the following statements about the alliances during the First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-1769):
I. The British initially formed a tripartite alliance with the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas against Hyder Ali.
II. Hyder Ali successfully used diplomacy to break the British alliance, winning over the Marathas and the Nizam.
III. The war ended with the total defeat of the British forces at Seringapatam.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The British initially formed a tripartite alliance with the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas against Hyder Ali.
II. Hyder Ali successfully used diplomacy to break the British alliance, winning over the Marathas and the Nizam.
III. The war ended with the total defeat of the British forces at Seringapatam.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The British initially organized a coalition with the Nizam and Marathas to contain the rising power of Mysore. However, Hyder Ali’s diplomatic skill enabled him to persuade the Marathas to withdraw and the Nizam to join him. While he advanced to the gates of Madras, the war concluded with a peace treaty rather than a total British defeat.
Q17. Which treaty successfully concluded the First Anglo-Mysore War?
Explanation
The First Anglo-Mysore War ended in 1769 with the signing of the Treaty of Madras. This agreement was unique because it was dictated by Hyder Ali after his forces reached the outskirts of the British capital in the south. It restored captured territories to both parties and established a framework for future cooperation between the Company and the Mysore state.
Q18. The immediate cause of the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-1792) was Tipu Sultan’s attack on:
Explanation
Tipu Sultan’s attack on Travancore in 1789 served as the immediate trigger for the Third Anglo- Mysore War. Since the Raja of Travancore was a close ally of the British, the East India Company viewed the attack as an act of war against them. This allowed Lord Cornwallis to form a coalition with the Marathas and the Nizam to crush Tipu.
Q19. Consider the following statements regarding the Third Anglo-Mysore War and the Treaty of Seringapatam:
I. Lord Cornwallis personally commanded the British forces.
II. The Marathas and the Nizam allied with Tipu Sultan against the British.
III. Tipu Sultan had to surrender half of his dominions to the victors.
IV. A heavy war indemnity of over 3 crore rupees was imposed on Tipu.
V. Two of Tipu Sultan’s sons were taken as hostages by the British.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Lord Cornwallis personally commanded the British forces.
II. The Marathas and the Nizam allied with Tipu Sultan against the British.
III. Tipu Sultan had to surrender half of his dominions to the victors.
IV. A heavy war indemnity of over 3 crore rupees was imposed on Tipu.
V. Two of Tipu Sultan’s sons were taken as hostages by the British.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Lord Cornwallis personally led the campaign that resulted in the siege of Seringapatam. Unlike previous wars, the Marathas and the Nizam fought alongside the British against Tipu. The resulting treaty was devastating for Mysore, as Tipu lost half his territory, paid a massive indemnity, and surrendered his sons as hostages to ensure the fulfillment of the treaty terms.
Q20. Which of the following territories was NOT ceded by Tipu Sultan to the British under the Treaty of Seringapatam?
Explanation
In the Treaty of Seringapatam (1792) Tipu Sultan gave up about half his territory, including Malabar, Dindigul and Baramahal. He kept Seringapatam, so it is not among the cessions.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 11 | (d) Warren Hastings |
| 12 | (c) He established a modern arsenal at Dindigul with the help of French experts. |
| 13 | (a) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii |
| 14 | (d) Awadh |
| 15 | (a) Hyder Ali refused to pay the traditional Chauth to the Marathas. |
| 16 | (a) I and II only |
| 17 | (a) Treaty of Madras |
| 18 | (c) The Raja of Travancore |
| 19 | (a) I, III, IV and V only |
| 20 | (c) Seringapatam city |
Key facts from British Imperialism and Early Resistance
- The Charter of 1600 gave the English East India Company a trading monopoly; the Company moved its western headquarters from Surat to Bombay in 1687.
- By the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) the Company got the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa; Dual Government separated Diwani (revenue) from Nizamat (police and justice) and was ended by Warren Hastings.
- The Treaty of Madras ended the First Anglo-Mysore War; the Third War (1790-92) began with Tipu’s attack on the Raja of Travancore.
- Lord Cornwallis said after the Third Mysore War that the British had crippled their enemy without making friends too strong.
- David Baird led the assault on Seringapatam in 1799.
- Tipu Sultan planted a Tree of Liberty, set up a Board of Admiralty and tried to monopolise trade in goods like sandalwood and pepper.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on British Imperialism and Early Resistance?
This page has 50 practice MCQs on British Imperialism and Early Resistance (Modern Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What did the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) give the Company?
The Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, meaning the right to collect revenue. This gave the Company financial control over the richest provinces of India and is seen as the real beginning of its political power.
What was Dual Government in Bengal?
A system in which the Company held the Diwani (revenue collection) while the Nawab kept the Nizamat (police and judicial functions). Power and responsibility were split, which led to misrule, and Warren Hastings abolished it.
What caused the Third Anglo-Mysore War?
Tipu Sultan’s attack on the Raja of Travancore, an ally of the British. The war ended in 1792 with the Treaty of Seringapatam, by which Tipu lost about half his territory.