Q31. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the political settlement of Mysore after the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War:
Modern Indian History: RAS Prelims MCQs
488 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on modern Indian history are on this page, in 12 chapters. They cover British expansion and early resistance, the Anglo-Sikh wars, the Revolt of 1857, colonial policies, reform movements, the rise of nationalism, the Gandhian era, revolutionary movements and Partition, and nation-building up to 2000. Each question has an answer and an explanation, in the formats the exam uses.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
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Q32. Following the fall of Tipu Sultan, who among the following was appointed as the British Resident at the court of the new Wodeyar ruler of Mysore?
Explanation
Following the British victory in 1799, Colonel Barry Close was appointed as the first Resident at the court of the young Wodeyar ruler, Krishnaraja III. The Resident’s role was to monitor the state’s administration and ensure that the terms of the Subsidiary Alliance were strictly followed, effectively giving the British control over the kingdom’s internal and external policies.
Q33. Consider the following statements regarding the treaties associated with the First Anglo-Maratha War:
I. The Treaty of Surat was signed by Raghunathrao and the English at Bombay.
II. The Treaty of Purandhar was signed by the Calcutta Council, invalidating the Treaty of Surat.
III. The Convention of Wadgaon was a humiliating defeat for the British.
IV. The Treaty of Salbai permanently restored Raghunathrao as the Peshwa.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The Treaty of Surat was signed by Raghunathrao and the English at Bombay.
II. The Treaty of Purandhar was signed by the Calcutta Council, invalidating the Treaty of Surat.
III. The Convention of Wadgaon was a humiliating defeat for the British.
IV. The Treaty of Salbai permanently restored Raghunathrao as the Peshwa.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Treaty of Surat (1775) began the conflict, while the Treaty of Purandhar (1776) was an attempt by the Calcutta Council to stop the war. The Convention of Wadgaon (1779) marked a major British defeat. However, the Treaty of Salbai (1782) did not restore Raghunathrao as Peshwa; instead, it recognized the young Madhavrao II as the legitimate ruler.
Q34. Read the following statements carefully:
Statement I: The primary trigger for the First Anglo-Maratha War was the internal succession dispute in Pune following the assassination of Peshwa Narayanrao.
Statement II: Raghunathrao sought the help of the British in Bombay to secure the position of Peshwa.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: The primary trigger for the First Anglo-Maratha War was the internal succession dispute in Pune following the assassination of Peshwa Narayanrao.
Statement II: Raghunathrao sought the help of the British in Bombay to secure the position of Peshwa.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
The assassination of Peshwa Narayanrao created a power vacuum in the Maratha administration. Raghunathrao, who was suspected of the murder, claimed the title but faced opposition from the Council of Ministers led by Nana Phadnavis. His subsequent appeal to the British in Bombay for military support directly led to the outbreak of the First Anglo-Maratha War in 1775.
Q35. The greatest significance of the Treaty of Salbai (1782) for the British East India Company was:
Explanation
The Treaty of Salbai in 1782 was a diplomatic success for Warren Hastings. By ending the conflict with the Marathas, the British were able to redirect their military and financial resources toward the ongoing threat from Hyder Ali in Mysore. This period of peace allowed the East India Company to consolidate its holdings in Bengal and prepare for future territorial expansions.
Q36. Arrange the following treaties related to the First Anglo-Maratha War in chronological order:
I. Convention of Wadgaon
II. Treaty of Purandhar
III. Treaty of Salbai
IV. Treaty of Surat
Select the correct order from the options given below:
I. Convention of Wadgaon
II. Treaty of Purandhar
III. Treaty of Salbai
IV. Treaty of Surat
Select the correct order from the options given below:
Explanation
The First Anglo-Maratha War saw a sequence of diplomatic agreements starting with the Treaty of Surat in 1775. This was followed by the Treaty of Purandhar in 1776. As the conflict continued, the British suffered a defeat leading to the Convention of Wadgaon in 1779. Finally, the war was formally concluded by the Treaty of Salbai in 1782.
Q37. Which of the following was NOT a provision of the Treaty of Salbai (1782)?
Explanation
Under the Treaty of Salbai, the British agreed to stop supporting Raghunathrao’s claim to the Peshwaship. He was not given a kingdom but was instead granted a generous pension for his maintenance. The treaty focused on recognizing Madhavrao II as the legitimate Peshwa and ensuring the Marathas did not maintain any formal political or military relationship with the French.
Q38. Consider the following statements regarding the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805):
I. It was fought because the Maratha chiefs refused to accept the Treaty of Bassein.
II. The British defeated the combined forces of Sindhia and Bhosle at Assaye.
III. The Treaty of Deogaon was signed by the Bhosle chief.
IV. The Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon was signed by the Sindhia chief.
V. The Holkars surrendered without fighting a single battle against the British.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It was fought because the Maratha chiefs refused to accept the Treaty of Bassein.
II. The British defeated the combined forces of Sindhia and Bhosle at Assaye.
III. The Treaty of Deogaon was signed by the Bhosle chief.
IV. The Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon was signed by the Sindhia chief.
V. The Holkars surrendered without fighting a single battle against the British.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Second Anglo-Maratha War involved major campaigns against the Sindhias and Bhosles, who rejected the Treaty of Bassein. The British won significant victories at Assaye and Argaon. While the Sindhias and Bhosles signed treaties after their defeats, the Holkars did not surrender initially; they continued to fight a prolonged and effective guerrilla campaign against the British forces.
Q39. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the Maratha resistance against British imperialism:
Explanation
The Marathas were a decentralised confederacy, Mahadji Sindhia modernised his army with European help and Nana Phadnavis held the Marathas together until 1800. In the Third Anglo-Maratha War the chiefs did not unite under the Peshwa, so B is incorrect.
Q40. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Choose the correct option from the choices given below:
Assertion (A): Lord Wellesley’s Subsidiary Alliance system was primarily designed to improve the internal civil administration of native Indian states.
Reason (R): The system aimed to keep French influence out of India and maintain British military supremacy at the expense of native rulers.
Assertion (A): Lord Wellesley’s Subsidiary Alliance system was primarily designed to improve the internal civil administration of native Indian states.
Reason (R): The system aimed to keep French influence out of India and maintain British military supremacy at the expense of native rulers.
Explanation
The Subsidiary Alliance was not meant to improve the internal administration of Indian states, so the assertion is false. It was meant to keep the French out and to secure British military supremacy, so the reason is true.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 31 | (b) The Marathas were granted the northern half of Tipu’s empire for their military support. |
| 32 | (b) Barry Close |
| 33 | (a) I, II and III only |
| 34 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and II explains I. |
| 35 | (d) Securing twenty years of peace with the Marathas, allowing focus on the Mysore wars. |
| 36 | (a) IV, II, I, III |
| 37 | (b) Raghunathrao was granted an independent kingdom in Gujarat. |
| 38 | (a) I, II, III and IV only |
| 39 | (b) In the Third Anglo-Maratha War, all chiefs successfully united under the Peshwa. |
| 40 | (d) A is false but R is true. |
Key facts from Modern Indian History
- The RPSC syllabus covers the period from the early 19th century to 2000: British imperialism, the Revolt of 1857, colonial policies, reform movements, nationalism, the freedom struggle, Partition and nation-building.
- Questions on colonial rule often turn on a single Act or reform and its year, such as the Government of India Act 1858 or the Indian Councils Act 1861.
- Freedom-struggle questions pair a movement with its leader, place and date, for example Champaran in 1917 and the Dandi March in 1930.
- Statement and chronology questions are common in the freedom struggle chapters, so learn events in order.
- The post-independence chapters cover state reorganisation, planning, bank nationalisation and the growth of science and technology.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Modern Indian History?
This page has 488 practice MCQs on Modern Indian History. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters does the modern Indian history set cover?
Twelve chapters: British imperialism and early resistance, Anglo-Sikh wars and the Doctrine of Lapse, the Revolt of 1857, political and administrative policies, economic policies, socio-religious reform movements, early nationalism, the Gandhian era, revolutionary and regional movements and Partition, state reorganisation, planning and reforms, and science and technology.
Which period does RAS Prelims modern history cover?
RPSC lists the modern period from the early 19th century to 2000, including British imperialism and resistance, the Revolt of 1857, British policies, nationalism, the freedom struggle, Partition and post-independence nation-building.
How should I prepare modern history for RAS Prelims?
Build a timeline of Acts, movements and leaders first. Then attempt each chapter, read the explanation for every miss and note the leader, place and year. Chronology questions are common, so revise the order of events a few times.