Q41. Which of the following defines the core feature of the Subsidiary Alliance system?
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.
Showing 41–50 of 488 questions
Browse Modern Indian History chapters
Q42. Which of the following major states strictly refused to accept the Subsidiary Alliance system until their final defeat?
Explanation
While the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of Awadh accepted the Subsidiary Alliance early on, the Maratha chiefs generally resisted it to preserve their independence. It was only after severe internal conflicts and military defeats that the Peshwa and other Maratha leaders were eventually forced to sign such treaties. Their resistance made the Anglo-Maratha wars some of the most difficult British campaigns.
Q43. Consider the following provisions of the Subsidiary Alliance system:
I. The allied state had to keep a British Resident at its capital.
II. The state could not employ any European without British approval.
III. The state was completely free to negotiate treaties with other Indian rulers.
IV. The British promised to protect the state from external attacks and internal revolts.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The allied state had to keep a British Resident at its capital.
II. The state could not employ any European without British approval.
III. The state was completely free to negotiate treaties with other Indian rulers.
IV. The British promised to protect the state from external attacks and internal revolts.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Subsidiary Alliance system imposed strict controls on the external relations of an Indian state. Allied rulers were required to host a British Resident and were prohibited from employing other Europeans or negotiating with other Indian powers without British mediation. In return, the British provided a guarantee of protection against external threats, effectively turning the state into a protected dependent of the Company.
Q44. From the perspective of the native states, what was the most damaging long-term consequence of entering into a Subsidiary Alliance?
Explanation
The most significant impact of the Subsidiary Alliance was the total loss of external sovereignty. By surrendering the right to conduct independent diplomacy and maintain their own military, native states became mere shells of their former selves. They became geographically and politically isolated, unable to form alliances with other states, which made the eventual British takeover of India much easier.
Q45. Identify the statement that does not represent an advantage of the Subsidiary Alliance for the East India Company:
Explanation
The Subsidiary Alliance often had a negative impact on internal governance. Since rulers were protected from internal revolts by British troops, they often became indifferent to the welfare of their subjects or the efficiency of their administration. This frequently led to "misgovernance," which the British later used as a pretext to annex these states directly, as seen in the case of Awadh.
Q46. According to the application of the Doctrine of Lapse by Lord Dalhousie, arrange the annexation of the following states in chronological order:
Explanation
Lord Dalhousie systematically applied the Doctrine of Lapse to annex several states. Satara was the first to be taken in 1848, followed by Jaitpur and Sambalpur in 1849. Baghat was annexed in 1850, and Udaipur in 1852. The more famous annexations of Jhansi and Nagpur occurred later, in 1854, causing widespread resentment among the traditional ruling classes of Central India.
Q47. Which of the following states was annexed by Lord Dalhousie not on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse, but on the pretext of "misgovernance"?
Explanation
Unlike other states, the Nawab of Awadh had natural heirs, so the Doctrine of Lapse could not be applied. However, Lord Dalhousie was determined to annex the fertile and strategic region. He used the reports of chronic administrative failure and the suffering of the people as a moral justification to depose Wajid Ali Shah and annex the kingdom in 1856.
Q48. Consider the following statements regarding the Doctrine of Lapse:
I. It was formulated and first implemented by Lord Dalhousie.
II. It stated that if a dependent state’s ruler died without a natural biological heir, the state would lapse to the paramount power.
III. It completely invalidated the traditional Hindu practice of adopting an heir without British consent.
IV. Awadh was annexed purely under the strict rules of the Doctrine of Lapse.
V. It was a major grievance contributing to the Revolt of 1857.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It was formulated and first implemented by Lord Dalhousie.
II. It stated that if a dependent state’s ruler died without a natural biological heir, the state would lapse to the paramount power.
III. It completely invalidated the traditional Hindu practice of adopting an heir without British consent.
IV. Awadh was annexed purely under the strict rules of the Doctrine of Lapse.
V. It was a major grievance contributing to the Revolt of 1857.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Doctrine of Lapse was based on the idea that the paramount power could refuse to recognize an adopted heir in dependent states. While Dalhousie expanded its use, the principle had roots in earlier Company policies.
Q49. The legal premise of the Doctrine of Lapse rested on distinguishing between which two types of states?
Explanation
Lord Dalhousie’s legal argument for the Doctrine of Lapse rested on a hierarchy of states. He argued that "independent" states had the right to adopt heirs, but "dependent" states--those created by the British or paying tribute--required the consent of the paramount power. By classifying most Indian states as dependent, he created a legal pathway for their eventual annexation to British India.
Q50. Identify the incorrect statement regarding Dalhousie’s annexations and the reason given:
Explanation
Punjab was not annexed through the Doctrine of Lapse. Instead, it was taken over following a direct military conflict known as the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849. The other states mentioned, like Satara and Jhansi, were indeed annexed because their rulers died without natural heirs, whereas Awadh was annexed based on the specific charge of persistent misadministration by the Nawab.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 41 | (a) The native ruler disbands his army to maintain a British force at his own expense. |
| 42 | (c) The Maratha Confederacy |
| 43 | (b) I, II and IV only |
| 44 | (c) They lost political independence and the sovereign right to conduct foreign relations. |
| 45 | (d) It significantly improved the quality of governance and welfare of the people in the native states. |
| 46 | (a) Satara, Jaitpur, Jhansi, Nagpur |
| 47 | (c) Awadh |
| 48 | (b) II, III and V only |
| 49 | (d) Sovereign independent states versus dependent states created by or paying tribute. |
| 50 | (b) Punjab - Annexed through the Doctrine of Lapse |
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.