Administrative and Revenue System: RAS Prelims MCQs
35 RAS Prelims MCQs on the administrative and revenue system of medieval Rajasthan focus on terms. Land categories, measurement units, assessment methods, cesses and the officials of a Rajput state are asked as definitions, match tables and statement sets, so the quickest way to score is to learn each word with its meaning.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 21–30 of 35 questions
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Administrative and Revenue System
Q21. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Batai’ (crop-sharing) system in medieval Rajasthan: I. ‘Khet Batai’ involved dividing the field itself between the state and the cultivator before harvesting. II. ‘Lank Batai’ involved dividing the harvested crop bundles before threshing. III. ‘Ras Batai’ involved dividing the grain heap after threshing. IV. The Batai system was extremely unpopular among peasants because it shifted the entire risk of crop failure onto them. Which of the above combination of statements is/are correct?
Explanation
The Batai system featured several methods of crop-sharing: Khet Batai involved dividing the field, Lank Batai divided harvested bundles, and Ras Batai divided the grain after threshing. Contrary to the claim of extreme unpopularity, crop-sharing actually protected peasants from complete loss during failures, as the state’s share decreased proportionally with the yield, unlike fixed cash demands.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Administrative and Revenue System
Q22. Which of the following pairs related to revenue assessment terms is incorrectly matched?
Explanation
Revenue assessment involved various terms like Kunta for standing crop estimation, Dori for land measurement, and Zabti for cash-based demands. Ghugri, however, was not an insurance system; it typically referred to a specific quantity of grain collected for local needs or charity. Understanding these terms is essential for grasping the complexities of the medieval agrarian and tax administration.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Administrative and Revenue System
Q23. The system of land measurement in medieval Rajasthan that utilized a measuring rope or chain was locally known as:
Explanation
In the medieval revenue administration of Rajasthan, Dori was the term used for the method of measuring land with a rope or chain. This practice was necessary for applying the Zabti system, where revenue was calculated based on the area of land under cultivation. Standardized measurement helped in creating more accurate revenue records and ensuring a consistent demand from the peasants.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Administrative and Revenue System
Q24. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): The state often preferred the ‘Kunta’ (estimation of standing crop) system over actual weighing, while peasants frequently opposed it. Reason (R): Kunta relied on visual estimation by state officials, which often led to over-assessment and corruption, working to the disadvantage of the cultivator. In the context of the above statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
The Kunta system involved a visual estimation of the standing crop’s yield, which state officials often preferred because it was quick.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Administrative and Revenue System
Q25. What was a major consequence of the increasing use of the ‘Ijara’ (revenue farming) system in the later medieval period in Rajasthan?
Explanation
The expansion of the Ijara, or revenue farming system, had a detrimental impact on rural society. Because Ijaradars were motivated by personal profit, they often extracted as much as possible from the peasantry beyond the official demands. This practice led to severe exploitation and financial distress, as the middlemen lacked long-term interest in the welfare of the land or cultivators.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Administrative and Revenue System
Q26. Which of the following were the standard units of land measurement in medieval Rajasthan?
Explanation
Bigha and Biswa were the standard units used for land measurement throughout medieval Rajasthan. These units allowed for a structured assessment of agricultural land and the calculation of revenue demands. While other terms like Maund and Seer were used for weight, and Kos for distance, Bigha and Biswa remained the essential units for defining farm sizes and land ownership records.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Administrative and Revenue System
Q27. Match List-I (Land Classification Term) with List-II (Description) and select the correct answer. List I: (Land Classification) A. Chahi B. Barani C. Pival D. Magra List II: (Description) i. Land irrigated by wells ii. Land irrigated by canals or tanks iii. Unirrigated, rain-fed land iv. Hilly or stony land, often uncultivable
Explanation
Land was classified based on its source of water and productivity. Chahi referred to well-irrigated land, while Barani was rain-fed and unirrigated. Pival identified land watered by canals or tanks, and Magra described stony or hilly terrain that was often difficult to cultivate. These classifications were crucial for determining the appropriate revenue rates for different types of agricultural land.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Administrative and Revenue System
Q28. Which of the following statements regarding the classification of land for revenue purposes is correct?
Explanation
The medieval revenue system was flexible, recognizing that not all land could yield a profit. Wastelands, categorized as Ushar or Banjar, were generally exempt from revenue demands because they were uncultivable. In contrast, productive lands like Chahi and Nahari faced higher rates, while the state avoided charging a flat uniform rate across diverse ecological zones like hills or deserts.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Administrative and Revenue System
Q29. Find the odd one out among the following terms, which represent units of land measurement in medieval Rajasthan:
Explanation
Bigha, Biswa, and Jareeb were all terms associated with land area and measurement in the medieval administrative system. A Maund, however, was a unit of weight used for measuring grain and other commodities. Therefore, it does not belong in a group of terms related to the physical dimensions of agricultural plots or the tools used for surveying the land.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Administrative and Revenue System
Q30. In the late medieval agricultural setup of Rajasthan, the distinction between ‘Chahi’ and ‘Nahari’ land was based on:
Explanation
In the agricultural terminology of Rajasthan, Chahi and Nahari distinguished lands based on how they were watered. Chahi lands were irrigated through wells, which often required significant labor for drawing water. Nahari lands were those serviced by canals. This distinction was important for revenue officials, as the cost and reliability of water sources influenced the overall productivity of the land.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
21
(a) I, II, and III only
22
(d) Ghugri - A state-provided system of crop insurance.
23
(b) Dori
24
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
25
(a) It resulted in peasant exploitation as farmers sought maximum profit.
26
(c) Bigha and Biswa
27
(a) A-i, B-iii, C-ii, D-iv
28
(d) Wasteland known as ‘Ushar’ or ‘Banjar’ was exempt from land revenue.
29
(c) Maund
30
(d) The source of irrigation (well vs. canal)
Key facts from Administrative and Revenue System
Khalsa land paid revenue to the state, while Jagir land was assigned to nobles.
Land was measured in Bigha and Biswa, and the measuring rope or chain was called Dori.
Lata meant estimating the yield after harvest on the threshing floor.
Lag-bag referred to the cesses and arbitrary levies on the peasantry.
Under Mukata or Ijara, the right to collect revenue was auctioned to the highest bidder.
Chahi land was irrigated from wells, Nahari land from canals, and Barani land was rain-fed.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Administrative and Revenue System?
This page has 35 practice MCQs on Administrative and Revenue System (Rajasthan History, Art and Culture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What is the difference between Khalsa and Jagir land?
Revenue from Khalsa land went directly to the state treasury, whereas revenue from Jagir land was assigned to nobles in lieu of service or salary. A state with a large Jagir area therefore had less land under direct control.
What was Dori?
Dori was the rope or chain used to measure land in medieval Rajasthan. Land areas were then expressed in the Bigha and the Biswa, and the measured area was the basis on which revenue was assessed.
What were Lag-bag cesses?
Lag-bag were the extra cesses and arbitrary levies collected from the peasantry beyond the regular land revenue. They added to the burden of the cultivators and became a common grievance in the agrarian unrest of later years.
