Q31. Among the following classifications of agricultural land, which one generally yielded the lowest land revenue rate to the state?
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 31–35 of 35 questions
Q32. Arrange the following types of land in general order of their revenue yield per bigha, from highest to lowest, based on standard medieval assessment practices:
Explanation
Revenue yield per bigha was highest on Chahi land due to its consistent irrigation from wells. Barani land followed, yielding moderate returns depending on rainfall. Magra land, being stony or hilly, typically had the lowest productivity and consequently the lowest revenue assessment.
Q33. In the context of the revenue system in medieval Rajasthan, the term ‘Lag-bag’ refers to:
Explanation
Lag-bag refers to the numerous additional cesses and indirect taxes that were collected from the peasantry beyond the primary land revenue. These could include taxes for royal events, local administration costs, or even arbitrary demands made by Jagirdars. Over time, the accumulation of these cesses became a significant economic burden on the cultivators, often sparking widespread social and agrarian discontent.
Q34. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Chanwari’ (or Chawar) tax:
I. It was a tax levied on the occasion of a daughter’s marriage in the peasant’s family.
II. It was widely resented and became a major cause of peasant dissatisfaction in regions like Bijolia.
III. It was an export duty levied on agricultural tools.
Which of the above combination of statements is/are correct?
I. It was a tax levied on the occasion of a daughter’s marriage in the peasant’s family.
II. It was widely resented and became a major cause of peasant dissatisfaction in regions like Bijolia.
III. It was an export duty levied on agricultural tools.
Which of the above combination of statements is/are correct?
Explanation
The Chanwari tax was a specific cess collected whenever a peasant’s daughter was married. It was highly symbolic of the oppressive taxation system and became a major flashpoint for peasant movements, most notably in the Bijolia region. This tax was viewed as a direct interference in the personal lives of the subjects and was deeply resented by the farming communities.
Q35. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: ‘Khad-Lakad’ was a cess collected from villagers to provide wood and fodder for the state officials or the ruler’s camp when they visited the area.
Statement II: Such cesses were always adjusted against the primary land revenue demand and never posed an extra burden on the peasants.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: ‘Khad-Lakad’ was a cess collected from villagers to provide wood and fodder for the state officials or the ruler’s camp when they visited the area.
Statement II: Such cesses were always adjusted against the primary land revenue demand and never posed an extra burden on the peasants.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
Khad-Lakad was a customary cess where villagers were forced to provide fodder and wood for state officials or the ruler’s camp during their travels. These cesses were not adjusted against the main land revenue; instead, they were an additional burden on the peasants. Such demands were often unpredictable and added significantly to the overall economic hardship faced by rural communities.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 31 | (a) Barani |
| 32 | (b) Chahi Barani Magra |
| 33 | (b) Various cesses and arbitrary taxes levied on the peasantry. |
| 34 | (a) I and II only |
| 35 | (c) Statement I is true but Statement II is false |
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.