Q1. Who among the following Gurjara-Pratihara rulers is primarily credited with checking the advance of the Arab armies into Rajasthan and Malwa during the 8th century?
Cooperation and Resistance with Central Power: RAS Prelims MCQs
119 RAS Prelims MCQs on how Rajput states resisted or cooperated with the central power cover the Arab, Turkish, Mughal, Maratha and British periods. The battles of Tarain and Haldighati, Akbar’s Rajput policy, the Rathore rebellion after Jaswant Singh and the subsidiary treaties of 1817 and 1818 all feature, and each question asks for the cause or consequence, not just the date.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 1–10 of 119 questions
Q2. Match List I: (Invader/Ruler) with List II: (Associated Battle/Event) and select the correct answer.
| Invader/Ruler | Associated Battle/Event |
|---|---|
| A. Mahmud Ghaznavi | i. Defeat of Ghaznavid forces near Ajmer |
| B. Muhammad Ghori | ii. Resistance against Arab commander Junaid |
| C. Arnoraja | iii. Plunder of Somnath temple |
| D. Bappa Rawal | iv. Defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan |
Explanation
Mahmud Ghaznavi is associated with the 1025 AD plunder of the Somnath temple, while Muhammad Ghori achieved victory over Prithviraj Chauhan at the Second Battle of Tarain. Arnoraja successfully repelled Ghaznavid forces near Ajmer, leading to the creation of Anasagar Lake. Bappa Rawal is credited with providing significant resistance against the Arab commander Junaid during the eighth-century campaigns.
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the First Battle of Tarain (1191):
I. The battle was fought between Prithviraj Chauhan and Muhammad Ghori.
II. Govind Rai of Delhi commanded the vanguard of the Rajput army.
III. Muhammad Ghori achieved a decisive victory and captured Ajmer.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The battle was fought between Prithviraj Chauhan and Muhammad Ghori.
II. Govind Rai of Delhi commanded the vanguard of the Rajput army.
III. Muhammad Ghori achieved a decisive victory and captured Ajmer.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The First Battle of Tarain occurred in 1191 between the Rajput confederacy led by Prithviraj Chauhan and the Ghurid forces of Muhammad Ghori. Govind Rai, the ruler of Delhi, played a crucial role by commanding the vanguard and wounding Ghori during the conflict. The Rajput victory forced the Ghurid army to retreat, though it did not permanently end the threat.
Q4. What was the most significant direct consequence of the Second Battle of Tarain (1192) on the political landscape of Northern India?
Explanation
The Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 marked a turning point by dismantling the imperial power of the Chauhans. This decisive victory by Muhammad Ghori over Prithviraj Chauhan opened the gateway for Turkish expansion into Northern India. It directly facilitated the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, ending the era of regional Rajput dominance and introducing a new political order.
Q5. Which of the following Rajput strongholds was NOT subjected to a major siege and conquest by Alauddin Khilji during his campaigns in Rajasthan?
Explanation
Alauddin Khilji conducted extensive military campaigns in Rajasthan, capturing strategic strongholds like Ranthambore in 1301 and Chittorgarh in 1303. He later conquered Siwana and Jalore to consolidate his control. However, the kingdom of Amer remained outside his direct military conquest during this period. The Kachwaha rulers of Amer faced major expansionist pressure only later during the Mughal era of administration.
Q6. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Rana Hammir is known as the savior of Mewar.
Reason (R): He recaptured Chittor from the Tughlaq forces and re-established the Guhila dynasty’s control over Mewar.
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Rana Hammir is known as the savior of Mewar.
Reason (R): He recaptured Chittor from the Tughlaq forces and re-established the Guhila dynasty’s control over Mewar.
Explanation
Rana Hammir is celebrated as the savior of Mewar because he successfully reclaimed Chittorgarh from the Tughlaq forces. After the devastating siege by Alauddin Khilji, Mewar was under external control until Hammir’s military efforts restored the Guhila dynasty through the Sisodia branch. His victory at the Battle of Singoli solidified his authority and re-established the kingdom’s sovereignty and pride.
Q7. Which of the following statements about Rana Kumbha is incorrect?
Explanation
Rana Kumbha was a remarkable ruler known for his military prowess, architectural contributions, and intellectual achievements. While he built the Vijay Stambha and authored music treatises like Sangit Raj, he was not defeated at the Battle of Champaner. Instead, the Treaty of Champaner was a failed attempt by the Sultans of Malwa and Gujarat to jointly defeat his formidable military forces.
Q8. Consider the following events related to the conflict between Rana Sanga and Babur:
I. Battle of Khanwa
II. Battle of Bayana
III. Babur’s declaration of Jihad
Arrange them in correct chronological order.
I. Battle of Khanwa
II. Battle of Bayana
III. Babur’s declaration of Jihad
Arrange them in correct chronological order.
Explanation
The conflict between Rana Sanga and Babur involved several key historical events. In early 1527, the Battle of Bayana resulted in a victory for Rana Sanga’s forces against the Mughals. Following this setback, Babur declared Jihad to motivate his demoralized troops before the final showdown. The decisive Battle of Khanwa then took place, where Babur’s artillery and tactics defeated the confederacy.
Q9. Akbar’s Rajput policy was fundamentally driven by which of the following primary motives?
Explanation
Akbar’s Rajput policy was a strategic shift aimed at building a stable empire through collaboration rather than mere subjugation. By offering high administrative ranks and religious autonomy, he turned the martial Rajput clans into loyal allies. This cooperation was vital for the Mughal Empire’s territorial expansion and helped secure internal stability by incorporating indigenous elites into the central imperial framework.
Q10. Which of the following pairs regarding the Battle of Haldighati is correctly matched?
Explanation
During the Battle of Haldighati, Jhala Bida displayed extraordinary loyalty by taking the royal insignia of Maharana Pratap onto himself. This selfless act distracted the Mughal forces, allowing the wounded Maharana to retreat safely from the battlefield. Such instances of sacrifice were common in Rajput history, emphasizing the deep bond between the ruler and his most trusted noble commanders.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (b) Nagabhata I |
| 2 | (a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii |
| 3 | (a) I and II only |
| 4 | (d) It facilitated the establishment of Turkish rule after breaking Chauhan power. |
| 5 | (c) Amer |
| 6 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 7 | (d) He was defeated by the joint forces of Malwa and Gujarat at the Battle of Champaner. |
| 8 | (a) II, III, I |
| 9 | (c) To secure loyal allies for the Mughal Empire’s expansion. |
| 10 | (a) Jhala Bida - Donned Maharana Pratap’s royal insignia to save him |
Key facts from Cooperation and Resistance with Central Power
- The First Battle of Tarain in 1191 followed Muhammad Ghori’s capture of Tabarhind (Bhatinda); the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 broke Chauhan power.
- Akbar’s Rajput policy was built on loyal alliances, and his principle of Sulh-i-Kul meant universal peace and tolerance.
- At Haldighati, Jhala Bida wore Maharana Pratap’s royal insignia to draw attention away from him.
- The death of Jaswant Singh of Marwar at Jamrud in 1678 started a long Rathore rebellion against the Mughals.
- The Hurda Conference of 1734 aimed to unite Rajput rulers against the Marathas.
- Karauli was the first state to sign a subsidiary alliance with the British, in 1817; Sirohi was the last.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Cooperation and Resistance with Central Power?
This page has 119 practice MCQs on Cooperation and Resistance with Central Power (Rajasthan History, Art and Culture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What triggered the First Battle of Tarain?
Muhammad Ghori’s capture of the fortress of Tabarhind (Bhatinda) in 1191. Prithviraj Chauhan marched to recover it and met Ghori at Tarain, where the Chauhan forces won the first battle before losing the second in 1192.
Which state first signed a subsidiary alliance with the British in Rajputana?
Karauli, in 1817. The other states followed over the next few years, and Sirohi was the last of the Rajputana states to sign. The treaties placed the states under British protection and paramountcy.
What was the Hurda Conference?
A meeting of Rajput rulers at Hurda in 1734, held to unite them against the growing Maratha incursions. The meeting showed the wish for a common front, though the unity did not last and Maratha pressure continued.