Q41. Identify the correctly matched pair regarding the allies of Maharana Pratap:
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 41–50 of 119 questions
Q42. Match List I: (Rajput Noble) with List II: (Highest Mansab granted by a Mughal Emperor) and select the correct answer.
| Rajput Noble | Highest Mansab granted by a Mughal Emperor |
|---|---|
| A. Raja Man Singh of Amber | i. 7000 zat and 7000 sawar |
| B. Mirza Raja Jai Singh | ii. Granted title of ‘Sawai’ |
| C. Maharaja Jaswant Singh | iii. Commander of Mughal forces in the Deccan against Shivaji |
| D. Sawai Jai Singh | iv. Appointed Governor of Kabul, Malwa, and Gujarat at different times |
Explanation
Rajput nobles held significant positions in the Mughal Mansabdari system. Raja Man Singh was granted a high rank of 7000, reflecting his close ties with Akbar. Mirza Raja Jai Singh served as a premier general in the Deccan, while Maharaja Jaswant Singh held various governorships. Sawai Jai Singh was later distinguished by the title ‘Sawai’ and served prominently during the late Mughal period.
Q43. Consider the following statements regarding Durgadas Rathore:
I. He successfully protected infant Ajit Singh from Aurangzeb’s captivity.
II. He forged an alliance with Mewar’s Maharana Raj Singh against the Mughals.
III. He rebelled against Maharaja Ajit Singh and joined the Mughal court eventually.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. He successfully protected infant Ajit Singh from Aurangzeb’s captivity.
II. He forged an alliance with Mewar’s Maharana Raj Singh against the Mughals.
III. He rebelled against Maharaja Ajit Singh and joined the Mughal court eventually.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Durgadas Rathore is legendary for his commitment to the independence of Marwar. He successfully protected the young Ajit Singh from Aurangzeb’s attempts to capture him in Delhi and forged a strategic alliance with Maharana Raj Singh of Mewar. His life was dedicated to resisting Mughal authority, and he never joined the Mughal court, remaining a symbol of Rathore defiance and loyalty.
Q44. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): In the mid-18th century, Maratha interference in the internal politics of Rajputana increased significantly.
Reason (R): Rajput states were frequently engaging in succession disputes and actively invited Maratha generals for military assistance against their rivals.
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): In the mid-18th century, Maratha interference in the internal politics of Rajputana increased significantly.
Reason (R): Rajput states were frequently engaging in succession disputes and actively invited Maratha generals for military assistance against their rivals.
Explanation
During the mid-eighteenth century, the internal stability of Rajput states crumbled due to frequent succession disputes. Rival claimants often invited Maratha generals to provide military support in exchange for large sums of money or territory. This opportunistic behavior allowed the Marathas to establish a dominant influence in Rajputana, leading to heavy financial drains and increased political interference across the various princely states.
Q45. Which of the following was the most direct negative consequence of the Subsidiary Alliances (1817-1818) on the internal dynamics of the Rajput states?
Explanation
The Subsidiary Alliances with the British led to the breakdown of traditional feudal structures within Rajput states. Rulers, now protected by British military power, no longer depended on the loyalty and military support of their feudal nobles. This shifted the internal balance of power, often leading to autocracy by the rulers and resentment among the nobility, ultimately weakening the indigenous political system.
Q46. The famous "Battle of Rajasthan" in 738 AD, which halted the Arab expansion, was fought between the Arab forces and a confederacy primarily led by:
Explanation
The Battle of Rajasthan in 738 AD was a critical conflict where a confederacy of Indian rulers halted the eastward expansion of the Umayyad Caliphate. This alliance was primarily led by Bappa Rawal of Mewar and Nagabhata I of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty. Their combined forces decisively defeated the Arab armies, securing the Indian frontiers from further major Islamic incursions for several centuries.
Q47. Which of the following statements about Ghaznavid incursions into Rajasthan is correct?
Explanation
During his campaign to sack the Somnath temple in 1025 AD, Mahmud Ghaznavi chose a route that took his army through the difficult Thar desert of Rajasthan. This move was intended to bypass major resistance and strike the target quickly. Although his raids were highly destructive and caused widespread panic, they did not result in the establishment of permanent Ghaznavid political rule.
Q48. Match List I: (Contemporaries of Prithviraj Chauhan) with List II: (Their Kingdom) and select the correct answer.
| Contemporaries of Prithviraj Chauhan | Their Kingdom |
|---|---|
| A. Jai Chandra | i. Chalukyas of Gujarat |
| B. Paramardi Deva | ii. Gahadavalas of Kannauj |
| C. Bhima II | iii. Chandelas of Jejakabhukti |
| D. Muhammad Ghori | iv. Ghurid Empire |
Explanation
Prithviraj Chauhan’s era was marked by complex regional rivalries in North India. Jai Chandra ruled the Gahadavala kingdom of Kannauj, while Paramardi Deva led the Chandelas of Jejakabhukti. Bhima II was the Chalukya ruler of Gujarat, and Muhammad Ghori commanded the expanding Ghurid Empire. These rulers were often at odds with each other, which prevented a unified defense against the Turkish invasions.
Q49. Consider the following statements about Govind Rai during the battles of Tarain:
I. He was the Tomar ruler of Delhi and a vassal of Prithviraj Chauhan.
II. In the First Battle of Tarain, he wounded Muhammad Ghori with a spear.
III. In the Second Battle of Tarain, he was killed in action.
IV. He successfully escaped to Gujarat after the Chauhan defeat.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. He was the Tomar ruler of Delhi and a vassal of Prithviraj Chauhan.
II. In the First Battle of Tarain, he wounded Muhammad Ghori with a spear.
III. In the Second Battle of Tarain, he was killed in action.
IV. He successfully escaped to Gujarat after the Chauhan defeat.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
Govind Rai was the Tomar ruler of Delhi and a key vassal who fought alongside Prithviraj Chauhan. In the First Battle of Tarain, he famously wounded Muhammad Ghori with a spear, nearly killing him. However, in the Second Battle of Tarain, Govind Rai was killed during the intense fighting. Historical records do not support the claim that he escaped to Gujarat after the defeat.
Q50. Consider the following conquests made by Alauddin Khilji in Rajasthan:
I. Conquest of Chittor
II. Conquest of Jalore
III. Conquest of Ranthambore
IV. Conquest of Siwana
Arrange them in chronological order.
I. Conquest of Chittor
II. Conquest of Jalore
III. Conquest of Ranthambore
IV. Conquest of Siwana
Arrange them in chronological order.
Explanation
Alauddin Khilji’s expansion into Rajasthan followed a specific chronological order of conquests. He first captured Ranthambore in 1301 after a prolonged siege. This was followed by the conquest of Chittor in 1303. Later, his forces took the fort of Siwana in 1308 and finally conquered Jalore in 1311. These victories systematically removed major Rajput obstacles to his dominance over the Western trade routes.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 41 | (c) Poonja Bhil - Commander of the Bhil militia at Haldighati |
| 42 | (a) A-i, B-iii, C-iv, D-ii |
| 43 | (a) I and II only |
| 44 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 45 | (c) The breakdown of traditional feudal checks and balances. |
| 46 | (d) Bappa Rawal and Nagabhata I |
| 47 | (a) He passed through the Thar desert during the sack of Somnath. |
| 48 | (a) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv |
| 49 | (b) IV only |
| 50 | (a) III, I, IV, II |
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.