Q111. The Guhila ruler who successfully resisted the invasion of the Gujarat Sultan Qutbuddin Ahmad Shah and was known as a great builder was:
Major Dynasties of Rajasthan: RAS Prelims MCQs
120 RAS Prelims MCQs on the major dynasties of Rajasthan test rulers, capitals, battles, temples and treaties. The Gurjara-Pratiharas, the Chauhans (Chahamanas), the Guhilas of Mewar, the Rathores of Marwar and the Kachwahas of Amber and Jaipur each have their own set of facts to learn, and the explanations tie every ruler to the fort or city he is remembered for.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 111–120 of 120 questions
Q112. Consider the following texts:
I. Kamraj Ratisar
II. Sudha Prabandh
III. Raj Ratnakar
Which of the above text(s) is/are correctly attributed to Rana Kumbha?
I. Kamraj Ratisar
II. Sudha Prabandh
III. Raj Ratnakar
Which of the above text(s) is/are correctly attributed to Rana Kumbha?
Explanation
Rana Kumbha was a prolific author whose literary works are central to the cultural history of Mewar. He authored Kamraj Ratisar, a work on erotics, and Sudha Prabandh, which is a commentary on the Gitagovinda. However, Raj Ratnakar is not his work; it was written by the scholar Sada Shiva during the reign of a much later ruler, Maharana Raj Singh, in the seventeenth century.
Q113. During the reign of Rana Sanga, which river formed the eastern boundary of the Mewar empire?
Explanation
During the peak of Rana Sanga’s power in the early sixteenth century, the Mewar Empire reached its greatest territorial extent. His influence was so vast that historical records indicate the Sindh River in Central India served as the eastern boundary of his domain. This expansion made him the most powerful Hindu sovereign in North India, capable of challenging both the Lodi Sultanate and the rising Mughals.
Q114. Consider the following statements regarding Rao Chandrasen of Marwar:
I. He participated in the Nagaur Darbar of 1570 CE but refused to submit to Akbar.
II. He is considered the precursor to Maharana Pratap in anti-Mughal resistance.
III. He successfully recaptured Jodhpur and ruled it until his death.
IV. He faced the military opposition of his own brothers, Ram Singh and Udai Singh.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. He participated in the Nagaur Darbar of 1570 CE but refused to submit to Akbar.
II. He is considered the precursor to Maharana Pratap in anti-Mughal resistance.
III. He successfully recaptured Jodhpur and ruled it until his death.
IV. He faced the military opposition of his own brothers, Ram Singh and Udai Singh.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Rao Chandrasen of Marwar is renowned for his resistance against Mughal authority. Although he attended the Nagaur Darbar in 1570, he refused to submit to Akbar, earning him the title of the ‘Forgotten Hero’. He faced internal opposition from his brothers and fought from the hills, setting a precedent for future Rajput resistance against centralized imperial power, even though he never permanently recaptured Jodhpur.
Q115. Man Singh I was associated with the promotion of which specific art form in Amber, originally brought from Persia via Lahore?
Explanation
Man Singh I of Amber is credited with introducing several Persian-influenced art forms to Rajasthan. While serving in the Mughal administration, he brought skilled craftsmen from Lahore to Amber to promote the arts of Meenakari, which is enamel work on metal, and Blue Pottery. These crafts flourished under royal patronage and eventually became world-famous hallmarks of Jaipur’s rich and vibrant artistic and cultural heritage.
Q116. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Rulers of Bundi/Kota | Key Contributions/Events |
|---|---|
| A. Rao Surjan Hada | i. First independent ruler of Kota |
| B. Madho Singh | ii. Signed the treaty with the British for Kota |
| C. Umed Singh | iii. Surrendered Ranthambore to Akbar |
| D. Zalim Singh (Dewan) | iv. Constructed the Chitrashala in Bundi |
Explanation
The Hada rulers of Bundi and Kota each contributed significantly to their history. Rao Surjan Hada surrendered Ranthambore to Akbar, initiating a long alliance. Madho Singh became the first independent ruler of Kota in 1631. Umed Singh of Bundi is famous for building the Chitrashala, a masterpiece of painting. Finally, Zalim Singh, the powerful Dewan of Kota, negotiated the state’s treaty with the British.
Q117. Which Kachwaha ruler committed suicide due to pressure from Maratha invasions and internal conflicts in 1750 CE?
Explanation
Sawai Ishwari Singh of Jaipur faced a tumultuous reign marked by constant Maratha invasions and a bitter succession dispute with his brother, Madho Singh. In 1750, under immense pressure from the Marathas who were demanding heavy tribute and the looming threat of military defeat, he chose to commit suicide by consuming poison. This tragic event highlighted the increasing vulnerability of Rajput states to Maratha military power.
Q118. Consider the following statements regarding cultural patronage under Rajput rulers:
I. Maharana Jagat Singh I established the ‘Chiteron Ki Ovari’ (school of art) in Udaipur.
II. Sawai Pratap Singh of Jaipur maintained a guild of 22 scholars known as ‘Gunijan Khana’.
III. Raja Savant Singh of Kishangarh was a patron of the Bani-Thani painting style.
IV. Dingal literature represents the bardic poetry primarily patronized in Western Rajasthan.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Maharana Jagat Singh I established the ‘Chiteron Ki Ovari’ (school of art) in Udaipur.
II. Sawai Pratap Singh of Jaipur maintained a guild of 22 scholars known as ‘Gunijan Khana’.
III. Raja Savant Singh of Kishangarh was a patron of the Bani-Thani painting style.
IV. Dingal literature represents the bardic poetry primarily patronized in Western Rajasthan.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Cultural patronage was a hallmark of Rajput royalty. Maharana Jagat Singh I established a major school of art in Udaipur, while Sawai Pratap Singh supported a guild of scholars in Jaipur. Raja Savant Singh of Kishangarh famously patronized the unique Bani-Thani style. Additionally, Dingal literature, the heroic poetry of the bards, was extensively patronized across the states, preserving the martial traditions and genealogies of the various clans.
Q119. The Sun Temple of Jhalrapatan heavily borrows its architectural elements from which regional style?
Explanation
The Sun Temple at Jhalrapatan, also known as the Padmanabha Temple, is a tenth-century structure that showcases the architectural transition in Rajasthan. It heavily utilizes elements of the Maru-Gurjara style, which was prevalent in the region during that era. The temple is famous for its towering shikhara and its intricate carvings, which reflect the sophisticated religious and artistic sensibilities of the medieval Rajput dynasties.
Q120. Which event marked the political decline of the independent Rajput states, leading them into subordinate treaties with the British?
Explanation
The defeat of the Rajput confederacy by the Marathas at the Battle of Merta in 1790 significantly weakened the military and financial standing of the states. This vulnerability, coupled with persistent internal strife and the withdrawal of Mughal protection, forced the major Rajput rulers to enter into subordinate alliances with the British East India Company by 1818 to ensure their survival.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 111 | (a) Rana Kumbha |
| 112 | (a) I and II only |
| 113 | (d) Sindh |
| 114 | (b) I, II and IV |
| 115 | (c) Meenakari and Blue Pottery |
| 116 | (a) A-iii, B-i, C-iv, D-ii |
| 117 | (c) Sawai Ishwari Singh |
| 118 | (a) I, II, III and IV |
| 119 | (d) Maru-Gurjara Style |
| 120 | (a) Military defeat of the Rajput confederacy by Marathas at Merta |
Key facts from Major Dynasties of Rajasthan
- Nagabhata I of the Gurjara-Pratiharas checked the Arab advance in the 8th century.
- Ajayaraja II, a Chahamana ruler, founded Ajayameru (Ajmer) and moved the capital there from Shakambhari.
- Rao Jodha laid the foundation of Mehrangarh and Jodhpur in 1459.
- Rana Kumbha built the Vijay Stambha at Chittorgarh to mark his victory over Mahmud Khalji of Malwa.
- Man Singh I of Amber served as Mughal Subahdar of Bengal, Bihar and Kabul; Sawai Jai Singh II founded Jaipur and built the Jantar Mantar observatories.
- Kota was separated from Bundi in 1631 by a decree of Shah Jahan.
- The Delwara temples at Mount Abu were built under the patronage of the Solankis of Gujarat.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Major Dynasties of Rajasthan?
This page has 120 practice MCQs on Major Dynasties of Rajasthan (Rajasthan History, Art and Culture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Who founded Jodhpur?
Rao Jodha, a Rathore ruler of Marwar, founded Jodhpur in 1459 and laid the foundation of the Mehrangarh Fort. He moved the capital of Marwar there from Mandore, and the city is named after him.
Which Chahamana ruler founded Ajmer?
Ajayaraja II, who founded Ajayameru, the present Ajmer, and shifted the Chahamana capital there from Shakambhari. Ajmer remained an important Chauhan centre until the defeat of Prithviraj III in the twelfth century.
Who wrote Kavya Mimamsa and under which dynasty?
Rajashekhara, the court poet of the Gurjara-Pratiharas, wrote the treatise Kavya Mimamsa. It is a work on poetics, and it remains one of the best-known literary products of the Pratihara court.