Rajasthan History, Art and Culture: RAS Prelims MCQs
1767 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on the history, art, culture, literature and heritage of Rajasthan are on this page, in 17 chapters. They run from prehistoric sites and inscriptions through the Rajput dynasties, the Mughal and British periods and the integration of Rajasthan, then move to forts, painting, folk arts, language, saints, fairs and leading personalities. Questions come as plain facts, statement sets, match-the-list tables and assertion-reason items, each with an answer and an explanation.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 1351–1360 of 1767 questions
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Explanation
Dholak, Nagada and Chang are percussion instruments, which produce sound by striking a skin. The Rawanhattha is a bowed string instrument, so it is the odd one out.Explanation
Rajasthani language evolved from the Sauraseni Apabhramsha branch, specifically the Gurjari form. This linguistic development occurred around the 11th century. Historically, this form transitioned from Sanskrit through Prakrit into the early stages of Rajasthani and Gujarati. It provides the foundational structural and phonetic basis for various modern dialects currently spoken across Rajasthan.Explanation
George Abraham Grierson provided the first systematic and scientific classification of Rajasthani dialects in his monumental work, the Linguistic Survey of India. He categorized the language into five primary groups. This effort established a scholarly framework for understanding the linguistic diversity of the region, distinguishing Rajasthani as a distinct group from Hindi or Gujarati.Explanation
Rajasthani and Gujarati share a unified linguistic ancestry originating from Old Western Rajasthani, often referred to as Maru-Gurjar. This common language flourished between the 11th and 14th centuries. Over time, distinct regional influences led to their divergence into separate literary traditions. This shared history explains the many grammatical and lexical similarities still observed today.Explanation
Dingal is a specialized literary style of the Rajasthani language, primarily used in heroic poetry. It developed through the fusion of Marwari and Gujarati elements. Traditionally patronized by the Charan and Bhat communities, it is known for its strong phonetic qualities and archaic vocabulary. This style served as the primary vehicle for recording Rajputana’s martial history.| Scholar | Theory on Origin of Rajasthani |
|---|---|
| A. George Grierson | i. Sauraseni Apabhramsha |
| B. L.P. Tessitori | ii. Gurjari Apabhramsha |
| C. K.M. Munshi | iii. Nagari Apabhramsha |
| D. Sunitikumar Chatterjee | iv. Saurashti Apabhramsha |
Explanation
Different scholars proposed various theories regarding the origin of the Rajasthani language based on linguistic evolution. George Grierson linked it to Nagari Apabhramsha, while L.P. Tessitori pointed toward Sauraseni Apabhramsha. K.M. Munshi associated its development with Gurjari Apabhramsha, and Sunitikumar Chatterjee suggested Saurashti Apabhramsha. These diverse perspectives highlight the complex transition from ancient Prakrit forms.Explanation
Marwari is the most widely spoken dialect of Rajasthan, featuring several sub-dialects such as Mewari, Godwadi, and Dhatki. These sub-forms share core grammatical structures and vocabulary. However, Jagrauti is a sub-dialect of Dhundhari, primarily spoken in the Karauli region. This distinction is based on the geographical distribution and phonetic variations found across eastern and western regions.Explanation
Vagadi is spoken in the southern districts of Dungarpur and Banswara. George Grierson classified this dialect as Bhili due to the heavy influence of the local Bhil tribes’ speech patterns. It serves as a linguistic bridge between Rajasthani and Gujarati. The dialect is characterized by specific phonetic shifts and a vocabulary reflecting the regional tribal heritage.Explanation
Prithviraj Raso was composed by Chand Bardai in Pingal, the literary form based on Braj. Dingal is the form based on Marwari.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1351 | (a) A bowed instrument with sympathetic strings for Langas. |
| 1352 | (b) Rawanhattha |
| 1353 | (b) Sauraseni (Gurjari) Apabhramsha |
| 1354 | (a) George Abraham Grierson |
| 1355 | (c) Both share a common origin in Old Western Rajasthani (Maru-Gurjar). |
| 1356 | (d) Dingal |
| 1357 | (a) A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv |
| 1358 | (b) Jagrauti |
| 1359 | (d) Bhili dialect |
| 1360 | (c) Pingal |
Key facts from Rajasthan History, Art and Culture
- Rajasthan history questions are fact-dense: sites with their districts, rulers with their forts, inscriptions with their dates.
- The integration of Rajasthan came in stages: the Matsya Union on 18 March 1948, the Rajasthan Union on 25 March 1948 and the United State of Rajasthan on 18 April 1948.
- Culture chapters reward pairs: a dance with its community, a painting school with its subject, a fair with its month.
- Statement-based and match-the-list items appear in every chapter, so partial knowledge is not enough; learn each fact with its context.
- Fort and monument questions often turn on one detail, such as the Jaivana cannon at Jaigarh or the 1,444 pillars of Ranakpur.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Rajasthan History, Art and Culture?
This page has 1767 practice MCQs on Rajasthan History, Art and Culture. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters does the Rajasthan history, art and culture set cover?
Seventeen chapters: prehistoric Rajasthan, sources of history, ancient society, major dynasties, resistance and cooperation with central power, administration and revenue, the 18th and 19th centuries, peasant and tribal movements, integration, temples and forts, water heritage, painting, performing arts, language, religious life, social life and leading personalities.
What types of questions are included?
Plain one-fact questions, statement sets (I, II, III), match-the-list tables, assertion-reason items, chronological-order questions and odd-one-out questions. The answer options use the same four-option format as the exam, so you can practise the pattern as well as the facts.
How should I revise Rajasthan history with these questions?
Take one chapter at a time. Attempt every question before opening the answer, read the explanation for the ones you got wrong and note each fact in a running list of places, rulers and dates. Return to the chapter after a few days and attempt it again.