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 231–240 of 1767 questions
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RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Sources of Rajasthan History
Q231. Match List I with List II:
Ruler
Associated Historical Text/Description
A. Maharana Kumbha
i. Kirti Stambha Prashasti
B. Prithviraj Chauhan III
ii. Prithviraj Raso
C. Maharaja Jaswant Singh I
iii. Patron of Muhnot Nainsi
D. Rao Maldeo
iv. Described as ‘Hashmat wala Raja’ by Persian historians
Choose the correct code:
Explanation
Historical figures in Rajasthan are linked to specific records and descriptions. Maharana Kumbha is celebrated in the Kirti Stambha Prashasti. Prithviraj Chauhan is the subject of the epic Prithviraj Raso. Maharaja Jaswant Singh I was the influential patron of the chronicler Muhnot Nainsi. Rao Maldeo of Marwar was notably described as the Hashmat wala Raja (the king of great splendor) by various Persian historians of his era.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Sources of Rajasthan History
Q232. Consider the following inscriptions: I. Samidheshwar Temple Inscription II. Mandasor Inscription III. Ghosundi Inscription IV. Kumbhalgarh Prashasti Which of the following is the correct chronological sequence from oldest to most recent?
Explanation
Chronological sequencing of these inscriptions starts with the Ghosundi Inscription from the second century BC. Next is the Mandasor Inscription from the fifth century AD. The Samidheshwar Temple Inscription reflects renovations in the fifteenth century, followed closely by the Kumbhalgarh Prashasti, also from the fifteenth century but representing a slightly later, more comprehensive record of the Guhila dynasty’s history and its contemporary ruler’s achievements.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Sources of Rajasthan History
Q233. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Bhat’ tradition: I. Bhats were traditional genealogists of various communities in Rajasthan. II. They maintained ‘Bahis’ which recorded the family trees of their patrons. III. Unlike Charans who focused heavily on Rajput valor, Bhats maintained records for a wider variety of castes. IV. The British outlawed the Bhat tradition immediately after 1818. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Bhat community played a vital role in Rajasthan as traditional genealogists who maintained Bahis for various castes and families. Unlike Charans, who were primarily linked to the royal Rajput courts and heroic poetry, Bhats served a broader segment of society, preserving family trees across different communities. This tradition continued through the nineteenth century, as the British did not immediately outlaw this important cultural practice after 1818.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Sources of Rajasthan History
Q234. Which text, considered a masterpiece of Dingal literature, was famously compared by the poet Dursa Arha to have the brilliance and strength of "ten thousand horses"?
Explanation
Veli Krisan Rukmani Ri is a classic work of Dingal literature by Prithviraj Rathore of Bikaner. The poet Dursa Arha was so impressed by its literary power and linguistic brilliance that he famously compared the text to having the strength of ten thousand horses. This metaphor highlights the extraordinary impact and the high esteem in which this devotional and heroic masterpiece was held by contemporary and later scholars.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Sources of Rajasthan History
Q235. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): The numismatic history of medieval Rajputana reveals a localized economy where almost every major princely state had its own independent currency. Reason (R): The Mughal Emperors had completely banned all Rajput states from minting any local coins during their suzerainty, forcing the states to mint coins only after the Mughal decline. In the context of the above, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
Medieval Rajputana had a localized economy with many states minting their own independent currencies. However, the assertion that the Mughal Emperors completely banned Rajput mints is false. In fact, several Rajput rulers were granted the right to mint coins by the Mughals, or they minted coins in the name of the Mughal Emperor. The proliferation of independent local state currencies became more pronounced during the later decline of Mughal authority.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Sources of Rajasthan History
Q236. What does the term ‘Khyat’ literally mean in the context of historical literature?
Explanation
The term Khyat is derived from the Sanskrit word Khyati, which literally means fame or renown. In the context of Rajasthani literature, it refers to a historical narrative or chronicle written to record and preserve the illustrious deeds and lineages of regional rulers. These texts were essential for maintaining the historical memory and status of the various Rajput dynasties during the medieval and early modern periods.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Sources of Rajasthan History
Q237. Which of the following sources is considered most authentic for studying the socio-economic conditions, land tenure system (Jagirdari), and taxation of medieval Marwar?
Explanation
Marwar Ra Pargana Ri Vigat, authored by Muhnot Nainsi, is the most authentic source for studying the socio-economic conditions of seventeenth-century Marwar. Often called a gazetteer, it provides granular data on taxation, agricultural productivity, and the jagirdari system for every administrative unit (pargana) of the state. This level of statistical detail makes it superior to traditional epic poems for analyzing the economic and administrative foundations of the kingdom.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Sources of Rajasthan History
Q238. Consider the following statements regarding historical sources: I. Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions. II. Numismatics is the study of coins. III. ‘Vakil Reports’ were sent by Mughal emperors to Rajput kings. IV. ‘Khyats’ were typically written in prose and documented the history of regional dynasties. V. Foreign travellers like Bernier provide an outsider’s perspective on Rajput participation in Mughal politics. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Historical research relies on various specialized studies. Epigraphy and numismatics provide hard data from inscriptions and coins. Khyats offer prose narratives of regional history, while foreign travelers like Bernier provide external perspectives. However, Vakil Reports were actually sent by Rajput envoys to their own kings from the Mughal court, not from emperors to kings, making the third statement in the original list historically incorrect in its direction.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Sources of Rajasthan History
Q239. Match List I with List II:
Historical Text
Author
A. Padmavat
i. Malik Muhammad Jayasi
B. Raj Ratnakar
ii. Sadashiv
C. Nainsi ri Khyat
iii. Muhnot Nainsi
D. Bikaner ri Khyat
iv. Dayaldas
Choose the correct code:
Explanation
Malik Muhammad Jayasi authored Padmavat, a famous poem about the siege of Chittorgarh. Sadashiv wrote Raj Ratnakar, while Muhnot Nainsi is known for his extensive Khyat. Dayaldas authored the Bikaner ri Khyat. Each of these literary works represents a different genre and period, yet they all contribute significantly to our understanding of the cultural and political history of the various regions and dynasties within Rajasthan.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Ancient Rajasthan: Society and Culture
Q240. In the context of ancient Rajasthan, which of the following best describes the social structure evident in the early Vedic period regarding the Matsya Janapada?
Explanation
During the early Vedic period in ancient Rajasthan, the social structure in regions like the Matsya Janapada was characterized by a flexible varna system. Individuals were categorized based on their functional roles and occupations rather than strict lineage. This allowed for social mobility before the system solidified into the more rigid, birth-based caste hierarchy of later historical periods.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
231
(b) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv
232
(a) III, II, I, IV
233
(a) I, II, and III
234
(c) Veli Krisan Rukmani Ri
235
(c) A is true but R is false.
236
(c) Fame or renown (historical narrative)
237
(b) Marwar Ra Pargana Ri Vigat
238
(a) I, II, IV, and V
239
(a) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv
240
(b) A varna system primarily based on occupation and function rather than rigid birthright
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.
