Q661. Which of the following factors did NOT contribute to the political fragmentation of Rajputana in the 18th century?
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.
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Q662. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: In the 18th century, the Rajput nobility often asserted that the ruler was merely the ‘first among equals’.
Statement II: This ideology helped the rulers to centralize their administration and easily crush any feudal rebellion.
Statement I: In the 18th century, the Rajput nobility often asserted that the ruler was merely the ‘first among equals’.
Statement II: This ideology helped the rulers to centralize their administration and easily crush any feudal rebellion.
Explanation
During the eighteenth century, Rajput nobles often viewed the monarch as the ‘first among equals,’ reflecting a decentralized clan-based structure. This ideology, however, hindered rather than helped the rulers in centralizing their administration. Instead of crushing rebellions easily, monarchs frequently faced challenges from powerful feudal lords who asserted their traditional rights and autonomy against the central authority of the state.
Q663. The first phase of British treaties with the states of Rajputana occurred in 1803 during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. Which state was the first to sign a treaty of defensive alliance with the East India Company in 1803?
Explanation
During the early phase of British expansion in 1803, Bharatpur was the first Rajput state to sign a treaty of defensive alliance with the East India Company. This occurred under the governorship of Lord Wellesley during the Second Anglo- Maratha War. The treaty was intended to secure British interests by enlisting local support against the Maratha forces operating in northern India.
Q664. Consider the following statements regarding the early British entry into Rajputana before 1817:
I. Lord Wellesley initiated the policy of forming alliances with Rajput states to counter Maratha power.
II. Treaties signed in 1803 with states like Bharatpur and Alwar were strictly based on mutual non-interference.
III. Lord Cornwallis strictly continued Wellesley’s aggressive alliance policy in Rajputana.
IV. The British initially cancelled several treaties after 1805 following a policy of non-intervention.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Lord Wellesley initiated the policy of forming alliances with Rajput states to counter Maratha power.
II. Treaties signed in 1803 with states like Bharatpur and Alwar were strictly based on mutual non-interference.
III. Lord Cornwallis strictly continued Wellesley’s aggressive alliance policy in Rajputana.
IV. The British initially cancelled several treaties after 1805 following a policy of non-intervention.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Lord Wellesley initiated alliances with states like Bharatpur and Alwar in 1803 to counter Maratha power, emphasizing mutual non-interference. However, Lord Cornwallis and his successor did not continue this aggressive policy. Instead, after 1805, the British adopted a policy of non-intervention and cancelled several existing treaties, temporarily withdrawing from active political engagement in the affairs of the Rajputana states.
Q665. Arrange the following states in the chronological order of signing the treaties of Subordinate Alliance with the British in 1817-18:
I. Karauli
II. Kota
III. Mewar (Udaipur)
IV. Jaipur
Select the correct sequence from the options below:
I. Karauli
II. Kota
III. Mewar (Udaipur)
IV. Jaipur
Select the correct sequence from the options below:
Explanation
The process of signing Subordinate Alliance treaties with the British followed a specific chronological order in 1817 and 1818. Karauli was the first to sign in November 1817, followed by Kota in December 1817. Mewar entered the alliance in January 1818, while Jaipur signed its treaty later in April 1818, marking the gradual expansion of British paramountcy across the region.
Q666. Match the British officials in List I with their respective roles or events in Rajputana in List II:
| British Official | Role/Event in Rajputana |
|---|---|
| A. Lord Wellesley | i. Initiated the Subordinate Isolation policy (1817) |
| B. Lord Hastings | ii. First to propose alliances during Second Maratha War (1803) |
| C. Charles Metcalfe | iii. First Political Agent in Mewar and Marwar |
| D. James Tod | iv. Chief negotiator of the 1817-18 treaties with Rajput states |
Explanation
British officials played distinct roles in Rajputana. Lord Wellesley proposed early alliances in 1803, while Lord Hastings initiated the Subordinate Isolation policy in 1817. Charles Metcalfe acted as the chief negotiator for the 1817-18 treaties. James Tod is famously remembered as the first Political Agent in Mewar and Marwar, contributing extensively to the recorded history of the region.
Q667. Which British official was predominantly responsible for negotiating the Treaties of Subordinate Isolation with the majority of the Rajput states in 1817-18?
Explanation
Charles Metcalfe, a prominent British diplomat and official, was the individual primarily responsible for negotiating the Treaties of Subordinate Isolation with the majority of the Rajput states between 1817 and 1818. Working under the instructions of Lord Hastings, his diplomatic efforts were crucial in bringing the various principalities of Rajputana under the framework of British protection and ultimate paramountcy.
Q668. Among the states of Rajputana, which was the last to sign the treaty of Subordinate Alliance with the British East India Company in 1823?
Explanation
While most Rajput states had concluded treaties with the East India Company by 1818, Sirohi was the last to sign a treaty of Subordinate Alliance. This event took place in 1823. The delay was primarily due to a long-standing territorial dispute with Jodhpur, which claimed suzerainty over Sirohi, necessitating prolonged negotiations before the British recognized its independent sovereign status.
Q669. Which of the following is the most accurate description of the primary objective of the British East India Company in making treaties with Rajput states in 1817-18?
Explanation
The primary British objective in negotiating treaties with the Rajput states in 1817-18 was strategic security. By establishing a network of dependent states, the East India Company created a buffer zone that protected British-held territories from external threats like the Marathas and Pindaris. This policy ensured regional stability while maintaining indirect control without the high costs of direct administration.
Q670. The British policy towards the Indian princely states implemented through the treaties of 1817- 18 is historically characterized as the policy of:
Explanation
The British policy established through the 1817- 18 treaties is known as Subordinate Isolation. Under this framework, the Rajput states accepted the paramountcy of the British Crown and were prohibited from forming alliances or communicating with each other independently. While they were granted internal autonomy, their external relations were strictly managed by the British, effectively isolating them from one another politically.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 661 | (a) Unified administrative code established by the Mughal Emperor |
| 662 | (c) Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect. |
| 663 | (b) Bharatpur |
| 664 | (b) I, II, and IV only |
| 665 | (a) I, II, III, IV |
| 666 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 667 | (b) Charles Metcalfe |
| 668 | (d) Sirohi |
| 669 | (a) Creating a buffer of dependent states to secure British lands |
| 670 | (c) Subordinate Isolation |
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.