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 671–680 of 1767 questions
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RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q671. Consider the following statements distinguishing the subsidiary alliances of Wellesley and the treaties of Hastings in Rajputana: I. Wellesley’s system often required the stationing of a British subsidiary force at the expense of the state. II. Hastings’ system formalized the complete isolation of states from one another. III. Hastings allowed the Rajput rulers to maintain their own independent foreign relations with non-Indian powers. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Wellesley’s subsidiary system often involved stationing British forces within a state at the ruler’s expense. Hastings’ later treaties formalized the complete isolation of Rajput states from each other. However, Hastings did not allow Rajput rulers to maintain independent foreign relations. On the contrary, the treaties strictly mandated that all external communications be conducted through and approved by the British government.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q672. Identify the correctly matched pair of the British Governor-General and his primary policy towards Rajputana:
Explanation
Lord Hastings is correctly associated with the policy of suppressing the Pindari menace and negotiating treaties of Subordinate Cooperation with the Rajput states in 1817-18. In contrast, Wellesley initiated the earlier subsidiary alliances in 1803. The policy of Subordinate Isolation was also a hallmark of the Hastings era, marking a transition toward more formal and comprehensive British control.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q673. One of the severe financial obligations imposed on the Rajput states under the subsidiary alliance framework was:
Explanation
A significant financial obligation imposed under the subsidiary alliance framework was the requirement for states to maintain auxiliary military contingents. These units were commanded by British officers and funded by the Rajput states. This requirement drained state treasuries while providing the British with a ready military force that could be used to maintain order or support broader imperial interests.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q674. Match the military contingents in List I with their respective headquarters or bases in List II:
Military Contingent formed by the British
Headquarters/Base
A. Merwara Battalion
i. Kherwara
B. Shekhawati Brigade
ii. Erinpura
C. Jodhpur Legion
iii. Jhunjhunu
D. Mewar Bhil Corps
iv. Beawar
Explanation
The British established several military contingents with specific headquarters in Rajasthan. The Merwara Battalion was based in Beawar, and the Shekhawati Brigade had its headquarters in Jhunjhunu. The Jodhpur Legion was stationed at Erinpura, while the Mewar Bhil Corps operated from Kherwara. These units were designed to control tribal areas and maintain peace across various princely states.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q675. What was the direct effect of the British demanding auxiliary contingents (like the Jodhpur Legion) on the state armies of Rajputana?
Explanation
The demand for auxiliary contingents like the Jodhpur Legion led to the large-scale disbandment of traditional state armies in Rajputana. Since the states had to fund these new British-led units, they could no longer afford their own military forces. This resulted in widespread unemployment among the traditional warrior classes and contributed to social unrest in various parts of the region.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q676. Under the subsidiary system, if a boundary dispute arose between two Rajput states, it was to be settled by:
Explanation
Under the subsidiary system, Rajput states were prohibited from settling disputes through independent warfare or direct negotiation. If a boundary dispute arose between two states, the treaties mandated that the matter be referred to the British East India Company for arbitration. This policy ensured that the British acted as the ultimate judge, further consolidating their control over inter-state relations.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q677. Select the correct chronological sequence for the establishment of the following British-led military contingents in Rajasthan:
Explanation
The British-led military contingents in Rajasthan were established in a specific chronological order. The Merwara Battalion was founded first in 1822. It was followed by the Shekhawati Brigade in 1835 and the Jodhpur Legion in 1836. Finally, the Mewar Bhil Corps was established in 1841. This sequence highlights the progressive military involvement of the British in different regional sectors.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q678. Under the Resident system established in Rajputana, the primary role of the British Political Agent was officially to:
Explanation
In the Resident system, the official role of the British Political Agent was to act as an advisor representing British interests at the Rajput state court. While theoretically meant to avoid interference in internal affairs, the Agents often exercised significant influence over the ruler’s decisions, managing external relations and ensuring that the state’s policies aligned with overall British objectives.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q679. Consider the following methods by which British Political Agents intervened in the internal administration of Rajput states: I. Constituting a ‘Regency Council’ during the minority of a ruler. II. Forcing rulers to dismiss native diwans (ministers) and appointing British favorites. III. Suppressing rebellions of disgruntled jagirdars using British forces. IV. Imposing democratic elections to select the members of the state assembly. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
British Political Agents frequently intervened in state administration by establishing ‘Regency Councils’ during a ruler’s minority and influencing the appointment of ministers. They also used British forces to suppress rebellions by disgruntled jagirdars. However, they did not impose democratic elections for state assemblies, as the British preferred maintaining traditional monarchical structures that were loyal and subservient to imperial control.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q680. Who was appointed as the first Agent to the Governor General (AGG) for the Rajputana Agency established in 1832?
Explanation
When the Rajputana Agency was established in 1832 to centralize British administrative control over the region, Mr. Abraham Locket was appointed as the first Agent to the Governor General (AGG). Based in Ajmer, the AGG oversaw the various Political Agents stationed in the princely states, serving as the primary link between the Rajput rulers and the Governor General in Calcutta.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
671
(a) I and II only
672
(c) Lord Hastings - Suppression of Pindaris and Subordinate Cooperation treaties
673
(d) Maintenance of auxiliary military contingents commanded by British officers
674
(a) A-iv, B-iii, C-ii, D-i
675
(b) Large-scale disbandment of state armies leading to local unemployment.
676
(d) Arbitration by the British East India Company
677
(a) Merwara Battalion Shekhawati Brigade Jodhpur Legion Mewar Bhil Corps
678
(c) Act as an advisor representing British interests in the state court
679
(a) I, II, and III only
680
(d) Mr. Abraham Locket
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.
