Q701. In the agrarian system of 18th and 19th-century Rajasthan, land directly managed by the state and whose revenue went to the central treasury was known as:
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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Q702. Consider the following definitions regarding agrarian taxes and practices prevalent in Rajasthan:
I. Lata - Division of harvested grain piles between the state and the cultivator.
II. Batai - Division of harvested grain between the state/jagirdar and the cultivator.
III. Begar - Forced, unpaid labor extracted by the jagirdars.
IV. Lag-bag - Arbitrary cesses levied on various pretexts (e.g., marriage, birth).
Which of the above correctly defines the terms?
I. Lata - Division of harvested grain piles between the state and the cultivator.
II. Batai - Division of harvested grain between the state/jagirdar and the cultivator.
III. Begar - Forced, unpaid labor extracted by the jagirdars.
IV. Lag-bag - Arbitrary cesses levied on various pretexts (e.g., marriage, birth).
Which of the above correctly defines the terms?
Explanation
The agrarian system included various terms: ‘Lata’ and ‘Batai’ referred to the division of harvested grain between the state and cultivators. ‘Begar’ was the practice of extracting forced, unpaid labor, while ‘Lag-bag’ denoted arbitrary taxes levied for various social occasions. Together, these terms reflect the complex and often exploitative system of revenue collection and labor extraction in traditional Rajputana.
Q703. Identify the incorrectly matched pair regarding the traditional taxes (Lags) in Rajasthan:
Explanation
Traditional taxes in Rajasthan included Chauri Lag for marriages and Talwar Bandhai for succession. Kamtha Lag was used for fort repairs. However, Zakat is an Islamic religious tax and was not a standard term for a volume-based agricultural tax in the Rajputana states. Agricultural cesses were more commonly referred to as Batai or other local terms for revenue collection and extraction.
Q704. The system of extracting compulsory and unpaid labor from peasants and lower castes by the rulers and jagirdars was commonly known as:
Explanation
The system of extracting compulsory and unpaid labor from peasants and lower castes was known as Begar. This practice was widely used by both rulers and jagirdars for various tasks, such as transporting goods or working on state projects. Begar was a major source of grievance for the rural population and later became a central issue in various peasant and tribal movements.
Q705. Consider the following statements regarding the impact of British-inspired land revenue settlements on the peasants of Rajasthan:
Statement I: The introduction of cash-based revenue settlements provided immense relief to the peasants and reduced their dependency on moneylenders.
Statement II: Rigid demand for revenue in cash, even during famine years, drove peasants deep into debt and alienation of their lands.
Statement I: The introduction of cash-based revenue settlements provided immense relief to the peasants and reduced their dependency on moneylenders.
Statement II: Rigid demand for revenue in cash, even during famine years, drove peasants deep into debt and alienation of their lands.
Explanation
British-inspired land revenue settlements did not provide relief to peasants. While they introduced cash payments, this requirement proved difficult during famine years. Rigid cash demands forced peasants to borrow from moneylenders at high interest rates, leading to chronic debt and the eventual alienation of land. The transition to a cash economy primarily benefited the state revenue at the expense of the peasantry.
Q706. Which of the following is considered the most appropriate reason for the severe peasant distress in 19th-century Rajasthan?
Explanation
Severe peasant distress in nineteenth-century Rajasthan resulted from dual exploitation. On one hand, the state and jagirdars demanded exorbitant land revenue and numerous cesses. On the other hand, to meet these demands, peasants were forced to take high-interest loans from Mahajans. This cycle of debt and heavy taxation, combined with frequent droughts, created a state of constant agrarian crisis.
Q707. Which of the following was NOT a characteristic feature of the Jagirdari system in Rajasthan?
Explanation
In the Jagirdari system, jagirdars held land for military service and exercised significant local power. Theoretically, the estate reverted to the ruler upon the jagirdar’s death until a succession fee was paid. However, peasants on these lands did not enjoy permanent or alienable tenancy rights; they were often subject to the arbitrary will of the jagirdar regarding land use and revenue collection.
Q708. The British East India Company secured a monopoly over salt production in Rajasthan through the Salt Treaties of 1869-70. Which major lake was the primary focus of these treaties?
Explanation
The British East India Company focused on Sambhar Lake to secure a monopoly over salt production in Rajasthan. Through the Salt Treaties of 1869-70, the British gained control over this major salt-producing site from the states of Jaipur and Jodhpur. This move was part of a broader strategy to control essential commodities and maximize imperial revenue through systematic salt taxation.
Q709. Consider the following statements regarding the economic impact of British policies in Rajasthan:
I. The British established a monopoly over opium cultivation and trade.
II. The abolition of transit duties (Rahdari) uniformly benefited local traders over British merchants.
III. The introduction of railways accelerated the ruin of local artisans by flooding markets with British goods.
IV. British salt treaties severely damaged the livelihood of the local Banjara communities.
V. Commercialization of agriculture made peasants less vulnerable to famines.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The British established a monopoly over opium cultivation and trade.
II. The abolition of transit duties (Rahdari) uniformly benefited local traders over British merchants.
III. The introduction of railways accelerated the ruin of local artisans by flooding markets with British goods.
IV. British salt treaties severely damaged the livelihood of the local Banjara communities.
V. Commercialization of agriculture made peasants less vulnerable to famines.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
British economic policies included a monopoly on opium and the use of railways to export goods, which often ruined local artisans. Salt treaties also damaged the livelihood of Banjaras. However, the abolition of transit duties primarily benefited British merchants rather than local traders. Furthermore, the commercialization of agriculture often left peasants more vulnerable to famines by prioritizing cash crops over food production.
Q710. The introduction of railways in Rajasthan in the late 19th century had a dual economic impact. While it facilitated rapid transport of goods, what was its major negative consequence for the local economy?
Explanation
While railways improved transportation, they had a negative impact during periods of crop failure. The facility to move goods rapidly allowed for the continued export of grains to other regions even during local scarcity. This movement of food away from famine-affected areas in Rajasthan drove up local prices and significantly exacerbated the demographic and economic impact of the recurring nineteenth-century disasters.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 701 | (b) Khalsa |
| 702 | (d) I, II, III, and IV |
| 703 | (c) Zakat - Tax levied exclusively on agricultural produce by volume |
| 704 | (c) Begar |
| 705 | (d) Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct. |
| 706 | (d) Dual exploitation by exorbitant state revenue and high-interest loans |
| 707 | (a) The peasants in jagir lands enjoyed permanent, alienable tenancy rights. |
| 708 | (c) Sambhar Lake |
| 709 | (b) I, III, and IV only |
| 710 | (b) Export of grains during scarcity, which exacerbated famines. |
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.