Q1. What was the primary meaning of the terms Lata and Kunta in the context of the peasant unrest in Rajasthan?
Peasant, Tribal and Praja Mandal Movements: RAS Prelims MCQs
102 RAS Prelims MCQs on peasant and tribal movements in Rajasthan test leaders, taxes, dates and places. Bijolia, Begun and Bundi among the peasants, and the Bhil movements of Govind Giri among the tribes, are the main themes, so keep the leader, the grievance and the date together for each movement.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 1–10 of 102 questions
Q2. Given below are two statements, one labeled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The practice of Begar was a major catalyst for peasant uprisings in the princely states of Rajasthan.
Reason (R): Peasants and marginalized castes were forced to perform physical labour for the Jagirdars and state officials without any remuneration. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The practice of Begar was a major catalyst for peasant uprisings in the princely states of Rajasthan.
Reason (R): Peasants and marginalized castes were forced to perform physical labour for the Jagirdars and state officials without any remuneration. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
Peasant uprisings in Rajasthan were largely fueled by the exploitative practice of Begar. This system forced lower-caste peasants and marginalized groups to provide labor to feudal lords and state officials without pay. Since this extraction of free labor created extreme economic distress and social humiliation, it directly acted as a primary catalyst for widespread and intense agrarian rebellions.
Q3. In the context of the agrarian structure of pre-independence Rajasthan, what does the term Lag-bag denote?
Explanation
In the traditional agrarian structure of Rajasthan, Lag-bag represented a complex system of numerous non-standard taxes. Beyond the primary land revenue, Jagirdars imposed these arbitrary cesses on various social occasions, professional activities, and household events. These extractions significantly increased the financial burden on the peasantry, eventually leading to massive and organized protests across the different princely states.
Q4. The Chauri tax, which severely aggravated peasant distress in Bijolia, was levied on which of the following occasions?
Explanation
Rao Krishna Singh introduced the Chauri tax in the Bijolia estate in 1903. This particular levy required every peasant to pay a specific amount to the feudal lord on the occasion of his daughter’s wedding. This tax was deeply resented as it interfered with personal social ceremonies and imposed additional financial strain on families already struggling with poverty.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the causes of peasant unrest in Rajasthan:
I. The imposition of over 80 types of arbitrary cesses known as Lag-bag.
II. The systematic enforcement of Begar by the Jagirdars.
III. The active intervention and support of the British Paramountcy in favour of the peasant demands.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The imposition of over 80 types of arbitrary cesses known as Lag-bag.
II. The systematic enforcement of Begar by the Jagirdars.
III. The active intervention and support of the British Paramountcy in favour of the peasant demands.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Peasant unrest in Rajasthan was primarily caused by the imposition of nearly eighty-four types of arbitrary cesses, commonly known as Lag-bag. Additionally, the enforcement of unpaid forced labor, or Begar, by Jagirdars created deep resentment. Contrary to supporting peasants, the British Paramountcy generally backed the feudal rulers to maintain order and ensure steady revenue collection during that historical period.
Q6. Which Jagirdar of Bijolia imposed the controversial Chauri tax in 1903, leading to widespread outrage among the peasantry?
Explanation
The Chauri tax was imposed in 1903 by Rao Krishna Singh, the jagirdar of Bijolia in Mewar. It was levied on the marriage of a peasant’s daughter, and together with other levies it caused the widespread outrage that began the Bijolia peasant movement.
Q7. Arrange the following events related to the Bijolia Peasant Movement in chronological order:
I. Imposition of Chauri Tax by Rao Krishna Singh
II. Imposition of Talwar Bandai by Rao Prithvi Singh
III. Establishment of the Uparmal Panch Board by Vijay Singh Pathik
IV. Final settlement and withdrawal of the movement under Manikya Lal Verma
Select the correct order from the options given below:
I. Imposition of Chauri Tax by Rao Krishna Singh
II. Imposition of Talwar Bandai by Rao Prithvi Singh
III. Establishment of the Uparmal Panch Board by Vijay Singh Pathik
IV. Final settlement and withdrawal of the movement under Manikya Lal Verma
Select the correct order from the options given below:
Explanation
The Chauri tax was imposed in 1903 by Rao Krishna Singh. His successor Rao Prithvi Singh later added the Talwar Bandhai levy, and the Uparmal Panch Board was set up by Vijay Singh Pathik in 1917. The movement ended with a settlement in 1941 in which Manikya Lal Verma took part. The correct order is I, II, III, IV.
Q8. Which of the following leaders is the odd one out as they were NOT directly associated with the leadership of the Bijolia Peasant Movement?
Explanation
Sadhu Sitaram Das, Vijay Singh Pathik and Hari Bhai Kinkar all helped lead the Bijolia movement at different stages. Jai Narayan Vyas is known as a Praja Mandal leader of Jodhpur, so he is the odd one out.
Q9. Match List-I (Phase of Bijolia Movement) with
List-II (Key Leader) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
List I: (Phase of Bijolia Movement)
A. First Phase (1897-1915)
B. Second Phase (1915-1923)
C. Third Phase (1927-1941)
D. National Level Propagator
List II: (Key Leader)
i. Jamnalal Bajaj
ii. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi
iii. Vijay Singh Pathik
iv. Sadhu Sitaram Das
List-II (Key Leader) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
List I: (Phase of Bijolia Movement)
A. First Phase (1897-1915)
B. Second Phase (1915-1923)
C. Third Phase (1927-1941)
D. National Level Propagator
List II: (Key Leader)
i. Jamnalal Bajaj
ii. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi
iii. Vijay Singh Pathik
iv. Sadhu Sitaram Das
Explanation
The first phase (1897–1915) was led by Sadhu Sitaram Das, and the second (1915–1923) by Vijay Singh Pathik. In the third phase (1927–1941) Jamnalal Bajaj and others supported the peasants. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi carried the movement to a national audience through his paper Pratap. This gives A-iv, B-iii, C-i, D-ii.
Q10. What was the original birth name of the prominent revolutionary and peasant leader Vijay Singh Pathik?
Explanation
Vijay Singh Pathik was born Bhoop Singh Gurjar. He took the name Vijay Singh Pathik after joining the revolutionary movement, and he led the second phase of the Bijolia peasant movement.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (b) Systems of assessing and collecting land revenue based on crop yield |
| 2 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 3 | (c) Various arbitrary cesses and extractions imposed on peasants |
| 4 | (d) On the marriage of a peasant’s daughter |
| 5 | (a) I and II only |
| 6 | (d) Rao Krishna Singh |
| 7 | (a) I, II, III, IV |
| 8 | (b) Jai Narayan Vyas |
| 9 | (a) A-iv, B-iii, C-i, D-ii |
| 10 | (a) Bhoop Singh Gurjar |
Key facts from Peasant, Tribal and Praja Mandal Movements
- The Bijolia movement was fuelled by taxes such as the Chauri tax, linked to the marriage of a peasant’s daughter.
- Vijay Singh Pathik was born Bhoop Singh Gurjar; the Uparmal Panch Board was set up in 1917.
- The newspaper Pratap, published from Kanpur by Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, took the Bijolia grievances to a national audience.
- The Begun peasant movement was led by Ramnarayan Choudhary on the request of the peasants.
- The Dabi massacre of 2 April 1923 during the Bundi (Barad) movement took the life of Nanak Ji Bhil.
- The Mangarh massacre of 17 November 1913 is called the Jallianwala Bagh of Rajasthan; Govind Giri led the Bhagat movement.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Peasant, Tribal and Praja Mandal Movements?
This page has 102 practice MCQs on Peasant, Tribal and Praja Mandal Movements (Rajasthan History, Art and Culture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What was the Mangarh massacre?
The killing of Bhil gatherers at Mangarh Hill on 17 November 1913. It is often called the Jallianwala Bagh of Rajasthan. Govind Giri, who led a reform movement among the Bhils of the Dungarpur and Banswara region, had called the gathering.
Which movement is also called the Barad movement?
The Bundi peasant movement, which is notable for its resistance to Begar (forced labour) and heavy taxation. The firing at Dabi in April 1923, in which Nanak Ji Bhil was killed, is the best-known episode of this movement.
What was Lag-bag in the agrarian context?
Lag-bag were various arbitrary cesses and extractions imposed on peasants over and above the land revenue. They were a major cause of peasant unrest and appear in the demands of the Bijolia and other movements of the early twentieth century.