Q31. What was a significant sociological effect observed during the Bundi Peasant Movement?
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 31–40 of 102 questions
Q32. Match List-I (Peasant Movement) with List-II (Key Leader) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Peasant Movement | Key Leader |
|---|---|
| A. Bundi Peasant Movement | i. Vijay Singh Pathik |
| B. Begun Peasant Movement | ii. Nayanuram Sharma |
| C. Bijolia Peasant Movement (Phase II) | iii. Ramnarayan Choudhary |
| D. Bikaner Peasant Agitation | iv. Kumbharam Arya |
Explanation
Nayanuram Sharma led the Bundi movement, Ramnarayan Choudhary the Begun movement, Vijay Singh Pathik the second phase of Bijolia, and Kumbharam Arya the Bikaner peasant agitation. This gives A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv.
Q33. What was the primary grievance that ignited the tribal movements, specifically among the Bhils, in southern Rajasthan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
Explanation
The Bhil unrest arose mainly from the state’s encroachment on traditional forest rights and tribal autonomy. Restrictions on forest produce, new taxes and forced labour pushed the Bhils into movements led by Govind Giri and Motilal Tejawat.
Q34. Consider the following grievances of the tribal population in Rajasthan:
I. Restriction on traditional forest rights and use of timber.
II. State monopoly and new taxes on the production of salt and opium.
III. Extraction of forced unpaid labour (Begar) by state officials.
IV. Interference in the traditional tribal taxation system like Rakhwali and Bolai.
V. The forced implementation of modern banking systems replacing local moneylenders.
Which of the above grievances led to tribal unrest?
I. Restriction on traditional forest rights and use of timber.
II. State monopoly and new taxes on the production of salt and opium.
III. Extraction of forced unpaid labour (Begar) by state officials.
IV. Interference in the traditional tribal taxation system like Rakhwali and Bolai.
V. The forced implementation of modern banking systems replacing local moneylenders.
Which of the above grievances led to tribal unrest?
Explanation
Restrictions on forest rights, the state monopoly and taxes on salt and opium, forced labour and interference with Rakhwali and Bolai were genuine tribal grievances. Modern banking replacing moneylenders was not, so I, II, III and IV only are correct.
Q35. Which of the following was NOT a traditional right exercised by the Bhils that was challenged by the colonial-feudal state apparatus?
Explanation
Bhils had the right to collect forest produce, brew liquor from Mahua and collect Rakhwali and Bolai, and the state challenged these rights. A right to mint their own silver currency was never theirs, so it is the exception.
Q36. In the context of Bhil tribal identity and grievances, the term ‘Rakhwali’ referred to:
Explanation
Rakhwali was the traditional protection tax that the Bhils collected from travellers and villages in return for guarding them. When the state interfered with it, it became a cause of Bhil unrest.
Q37. Identify the correctly matched pair regarding traditional tribal terms and their meanings.
Explanation
Bolai was a tax levied by the Bhils on goods passing through their territory. Together with Rakhwali it was part of the traditional tribal system of taxation that the state restricted.
Q38. Read the following statements regarding the British impact on tribal life in Rajasthan and select the correct option:
Statement I: The British East India Company treaties with Rajputana states led to increased administrative centralization, threatening Bhil autonomy.
Statement II: The British successfully eradicated the exploitative moneylender (Baniya) class from the tribal belts, leading to tribal prosperity.
Statement I: The British East India Company treaties with Rajputana states led to increased administrative centralization, threatening Bhil autonomy.
Statement II: The British successfully eradicated the exploitative moneylender (Baniya) class from the tribal belts, leading to tribal prosperity.
Explanation
British treaties with the Rajputana states increased administrative centralisation, which threatened Bhil autonomy, so Statement I is correct. The British did not remove the moneylenders or bring the tribes prosperity, so Statement II is incorrect.
Q39. Which of the following issues stands as the odd one out because it was fundamentally a tribal grievance rather than a general peasant grievance in Rajasthan?
Explanation
High land revenue, the Lata and Kunta systems and arbitrary eviction troubled peasants in general. The loss of the right to brew liquor from Mahua was a particular grievance of the tribal population, so it is the odd one out.
Q40. The socio-religious reform movement among the Bhils of the Dungarpur and Banswara region, which later transformed into a political struggle, was initiated by which leader?
Explanation
Govind Giri (Govindguru) began a socio-religious reform movement among the Bhils of the Dungarpur and Banswara region, which later grew into a political struggle. Motilal Tejawat led the Eka movement.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 31 | (a) Wide participation of local women in challenging the police and supporting the movement. |
| 32 | (a) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv |
| 33 | (a) Encroachment by the state on their traditional forest rights and tribal autonomy. |
| 34 | (a) I, II, III and IV only |
| 35 | (b) Right to mint independent silver currency for trade |
| 36 | (c) A traditional protection tax collected by Bhils from travelers and villages. |
| 37 | (d) Bolai - A tax levied by Bhils on goods passing through their territory |
| 38 | (c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect |
| 39 | (b) Loss of rights to brew liquor from Mahua flowers. |
| 40 | (b) Govind Giri |
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.