Q1. Which event is generally considered the first instance of open Maratha interference in the internal political affairs of a Rajput state during the 18th century?
Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries: RAS Prelims MCQs
101 RAS Prelims MCQs on Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th centuries cover the decline of Mughal authority, Maratha pressure, Pindari raids and the British treaties of 1817 and 1818. Questions ask about alliances, battles, the order in which states signed and the working of the Rajputana Agency, so learn the sequence of events together with the names.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 1–10 of 101 questions
Q2. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The decline of Mughal authority in the 18th century led to severe political instability in Rajputana.
Reason (R): Rajput states formed a permanent and successful confederacy to replace the Mughal paramountcy.
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The decline of Mughal authority in the 18th century led to severe political instability in Rajputana.
Reason (R): Rajput states formed a permanent and successful confederacy to replace the Mughal paramountcy.
Explanation
The decline of Mughal authority during the eighteenth century indeed created a power vacuum, resulting in political instability across Rajputana. While Rajput states attempted various alliances to manage the shifting power dynamics, they never successfully formed a permanent or unified confederacy to replace Mughal paramountcy. Internal rivalries and mutual distrust consistently hampered collective efforts, leaving the region vulnerable to external forces.
Q3. Identify the correct statement regarding the Hurda Conference held on July 17, 1734.
Explanation
Rajput rulers convened the Hurda Conference in July 1734 to address the rising threat of Maratha expansion. Maharana Jagat Singh II of Mewar presided over this meeting, which aimed to establish a unified front. Rulers agreed to coordinate military actions after the monsoon season, although the agreement ultimately failed due to internal differences, mutual distrust, and lack of decisive action.
Q4. Match the Rajput rulers in List I with their respective states in List II during the 18th-century political realignments:
| Rajput Ruler | State |
|---|---|
| A. Sawai Jai Singh | i. Mewar |
| B. Jagat Singh II | ii. Jaipur |
| C. Abhai Singh | iii. Bundi |
| D. Umed Singh | iv. Marwar |
Explanation
During eighteenth-century political realignments, specific rulers were associated with their respective states in Rajputana. Sawai Jai Singh governed Jaipur, while Maharana Jagat Singh II led Mewar. Maharaja Abhai Singh ruled over Marwar, and Rao Raja Umed Singh was associated with the state of Bundi. These rulers were pivotal figures during various Maratha interventions and internal disputes that defined the era’s regional politics.
Q5. Which of the following was NOT a direct consequence of the decline of Mughal paramountcy for the states of Rajputana?
Explanation
The weakening of the Mughal Empire allowed Rajput rulers to assert independence, yet it also increased their vulnerability to Maratha and Pindari raids. While internal disputes regarding boundaries and successions became frequent, the Rajput states failed to establish a unified empire. Instead, the period was characterized by political fragmentation and intense rivalries between different principalities, rather than a collective north Indian empire.
Q6. Consider the following statements regarding the Rajput response to the declining Mughal authority:
I. They attempted to expand their territories at the expense of weaker neighbors.
II. They successfully negotiated a permanent peace treaty with the Maratha Peshwa in 1740.
III. They frequently sought the military assistance of Maratha chieftains against rival Rajput clans.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. They attempted to expand their territories at the expense of weaker neighbors.
II. They successfully negotiated a permanent peace treaty with the Maratha Peshwa in 1740.
III. They frequently sought the military assistance of Maratha chieftains against rival Rajput clans.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
As Mughal authority waned, Rajput rulers attempted to expand their territories by encroaching on weaker neighbors. However, they failed to negotiate any permanent peace treaty with the Marathas. Instead, rival Rajput clans frequently sought Maratha military assistance to resolve internal succession conflicts, which only increased the Maratha influence and financial burden on the region’s states, rather than establishing long-term regional peace.
Q7. What was the primary cause for the failure of the Rajput rulers to maintain a united front after the death of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb?
Explanation
Following the death of Aurangzeb, the Rajput states struggled to maintain unity against external threats. The primary cause for this failure was deep-seated mutual distrust and long-standing clan rivalries among the various Rajput houses. These internal divisions prevented the formation of a cohesive alliance, allowing external powers like the Marathas to exploit the situation for tribute and further destabilize the region.
Q8. The famous Triple Alliance formed in 1708 to secure independence from Mughal intervention involved the rulers of which three states?
Explanation
The Triple Alliance of 1708 was a significant diplomatic effort involving the rulers of Mewar, Marwar, and Amber. This alliance aimed to recover their respective ancestral territories from Mughal control and secure independence from imperial intervention.
Q9. In the context of Maratha invasions in Rajputana, the financial exaction levied by the Marathas to spare a territory from plunder was commonly known as:
Explanation
During the eighteenth century, Maratha forces frequently invaded Rajputana primarily for financial extraction. They levied a specific tribute known as Chauth, which was theoretically one-fourth of the land revenue. Paying this amount was necessary for a territory to be spared from systematic plunder and raids by the Maratha armies, becoming a regular and burdensome feature of regional politics and state finance.
Q10. Arrange the following battles involving Marathas and Rajput states in chronological order:
I. Battle of Tunga
II. Battle of Rajmahal
III. Battle of Patan
IV. Battle of Malpura
Select the correct order from the options below:
I. Battle of Tunga
II. Battle of Rajmahal
III. Battle of Patan
IV. Battle of Malpura
Select the correct order from the options below:
Explanation
Several significant battles occurred between Maratha and Rajput forces in a specific sequence. The Battle of Rajmahal took place in 1747, followed by the Battle of Tunga in 1787. Subsequently, the Battle of Patan occurred in 1790, and the Battle of Malpura was fought in 1800. These engagements reflect the shifting military fortunes and the persistent Maratha pressure on the Rajputana states.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (b) The Bundi succession dispute of 1734 |
| 2 | (c) A is true but R is false. |
| 3 | (c) It was presided over by Maharana Jagat Singh II of Mewar to unite Rajput rulers against Maratha incursions. |
| 4 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 5 | (c) Establishment of a unified Rajput empire across northern India |
| 6 | (c) I and III only |
| 7 | (d) The lack of mutual trust and intense clan rivalries among Rajput houses |
| 8 | (a) Mewar, Marwar, and Amber |
| 9 | (c) Chauth |
| 10 | (b) II, I, III, IV |
Key facts from Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
- The Triple Alliance of 1708 brought Mewar, Marwar and Amber together against Mughal interference.
- The Bundi succession dispute of 1734 is seen as the first open Maratha interference in a Rajput state.
- The Battle of Tunga in 1787 was fought between Mahadji Scindia and the combined forces of Jaipur and Jodhpur.
- Tonk was granted to Amir Khan Pindari and recognised as a state by the British in 1817.
- Charles Metcalfe negotiated the treaties of subordinate isolation with most Rajput states.
- The Krishna Kumari dispute led to a war involving Jaipur and Jodhpur.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries?
This page has 101 practice MCQs on Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries (Rajasthan History, Art and Culture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What was Chauth?
Chauth was a payment demanded by the Marathas from a territory in return for sparing it from plunder, usually reckoned as a quarter of the revenue. Rajput states paid it in the eighteenth century because they could not resist Maratha armies.
Who was Amir Khan in Rajasthan’s history?
Amir Khan was a Pindari leader who took part in the internal conflicts of Rajputana. After the Pindari wars the British recognised him as ruler, and Tonk was granted to him and recognised as a state in 1817.
What did the British aim for in the Rajputana treaties?
To create a buffer of dependent states that would protect British territories. Under the treaties the states accepted British paramountcy, paid for auxiliary forces and gave up independent dealings with other states.