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 31–40 of 101 questions
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q31. Consider the following statements regarding the early British entry into Rajputana before 1817: I. Lord Wellesley initiated the policy of forming alliances with Rajput states to counter Maratha power. II. Treaties signed in 1803 with states like Bharatpur and Alwar were strictly based on mutual non-interference. III. Lord Cornwallis strictly continued Wellesley’s aggressive alliance policy in Rajputana. IV. The British initially cancelled several treaties after 1805 following a policy of non-intervention. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Lord Wellesley initiated alliances with states like Bharatpur and Alwar in 1803 to counter Maratha power, emphasizing mutual non-interference. However, Lord Cornwallis and his successor did not continue this aggressive policy. Instead, after 1805, the British adopted a policy of non-intervention and cancelled several existing treaties, temporarily withdrawing from active political engagement in the affairs of the Rajputana states.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q32. Arrange the following states in the chronological order of signing the treaties of Subordinate Alliance with the British in 1817-18: I. Karauli II. Kota III. Mewar (Udaipur) IV. Jaipur Select the correct sequence from the options below:
Explanation
The process of signing Subordinate Alliance treaties with the British followed a specific chronological order in 1817 and 1818. Karauli was the first to sign in November 1817, followed by Kota in December 1817. Mewar entered the alliance in January 1818, while Jaipur signed its treaty later in April 1818, marking the gradual expansion of British paramountcy across the region.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q33. Match the British officials in List I with their respective roles or events in Rajputana in List II:
British Official
Role/Event in Rajputana
A. Lord Wellesley
i. Initiated the Subordinate Isolation policy (1817)
B. Lord Hastings
ii. First to propose alliances during Second Maratha War (1803)
C. Charles Metcalfe
iii. First Political Agent in Mewar and Marwar
D. James Tod
iv. Chief negotiator of the 1817-18 treaties with Rajput states
Explanation
British officials played distinct roles in Rajputana. Lord Wellesley proposed early alliances in 1803, while Lord Hastings initiated the Subordinate Isolation policy in 1817. Charles Metcalfe acted as the chief negotiator for the 1817-18 treaties. James Tod is famously remembered as the first Political Agent in Mewar and Marwar, contributing extensively to the recorded history of the region.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q34. Which British official was predominantly responsible for negotiating the Treaties of Subordinate Isolation with the majority of the Rajput states in 1817-18?
Explanation
Charles Metcalfe, a prominent British diplomat and official, was the individual primarily responsible for negotiating the Treaties of Subordinate Isolation with the majority of the Rajput states between 1817 and 1818. Working under the instructions of Lord Hastings, his diplomatic efforts were crucial in bringing the various principalities of Rajputana under the framework of British protection and ultimate paramountcy.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q35. Among the states of Rajputana, which was the last to sign the treaty of Subordinate Alliance with the British East India Company in 1823?
Explanation
While most Rajput states had concluded treaties with the East India Company by 1818, Sirohi was the last to sign a treaty of Subordinate Alliance. This event took place in 1823. The delay was primarily due to a long-standing territorial dispute with Jodhpur, which claimed suzerainty over Sirohi, necessitating prolonged negotiations before the British recognized its independent sovereign status.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q36. Which of the following is the most accurate description of the primary objective of the British East India Company in making treaties with Rajput states in 1817-18?
Explanation
The primary British objective in negotiating treaties with the Rajput states in 1817-18 was strategic security. By establishing a network of dependent states, the East India Company created a buffer zone that protected British-held territories from external threats like the Marathas and Pindaris. This policy ensured regional stability while maintaining indirect control without the high costs of direct administration.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q37. The British policy towards the Indian princely states implemented through the treaties of 1817- 18 is historically characterized as the policy of:
Explanation
The British policy established through the 1817- 18 treaties is known as Subordinate Isolation. Under this framework, the Rajput states accepted the paramountcy of the British Crown and were prohibited from forming alliances or communicating with each other independently. While they were granted internal autonomy, their external relations were strictly managed by the British, effectively isolating them from one another politically.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q38. 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
Q39. 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
Q40. 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.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
31
(b) I, II, and IV only
32
(a) I, II, III, IV
33
(a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii
34
(b) Charles Metcalfe
35
(d) Sirohi
36
(a) Creating a buffer of dependent states to secure British lands
37
(c) Subordinate Isolation
38
(a) I and II only
39
(c) Lord Hastings - Suppression of Pindaris and Subordinate Cooperation treaties
40
(d) Maintenance of auxiliary military contingents commanded by British officers
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.
