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 61–70 of 101 questions
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q61. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Tyag Pratha’ in Rajasthan: I. It was a mandatory custom where huge sums of money were given to Charans, Bhats, and Dholis on the occasion of a Rajput daughter’s marriage. II. It caused severe financial ruin among Rajput families, leading to female infanticide. III. It was legally protected and encouraged by the British Political Agents. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Tyag Pratha involved mandatory payments to Charans and Bhats during Rajput marriages. This custom often led to severe financial ruin for families, which was a significant factor contributing to the practice of female infanticide. While reformists and British officials later tried to regulate it, the practice was originally an indigenous custom and not legally protected by the British Political Agents.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q62. Arrange the formal banning of the following social evils in Rajasthan in chronological order: I. Sati Pratha (first banned in Bundi) II. Female Infanticide (first banned in Kota) III. Dakan Pratha (banned in Mewar) Select the correct sequence from the options below:
Explanation
The formal banning of social evils in Rajasthan occurred in a specific sequence. Sati was first banned in Bundi in 1822. This was followed by the prohibition of female infanticide in Kota in 1833. Much later, the practice of Dakan Pratha or witchcraft was officially banned in Mewar in 1853, reflecting the gradual influence of modern reformist ideas and British pressure.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q63. Match the social evils in List I with the state that first banned them in List II:
Social Evil
State that first banned it
A. Sati
i. Kota
B. Female Infanticide
ii. Bundi
C. Dakan Pratha (Witchcraft)
iii. Jaipur
D. Samadhi Pratha
iv. Mewar
Explanation
Different social reforms were pioneered by various states: Bundi first banned Sati, while Kota prohibited female infanticide. The practice of Dakan Pratha was first banned in Mewar, and Jaipur was the first to outlaw Samadhi Pratha. These legislative actions illustrate the varying pace and focus of social reform movements across the different princely states during the nineteenth century.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q64. The ‘Walter Krit Rajputra Hitkarini Sabha’ was established in 1889 primarily to address which social issues among the Rajputs?
Explanation
The Walter Krit Rajputra Hitkarini Sabha was established in 1889 by Colonel Walter to address social issues within the Rajput community. Its primary focus was on regulating exorbitant marriage costs, known as Tyag, and addressing the problems of polygamy and early marriage. By setting specific limits on expenditures and ages, the Sabha aimed to reduce the financial burdens that led to social evils.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q65. Consider the following statements regarding social practices in 19th-century Rajasthan: Statement I: The prevalence of female infanticide in 19th-century Rajasthan was primarily confined to the Rajput community. Statement II: The root cause of this practice was the false pride in clan superiority and the heavy financial burden of dowry and Tyag.
Explanation
Female infanticide was primarily confined to the Rajput community in nineteenth-century Rajasthan. This tragic practice was driven by a false sense of clan superiority and the immense financial burden associated with dowry and the Tyag custom. Families feared the social disgrace of being unable to afford an appropriate marriage for a daughter, leading them to resort to such extreme measures.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q66. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the status of women in 19th-century Rajasthan.
Explanation
In nineteenth-century Rajasthan, the purdah system was common among upper-class families, and child marriage was widespread across castes. However, formal education for women was not widespread or state-sponsored in villages. Women in peasant and tribal communities had more mobility due to their economic roles in agriculture, but general educational opportunities for women remained extremely limited during this historical period.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q67. The ‘Dakan Pratha’ (Witch-hunting), which was officially banned by Maharana Swaroop Singh of Mewar in 1853, primarily victimized women of which communities?
Explanation
The ‘Dakan Pratha’ or witch-hunting primarily victimized women from the Bhil and Meena tribal communities. This practice was based on local superstitions where women were accused of witchcraft and subjected to severe violence. Maharana Swaroop Singh of Mewar officially banned this practice in 1853, largely due to the persistent efforts and pressure from British officials stationed in tribal regions.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q68. 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:
Explanation
In the agrarian structure of Rajasthan, Khalsa land referred to territories directly managed by the state administration. The revenue collected from these lands went straight to the central treasury of the ruler. This distinguished Khalsa land from Jagir land, where revenue was granted to nobles in exchange for military service, or Sasan land, which was granted for religious or charitable purposes.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q69. 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?
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.
RAS PrelimsRajasthan History, Art and Culture · Rajasthan in the 18th and 19th Centuries
Q70. 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.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
61
(a) I and II only
62
(a) I, II, III
63
(a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii
64
(c) Regulating marriage costs, polygamy, and marriageable ages
65
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.
66
(a) Formal education for women was widespread and state-sponsored in every village.
67
(b) Bhil and Meena tribal communities
68
(b) Khalsa
69
(d) I, II, III, and IV
70
(c) Zakat - Tax levied exclusively on agricultural produce by volume
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.
