Q71. The system of extracting compulsory and unpaid labor from peasants and lower castes by the rulers and jagirdars was commonly known as:
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 71–80 of 101 questions
Q72. Consider the following statements regarding the impact of British-inspired land revenue settlements on the peasants of Rajasthan:
Statement I: The introduction of cash-based revenue settlements provided immense relief to the peasants and reduced their dependency on moneylenders.
Statement II: Rigid demand for revenue in cash, even during famine years, drove peasants deep into debt and alienation of their lands.
Statement I: The introduction of cash-based revenue settlements provided immense relief to the peasants and reduced their dependency on moneylenders.
Statement II: Rigid demand for revenue in cash, even during famine years, drove peasants deep into debt and alienation of their lands.
Explanation
British-inspired land revenue settlements did not provide relief to peasants. While they introduced cash payments, this requirement proved difficult during famine years. Rigid cash demands forced peasants to borrow from moneylenders at high interest rates, leading to chronic debt and the eventual alienation of land. The transition to a cash economy primarily benefited the state revenue at the expense of the peasantry.
Q73. Which of the following is considered the most appropriate reason for the severe peasant distress in 19th-century Rajasthan?
Explanation
Severe peasant distress in nineteenth-century Rajasthan resulted from dual exploitation. On one hand, the state and jagirdars demanded exorbitant land revenue and numerous cesses. On the other hand, to meet these demands, peasants were forced to take high-interest loans from Mahajans. This cycle of debt and heavy taxation, combined with frequent droughts, created a state of constant agrarian crisis.
Q74. Which of the following was NOT a characteristic feature of the Jagirdari system in Rajasthan?
Explanation
In the Jagirdari system, jagirdars held land for military service and exercised significant local power. Theoretically, the estate reverted to the ruler upon the jagirdar’s death until a succession fee was paid. However, peasants on these lands did not enjoy permanent or alienable tenancy rights; they were often subject to the arbitrary will of the jagirdar regarding land use and revenue collection.
Q75. The British East India Company secured a monopoly over salt production in Rajasthan through the Salt Treaties of 1869-70. Which major lake was the primary focus of these treaties?
Explanation
The British East India Company focused on Sambhar Lake to secure a monopoly over salt production in Rajasthan. Through the Salt Treaties of 1869-70, the British gained control over this major salt-producing site from the states of Jaipur and Jodhpur. This move was part of a broader strategy to control essential commodities and maximize imperial revenue through systematic salt taxation.
Q76. Consider the following statements regarding the economic impact of British policies in Rajasthan:
I. The British established a monopoly over opium cultivation and trade.
II. The abolition of transit duties (Rahdari) uniformly benefited local traders over British merchants.
III. The introduction of railways accelerated the ruin of local artisans by flooding markets with British goods.
IV. British salt treaties severely damaged the livelihood of the local Banjara communities.
V. Commercialization of agriculture made peasants less vulnerable to famines.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The British established a monopoly over opium cultivation and trade.
II. The abolition of transit duties (Rahdari) uniformly benefited local traders over British merchants.
III. The introduction of railways accelerated the ruin of local artisans by flooding markets with British goods.
IV. British salt treaties severely damaged the livelihood of the local Banjara communities.
V. Commercialization of agriculture made peasants less vulnerable to famines.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
British economic policies included a monopoly on opium and the use of railways to export goods, which often ruined local artisans. Salt treaties also damaged the livelihood of Banjaras. However, the abolition of transit duties primarily benefited British merchants rather than local traders. Furthermore, the commercialization of agriculture often left peasants more vulnerable to famines by prioritizing cash crops over food production.
Q77. The introduction of railways in Rajasthan in the late 19th century had a dual economic impact. While it facilitated rapid transport of goods, what was its major negative consequence for the local economy?
Explanation
While railways improved transportation, they had a negative impact during periods of crop failure. The facility to move goods rapidly allowed for the continued export of grains to other regions even during local scarcity. This movement of food away from famine-affected areas in Rajasthan drove up local prices and significantly exacerbated the demographic and economic impact of the recurring nineteenth-century disasters.
Q78. To control the lucrative opium trade from Malwa and Mewar, the British introduced a system where opium could only be exported through Bombay after paying a heavy duty. This system was enforced using:
Explanation
To control the opium trade from Malwa and Mewar, the British established an Opium Agency system. This required all opium exports to be routed through British-controlled territories, specifically to the port of Bombay. By imposing heavy duties at these points, the British effectively captured the profits from the trade, while also restricting the traditional export routes used by local merchants.
Q79. The abolition of ‘Rahdari’ (transit duties) in various Rajput states under British pressure was ostensibly done to promote free trade. Who were the actual major beneficiaries of this policy?
Explanation
The abolition of ‘Rahdari’ or transit duties was ostensibly for promoting free trade, but the actual beneficiaries were British merchants. Removing these duties lowered the cost for British machine-made goods to enter and move through the princely states. While it reduced local state revenues, it facilitated the dominance of British products in local markets, further disadvantaging indigenous artisans and transporters.
Q80. Before the British monopolized local resources, which of the following was the most prominent export commodity from Rajputana that generated significant wealth for the local states?
Explanation
Before British monopolization, salt was one of the most prominent export commodities from Rajputana. Large-scale production at lakes like Sambhar generated significant wealth for the local states and provided a livelihood for thousands of people, including the Banjaras. Its trade was a vital part of the regional economy, connecting Rajasthan with various other parts of northern and central India for centuries.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 71 | (c) Begar |
| 72 | (d) Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct. |
| 73 | (d) Dual exploitation by exorbitant state revenue and high-interest loans |
| 74 | (a) The peasants in jagir lands enjoyed permanent, alienable tenancy rights. |
| 75 | (c) Sambhar Lake |
| 76 | (b) I, III, and IV only |
| 77 | (b) Export of grains during scarcity, which exacerbated famines. |
| 78 | (c) Opium Agency routing of trade through British territory exclusively |
| 79 | (d) British merchants and machine-made goods manufacturers |
| 80 | (a) Salt |
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.