Q61. The historical prevalence of Sati in medieval Rajasthan was primarily caused by:
Social Life: Fairs, Festivals, Customs and Attires: RAS Prelims MCQs
98 RAS Prelims MCQs on social life in Rajasthan test fairs and their months, festivals and their meaning, rituals and traditional dress. Pushkar, Nagaur, Baneshwar, Teej, Gangaur and the Holi traditions are asked with their places, communities and customs, so keep each fair paired with its month, its district and what is traded or worshipped.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 61–70 of 98 questions
Q62. Identify the incorrect statement regarding terminology associated with the Sati tradition:
Explanation
Specific terminology defines the historical Sati tradition. Saha-maran involved immolation with the husband’s body, while Anu-maran occurred with his belongings if he died elsewhere. Sati stones were erected to commemorate these acts. However, the term Maha Sati does not refer to unmarried women, but rather to those who performed Anu-maran, highlighting the extreme social expectations placed on widows in the medieval period.
Q63. The honor code of medieval Rajputana, which deeply intertwined social status with extreme acts of female sacrifice, was fundamentally rooted in protecting:
Explanation
The honor code of medieval Rajputana was fundamentally based on the protection of the clan’s perceived blood purity and the prevention of dishonor. In the context of constant warfare, extreme acts of female sacrifice like Jauhar and Sati were seen as necessary to avoid enslavement and violation by victorious enemies. This code placed the group’s reputation and dignity above individual survival in times of crisis.
Q64. Which of the following statements most appropriately describes the role of early social reformers in Rajasthan regarding the Sati tradition?
Explanation
Early social reformers in Rajasthan, including enlightened local rulers and leaders of the Prajamandal movement, played a crucial role in opposing the Sati tradition. They recognized the practice as a social evil and worked through both advocacy and administrative decrees to abolish it. Their efforts, combined with broader national reform movements, were essential in changing social attitudes and eventually securing the legal prohibition of the tradition.
Q65. Consider the following statements regarding the three major Jauhars of Chittorgarh:
I. The first Jauhar occurred in 1303 during the siege by Alauddin Khalji.
II. The second Jauhar was led by Rani Karnavati when Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked.
III. The third Jauhar took place during Akbar’s siege of Chittor in 1567-68.
IV. The third Jauhar was led by Rani Padmini.
Which of the above statements constitutes a correct combination?
I. The first Jauhar occurred in 1303 during the siege by Alauddin Khalji.
II. The second Jauhar was led by Rani Karnavati when Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked.
III. The third Jauhar took place during Akbar’s siege of Chittor in 1567-68.
IV. The third Jauhar was led by Rani Padmini.
Which of the above statements constitutes a correct combination?
Explanation
Chittorgarh witnessed three major Jauhars during its history. The first occurred in 1303 under Rani Padmini. The second took place in 1535, led by Rani Karnavati when Bahadur Shah attacked. The third occurred in 1568, where Phool Kanwar led the women during Akbar’s siege. These events are central to the martial lore of Mewar, symbolizing the extreme sacrifices made to protect regional honor.
Q66. In medieval Rajasthani warfare, a complete ‘Saka’ is defined as a situation where:
Explanation
A complete Saka is when the women perform Jauhar and the men perform the Kesariya sacrifice, riding out to die in battle.
Q67. Given below are two statements, one labeled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The practice of Jauhar was chosen over surrender by Rajput women during sieges.
Reason (R): They preferred death by fire to the perceived certainty of enslavement, torture, and violation by the victorious invading armies.
Select the correct answer:
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The practice of Jauhar was chosen over surrender by Rajput women during sieges.
Reason (R): They preferred death by fire to the perceived certainty of enslavement, torture, and violation by the victorious invading armies.
Select the correct answer:
Explanation
Rajput women chose Jauhar over surrender because they preferred death to enslavement and violation by the invaders, so the reason explains the assertion.
Q68. Identify the correct statement regarding the first recorded Jauhar in the history of Rajasthan:
Explanation
The first recorded Jauhar in Rajasthan is the one at Ranthambore in 1301, when the fort fell to Alauddin Khalji.
Q69. The historical event known as ‘Ardh Saka’ (Half Saka) where Kesariya was performed by the men, but Jauhar did not take place because the fort was successfully defended at the last moment, occurred in which princely state?
Explanation
In the Ardh Saka (Half Saka) of Jaisalmer, the men performed Kesariya, but no Jauhar took place because the fort was held at the last moment.
Q70. The tradition of Jauhar and Saka in medieval Rajasthan functioned conceptually as a form of:
Explanation
Jauhar and Saka were an ultimate act of psychological resistance by which the defenders denied the victors their spoils.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 61 | (c) Martial codes of honor and the vulnerability of widows during warfare |
| 62 | (d) ‘Maha Sati’ specifically refers to a woman who committed Sati prior to her marriage. |
| 63 | (a) The clan’s blood purity and preventing enslavement or dishonor |
| 64 | (b) Local rulers and Prajamandal leaders who actively sought its abolition |
| 65 | (a) I, II, and III only |
| 66 | (c) Women committing Jauhar and men performing the Kesariya sacrifice |
| 67 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 68 | (c) A ‘Jal Jauhar’ (water immolation) performed at Ranthambore in 1301. |
| 69 | (b) Jaisalmer |
| 70 | (d) Ultimate psychological resistance and denial of victory spoils to others |
Key facts from Social Life: Fairs, Festivals, Customs and Attires
- The Pushkar Fair is held in the month of Kartik around Purnima, with a holy bath in Pushkar Lake.
- The Ramdev Cattle Fair of Nagaur is famous for Nagauri bullocks.
- The Baneshwar fair, a Bhil tribal fair, reaches its peak on Magh Purnima.
- The Elephant Festival of Jaipur is held on the eve of Holi; the Desert Festival is held at Jaisalmer.
- Kajli Teej is famous at Bundi; Teej heralds the monsoon.
- Mosar or Nukta is the feast held on the twelfth day after a death.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Social Life: Fairs, Festivals, Customs and Attires?
This page has 98 practice MCQs on Social Life: Fairs, Festivals, Customs and Attires (Rajasthan History, Art and Culture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
In which month is the Pushkar Fair held?
In the Hindu month of Kartik, around the full moon. Pilgrims bathe in the holy Pushkar Lake during Purnima, and the fair is also a large cattle and camel trading event that draws visitors from across India and abroad.
Where is the Desert Festival held?
At Jaisalmer, where it is organised every year by the Rajasthan tourism department. The festival showcases folk music, dance and crafts of the desert region and is meant to promote the cultural heritage and tourism of the area.
What is Deepdan?
Deepdan is the tradition of offering lamps in water, and in Rajasthan it is most strongly associated with the lakes of Pushkar and Kolayat. Devotees float lamps in the lakes as an act of worship, especially on the full-moon night of Kartik.