UPSC Medieval India – Chapter 18: The Marathas and the Successor States (20 MCQs)

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UPSC Medieval India – Chapter 18: The Marathas and the Successor States (20 MCQs) – 20 questions, subject: History. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The Bijapur general Afzal Khan was killed by Shivaji in 1659 near:

Correct Answer: B [Pratapgad]

Explanation:

Shivaji met and killed the Bijapur general Afzal Khan at the foot of Pratapgad fort in 1659.

2.  

The Treaty of Purandar (1665) was signed between Shivaji and:

Correct Answer: A [Raja Jai Singh]

Explanation:

Raja Jai Singh of Amber, Aurangzeb's general, forced Shivaji to sign the Treaty of Purandar in 1665, surrendering many forts.

3.  

Shivaji was crowned Chhatrapati in 1674 at:

Correct Answer: D [Raigad]

Explanation:

Shivaji was crowned at Raigad fort in June 1674 and took the title Chhatrapati.

4.  

In the Ashtapradhan, the minister in charge of foreign affairs was the:

Correct Answer: B [Sumant]

Explanation:

The Sumant (Dabir) handled foreign affairs and relations with other states in Shivaji's Ashtapradhan.

5.  

Chauth was a levy of:

Correct Answer: C [one-fourth of the land revenue]

Explanation:

Chauth means a fourth: one-fourth of the land revenue, levied on areas outside Shivaji's direct rule in return for protection.

6.  

The Maratha ruler executed by Aurangzeb in 1689 was:

Correct Answer: A [Sambhaji]

Explanation:

Sambhaji, Shivaji's elder son, was captured by the Mughals and executed on Aurangzeb's orders in 1689.

7.  

After 1689 Rajaram held out against the Mughals at:

Correct Answer: A [Gingee]

Explanation:

Rajaram escaped to Gingee fort in the Tamil country and held out there until Zulfikar Khan took it in 1698.

8.  

The Peshwa who obtained the Mughal grant of chauth and sardeshmukhi in the Deccan in 1719 was:

Correct Answer: D [Balaji Vishwanath]

Explanation:

Balaji Vishwanath, Peshwa 1713–1720, obtained the 1719 grant of chauth and sardeshmukhi of the Deccan through the Sayyid brothers.

9.  

Baji Rao I defeated the Nizam in 1728 at:

Correct Answer: B [Palkhed]

Explanation:

At Palkhed in 1728 Baji Rao I outmanoeuvred and defeated Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah.

10.  

Consider the following pairs:

1. Holkar – Indore
2. Gaekwad – Baroda
3. Bhonsle – Gwalior

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

The Holkars ruled from Indore and the Gaekwads from Baroda, but the Bhonsles ruled Nagpur, not Gwalior.

11.  

Assertion (A): The Marathas fought alone at Panipat in 1761.

Reason (R): The Rajputs, Jats and Sikhs did not join the Marathas against Abdali.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Both are true, and the absence of Rajput, Jat and Sikh support is precisely why the Marathas fought alone.

12.  

The Maratha commander at the third battle of Panipat was:

Correct Answer: B [Sadashivrao Bhau]

Explanation:

Sadashivrao Bhau, the Peshwa's cousin, commanded the Maratha army defeated by Abdali on 14 January 1761.

13.  

The founder of the independent state of Hyderabad was:

Correct Answer: B [Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah]

Explanation:

Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah founded the Hyderabad state, effectively independent of the Mughals from 1724.

14.  

The city of Jaipur was founded by:

Correct Answer: C [Sawai Jai Singh]

Explanation:

Sawai Jai Singh of Amber founded Jaipur in 1727 and also built astronomical observatories.

15.  

The Jat state of the eighteenth century was centred on:

Correct Answer: C [Bharatpur]

Explanation:

The eighteenth-century Jat state was centred on Bharatpur and reached its height under Raja Suraj Mal.

16.  

Martanda Varma of Travancore defeated the Dutch at:

Correct Answer: D [Colachel]

Explanation:

Martanda Varma defeated the Dutch East India Company's force at Colachel in 1741.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Treaty of Purandar
2. Coronation of Shivaji
3. Third battle of Panipat
4. Battle of Palkhed

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [1-2-4-3]

Explanation:

Order: Treaty of Purandar (1665) → Coronation of Shivaji (1674) → Battle of Palkhed (1728) → Third battle of Panipat (1761).

18.  

The capital of the Nawabs of Bengal in the early eighteenth century was:

Correct Answer: C [Murshidabad]

Explanation:

Murshid Quli Khan moved the Bengal capital from Dhaka to Murshidabad, which remained the Nawabs' capital.

19.  

Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk founded the autonomous state of:

Correct Answer: D [Awadh]

Explanation:

Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk, governor of Awadh from 1722, made it an autonomous hereditary state.

20.  

The Maratha kingdom of Thanjavur was founded by:

Correct Answer: A [Ekoji]

Explanation:

Ekoji (Venkoji), Shivaji's half-brother, seized Thanjavur and founded its Maratha kingdom in the 1670s.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U02 · Medieval India (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-medieval-india

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