UPSC Modern Indian History – Chapter 1: India in the Mid-Eighteenth Century – Decline of the Mughals and the Regional States (21 MCQs)

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UPSC Modern Indian History – Chapter 1: India in the Mid-Eighteenth Century – Decline of the Mughals and the Regional States (21 MCQs) – 19 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 Mughal emperor Aurangzeb died in:

Correct Answer: A [1707]

Explanation:

Aurangzeb died in 1707, which began the period of weak later Mughals and rapid decline.

2.  

The Sayyid brothers are known in Mughal history as:

Correct Answer: C ["king-makers" who set up and removed emperors]

Explanation:

Sayyid Abdullah Khan and Husain Ali Khan placed Farrukhsiyar on the throne in 1713 and later deposed him, earning the title king-makers.

3.  

Nadir Shah defeated the Mughal army in 1739 at:

Correct Answer: A [Karnal]

Explanation:

Nadir Shah routed Muhammad Shah's army at Karnal in February 1739 and then entered and sacked Delhi.

4.  

The Third Battle of Panipat (1761) was fought between Ahmad Shah Abdali and the:

Correct Answer: A [Marathas]

Explanation:

led by Sadashiv Rao Bhau.

5.  

The State of Hyderabad was founded in 1724 by:

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

Explanation:

Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah defeated the Mughal governor at Shakar Kheda and founded Hyderabad State in 1724.

6.  

Which one of the following is a "successor state" of the Mughal Empire?

Correct Answer: D [Awadh]

Explanation:

Awadh was a Mughal province whose governor, Saadat Khan, became virtually independent while keeping formal ties with the emperor.

7.  

Sawai Jai Singh of Amber is known for:

Correct Answer: D [building astronomical observatories]

Explanation:

Jantar Mantar.

8.  

Consider the following statements:
1. Baji Rao I defeated the Nizam at Palkhed.
2. Balaji Vishwanath was Peshwa at the time of the Third Battle of Panipat.
3. Madhav Rao I restored Maratha power after Panipat.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 3 only]

Explanation:

Baji Rao I won at Palkhed in 1728 and Madhav Rao I revived Maratha power after 1761; statement 2 is wrong.

9.  

Assertion (A): The Mughal jagirdari system faced a crisis in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.
Reason (R): The number of mansabdars grew faster than the land available for assignment as jagirs.

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

Explanation:

Both statements are true, and the shortage of jagirs for the growing body of mansabdars is what caused the jagirdari crisis.

10.  

The Holkars of the Maratha confederacy ruled from:

Correct Answer: B [Indore]

Explanation:

The Holkars ruled from Indore, one of the five main units of the Maratha Confederacy.

11.  

Bharatpur became a strong State under the Jat ruler:

Correct Answer: D [Suraj Mal]

Explanation:

Suraj Mal consolidated Jat power and made Bharatpur a strong State in the mid-eighteenth century.

12.  

Farrukhsiyar's farman of 1717 is important because it:

Correct Answer: D [gave the English Company duty-free trade in Bengal]

Explanation:

The 1717 farman let the English Company trade in Bengal without paying customs duties, using dastaks.

13.  

The Peacock Throne was carried away from Delhi by:

Correct Answer: B [Nadir Shah]

Explanation:

1739.

14.  

Who among the following became the de facto ruler of Mysore by 1761?

Correct Answer: C [Haidar Ali]

Explanation:

Haidar Ali, a soldier in Wodeyar service, became the de facto ruler of Mysore by 1761, keeping the Wodeyars as nominal kings.

15.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:
1. Battle of Karnal
2. Death of Aurangzeb
3. Third Battle of Panipat
4. Foundation of Hyderabad State by Nizam-ul-Mulk
Select the correct answer:

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

Explanation:

1707, 1724, 1739, 1761.

16.  

Consider the following about the eighteenth century:
1. Bengal, Awadh and Hyderabad continued to be prosperous in many respects.
2. The Jagat Seths were powerful bankers of Bengal.
3. Tols and madrasas were among the centres of traditional learning.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]

Explanation:

All three statements are true: regional prosperity continued, the Jagat Seths were Bengal's bankers, and tols and madrasas were traditional schools.

17.  

The Madurai Nayak line came to an end in:

Correct Answer: A [1736]

Explanation:

In 1736 Chanda Sahib took Tiruchirappalli from Queen Meenakshi, the last Madurai Nayak ruler, ending the line.

18.  

The Sikh leader executed by the Mughals in 1716 was:

Correct Answer: B [Banda Bahadur]

Explanation:

Banda Bahadur, who led the Sikh revolt after Guru Gobind Singh, was captured and executed at Delhi in 1716.

19.  
UPSC Prelims 2021

With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad state.
2. The Mysore kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire.
3. Rohilkhand kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: B [2 only]

Explanation:

Mysore emerged out of the Vijayanagara Empire.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U03 · Modern Indian History (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-modern-indian-history

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