Question 1

Consider the following statements regarding Nadir Shah's invasion of India:
1. The invasion occurred during the reign of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah.
2. As a consequence of the invasion, Mughal territory to the east of the Indus, including Kabul, was lost to the Persians.
3. The invasion resulted in the transfer of the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond from Mughal possession.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct. Nadir Shah's invasion of India took place in 1738-39, which was during the reign of Muhammad Shah (1719-48). Statement 2 is incorrect. Nadir Shah gained strategically important Mughal territory to the west of the Indus river, which included Kabul, not to the east. Statement 3 is correct. The invasion led to the looting of Delhi, and among the treasures taken were the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond. Therefore, only two statements are correct.

Question 2

Consider the following statements regarding Ahmad Shah Abdali's interventions in India:
1. Following his capture of Delhi in 1757, Abdali appointed the Rohilla chief, Najib-ud-Daula, as Mir Bakhshi of the empire.
2. The Mughals attempted to secure peace by ceding the province of Punjab to Abdali.
3. The Maratha chief Raghunath Rao captured Punjab and expelled Abdali's agent from Delhi in 1758.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

All three. Statement 1 is correct. After capturing Delhi in 1757, Abdali recognised Alamgir II as emperor and appointed the Rohilla chief, Najib-ud-Daula, as Mir Bakhshi to act as his 'supreme agent'. Statement 2 is correct. The Mughals tried to buy peace in 1751–52 by ceding Punjab to Ahmad Shah Abdali. Statement 3 is correct. In 1758, the Maratha chief Raghunath Rao expelled Najib-ud-Daula (Abdali's agent) from Delhi and also captured Punjab. Therefore, all three statements are correct.

Question 3

Statement-I: The first half of the 18th century witnessed the establishment of independent states like Hyderabad, Bengal, and Awadh.
Statement-II: The reign of Muhammad Shah, though long, was marked by incompetent rule, which prevented a revival of imperial fortunes and allowed local chiefs to assert independence.

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Statement-I is correct. The text explicitly mentions that Muhammad Shah’s reign witnessed the establishment of the independent states of Hyderabad, Bengal, Awadh, and Punjab. Statement-II is also correct. It states that Muhammad Shah was an incompetent ruler and that during his long spell of 29 years, a revival of imperial fortunes did not take place. This incompetence and weakness at the center directly facilitated the process of regional chiefs and governors breaking away to form independent states. Thus, Statement-II provides the correct explanation for the political fragmentation described in Statement-I.

Question 4

Consider the following statements regarding the reigns of the Later Mughals:
1. The Battle of Plassey was fought during the reign of Shah Alam II.
2. Nizam-ul-Mulk founded the independent state of Hyderabad during the reign of Muhammad Shah.
3. The Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I invaded Delhi in 1737, during the reign of Ahmad Shah Bahadur.
4. The Sayyid brothers dethroned Farrukhsiyar with the assistance of Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is incorrect. The Battle of Plassey was fought in June 1757 during the reign of Alamgir II (1754–59). Shah Alam II's reign began in 1760. Statement 2 is correct. In 1724, during the reign of Muhammad Shah, Nizam-ul-Mulk became the wazir and established the independent state of Hyderabad. Statement 3 is incorrect. The invasion of Delhi by Baji Rao I occurred in 1737, which falls within the reign of Muhammad Shah 'Rangeela' (1719–48), not Ahmad Shah Bahadur (1748–1754). Statement 4 is correct. In 1719, the Sayyid brothers, with help from Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, dethroned Emperor Farrukhsiyar. Therefore, only two statements are correct.

Question 5

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The legal termination of the Mughal Empire occurred on November 1, 1858, with Queen Victoria's declaration.

Statement-II: The successors of Aurangzeb were largely capable rulers who, despite challenges, managed to halt the process of imperial disintegration.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. Statement-I is correct. The Mughal Empire legally came to an end on November 1, 1858, through the declaration of Queen Victoria. Statement-II is incorrect. The historical consensus is that the emperors who succeeded Aurangzeb were generally incapable, weak, and licentious, which hastened the empire's disintegration. Had they been capable rulers, the decline might have been checked.

Question 6

Consider the following pairs:
1. Rafi-ud-Darajat : Ruled for the shortest period among the Mughals
2. Udham Bai : Ruled with the help of her paramour, Javid Khan
3. Rafi-ud-Daula : Given the title of Shah Jahan III
4. Muhammad Shah : Dethroned by the Sayyid brothers with Maratha help

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Pair 1 is correctly matched. Rafi-ud-Darajat's reign from February to June 1719 was the shortest among the Mughal emperors. Pair 2 is correctly matched. Udham Bai, mother of Ahmad Shah Bahadur, was a lady of poor intellect who ruled with the help of her paramour, the eunuch Javid Khan. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched. Rafi-ud-Daula was given the title Shah Jahan II, not Shah Jahan III. Shah Jahan III was a different ruler also known as Muhi-ul-millat. Pair 4 is incorrectly matched. Farrukhsiyar was the emperor dethroned by the Sayyid brothers with the help of Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath in 1719. Muhammad Shah, in fact, killed the Sayyid Brothers with the help of Nizam-ul-Mulk. Therefore, only two pairs are correct.

Question 7

With reference to the regional states that emerged in the 18th century, consider the following statements:
1. Awadh, a Mughal province that turned into a state after breaking away from the empire, is classified as a 'New State'.
2. The Sikh and Jat states, set up by rebels against the Mughal empire, are classified as 'New States'.
3. Mysore, which came into existence due to the destabilisation of Mughal control, is classified as a 'Successor State'.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. Awadh was a Mughal province that broke away, making it a 'Successor State', not a 'New State'. New States were set up by rebels.
Statement 2 is correct. The states set up by rebels against the Mughal empire, such as the Maratha, Sikh, and Jat states, are categorized as 'New States'.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Mysore came into existence due to the destabilisation of Mughal control over the provinces and is classified as an 'Independent Kingdom', not a 'Successor State'.

Question 8

Consider the following pairs:
1. Zulfikar Khan : Founder of the Asaf-Jah house of Hyderabad.
2. Alivardi Khan : Founder of the independent state of Bengal.
3. Badan Singh : Co-founder of the Jat kingdom of Bharatpur.

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only one pair. Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. Zulfikar Khan first conceived the idea of an independent state in the Deccan, but the founder of the Asaf-Jah house of Hyderabad was Kilich Khan (Nizam-ul-Mulk).
Pair 2 is incorrectly matched. The founder of the independent state of Bengal was Murshid Kuli Khan. Alivardi Khan, the deputy governor of Bihar, killed Murshid Kuli Khan's successor, Sarfaraz Khan, in 1740 and assumed power.
Pair 3 is correctly matched. Churaman and Badan Singh succeeded in setting up the Jat kingdom of Bharatpur in the 18th century.

Question 9

Consider the following two statements:
Statement-I: Saadat Khan, the founder of the independent principality of Awadh, committed suicide.
Statement-II: Saadat Khan was driven out of the Mughal court, which prompted him to found a new independent state.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct but Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Statement-I is correct; Saadat Khan did commit suicide. Statement-II is also correct; he was driven out of the court and this prompted him to found an independent state in Awadh. However, Statement-II does not explain Statement-I. The reason for his suicide was pressure from Nadir Shah, who was demanding a huge booty from him, not the circumstances under which he founded his state. Therefore, both statements are factually correct as independent events, but the second does not explain the first.

Question 10

Consider the following statements regarding events in 18th-century regional powers:
1. The Battle of Shakr-Kheda in 1724 resulted in Mubariz Khan becoming the full-fledged viceroy of the Deccan.
2. The first major Jat rebellion against Mughal imperial forces in 1669 was led by Suraj Mal.
3. Martanda Varma organized his army along the Western model in the state of Kerala.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. In the Battle of Shakr-Kheda (1724), Kilich Khan (Nizam-ul-Mulk) defeated and killed Mubariz Khan, after which Kilich Khan assumed control of the Deccan.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The first major Jat rebellion in 1669 was led by Gokula. Suraj Mal was a later ruler under whom Jat power reached its zenith.
Statement 3 is correct. Martanda Varma, who established the independent state of Kerala, made efforts to organize his army along the Western model.

Question 11

Consider the following statements regarding India's imports in the 18th century:
1. Pearls and rose water were imported from the Persian region.
2. Tea and sugar were imported from Arabia.
3. Woollen cloth and paper were imported from Europe.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct as pearls and rose water were indeed imports from Persia. Statement 2 is incorrect; tea and sugar were imported from China, while imports from Arabia included coffee, gold, drugs, and honey. Statement 3 is correct as woollen cloth and paper were key imports from Europe. Therefore, only two statements are correct.

Question 12

Consider the following statements about the socio-economic conditions of 18th-century India:
1. The period was characterized by extreme economic disparities, with the wealthy enjoying lavish lifestyles while the common populace lived at a subsistence level.
2. The life of the Indian masses was generally worse in the 18th century compared to their condition after 100 years of British rule.
3. Agricultural practices were technologically stagnant, with productivity being sustained primarily by the intensive labour of the peasantry.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct; 18th-century India was a land of contrasts with extreme poverty and luxury existing side by side. Statement 2 is incorrect; the economic condition of the Indian masses was, by and large, better in the 18th century than it was after a century of British rule. Statement 3 is correct; agriculture was technologically backward and its output was compensated for by the very hard labour of the peasants. Therefore, only two statements are correct.

Question 13

Consider the following two statements:
Statement-I: In the 18th century, India's exports were greater than its imports, resulting in an influx of precious metals.
Statement-II: India was largely self-sufficient in handicrafts and agricultural products, while its own industrial and agricultural goods were in high demand in foreign markets.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Statement-I is correct. In the 18th century, India maintained a favorable balance of trade, exporting more than it imported, which led to it being known as a 'sink of precious metals'. Statement-II is also correct. This self-sufficiency, coupled with high foreign demand for its products like textiles and spices, was the primary reason for the trade surplus mentioned in Statement-I. Therefore, Statement-II provides the correct explanation for Statement-I.

Question 14

Consider the following statements regarding education in 18th-century India:
1. Chatuspathis or Tols were prominent centres of higher learning for Persian and Arabic.
2. The curriculum in elementary schools like pathshalas and maktabs was primarily confined to reading, writing, and arithmetic.
3. Azimabad (Patna) was a renowned centre for higher education in Sanskrit.
4. The study of physical and natural sciences was actively encouraged and integrated into the traditional system of knowledge.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. Chatuspathis or Tols, particularly in Bihar and Bengal, were centres of higher education for Sanskrit, not Persian and Arabic. Madrasahs were the institutions for Persian and Arabic learning. Statement 2 is correct. Elementary education in both Hindu pathshalas and Muslim maktabs was limited to the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Statement 3 is incorrect. Azimabad (Patna) was a famous centre for Persian education, as Persian was the court language. Kasi (Varanasi), Tirhut (Mithila), Nadia, and Utkala were famous for Sanskrit education. Statement 4 is incorrect. The study of physical and natural sciences, technology, and geography was largely excluded from the traditional education system, which relied heavily on ancient learning.

Question 15

Consider the following statements about the societal set-up in 18th-century India:
1. Muslim society was largely monolithic and egalitarian, with religious considerations preventing the formation of caste-like divisions.
2. The 'sharif' Muslims, constituting the lower classes, were often looked down upon by the 'ajlaf' Muslims, who were nobles, scholars, and priests.
3. While caste was a central feature of Hindu social life, its rules were occasionally fluid, with some instances of individuals changing professions not dictated by their caste.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. Despite the preaching of social equality in Islam, Muslim society was divided by considerations of caste, race, tribe, and status. Divisions existed between Sunni and Shia nobles, as well as among Irani, Afghan, Turani, and Hindustani Muslim groups. Statement 2 is incorrect. The social hierarchy was the reverse. The 'sharif' Muslims were the nobles, scholars, priests, and army officers who looked down upon the 'ajlaf' Muslims, who were considered lower-class. Statement 3 is correct. Although caste norms were generally rigid and enforced by caste councils, there were exceptions where profession was not strictly determined by caste, leading to a degree of fluidity in caste status in some parts of the country.

Question 16

Consider the following two statements:

Statement-I: Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Amber and the Maratha General Prashuram Bhau were successful in their attempts to promote and institutionalize widow remarriage across their territories.

Statement-II: These rulers were among the sensitive Indians who were deeply touched by the miserable plight of Hindu widows and sought to reform exploitative social customs.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct. Statement-I is incorrect. Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Amber and the Maratha General Prashuram Bhau did attempt to promote widow remarriage, but they were ultimately unsuccessful in their efforts. Statement-II is correct. These individuals were indeed sensitive to the harsh life of widows and the negative impact of certain social customs, which motivated their reform attempts.

India on the Eve of British Conquest

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