Relevant Titles

1. Rural Society and Peasant Life – CBSE Class 12 History MCQs Online Test

2. Medieval Indian Rural Life – CBSE Class 12 History Practice Quiz

3. Peasants and Rural Society – NCERT-Based Class 12 History MCQs

4. Theme 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State – Class 12 History MCQ Practice

5. CBSE Class 12 History Online Test – Rural Society and Peasant Life Quiz

Introduction

Enhance your CBSE Class 12 History exam preparation with this comprehensive MCQ quiz on “Rural Society and Peasant Life”, from Theme 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State – Agrarian Relations. Designed strictly as per the NCERT syllabus, this 60-question, 60-minute online test covers the major aspects of agrarian life under the Mughal Empire. Students can revise essential topics like the role of raiyats (peasants), zamindars, and village panchayats, as well as issues such as rural inequality, caste-based occupations, indebtedness, and the impact of commercialization of agriculture. The quiz helps learners assess their understanding through instant scoring and per-question feedback — perfect for last-minute revision before board exams. Each question has been carefully selected to reflect board-level difficulty and concept-based understanding from the NCERT Class 12 History (Themes in Indian History – Part II) textbook. This interactive practice test not only strengthens factual retention but also improves analytical interpretation skills essential for scoring high in the CBSE board exams.

Sample MCQs with Explanations

1. Q: What does the term raiyat refer to in Mughal agrarian society?
A. Local ruler
B. Peasant cultivator ✅
C. Revenue official
D. Artisan
Explanation: In Mughal revenue records, raiyat meant the actual cultivator or tenant responsible for tilling the land and paying revenue or rent.

2. Q: Which institution commonly handled disputes in the village community?
A. Provincial court
B. Village panchayat ✅
C. Royal council
D. Merchant guild
Explanation: The panchayat functioned as a local judicial and administrative council, managing disputes and maintaining customary order.

3. Q: What was the function of village commons in medieval rural India?
A. Providing grazing lands and shared resources ✅
B. Space for markets
C. Private property
D. Reserved royal land
Explanation: Village commons (banjar land) supported the agrarian ecosystem by providing grazing land and fuel resources for the community.

4. Q: Which practice demonstrated interdependence between service castes and peasants?
A. Jajmani system ✅
B. Ryotwari system
C. Mansabdari system
D. Zamindari grants
Explanation: The jajmani system symbolized the reciprocal exchange of goods and services among different occupational castes in rural society.

5. Q: How did indebtedness affect peasants in rural Mughal India?
A. Improved economic mobility
B. Led to land loss and dependence on moneylenders ✅
C. Increased social equality
D. Reduced tax obligations
Explanation: High-interest loans from village creditors often trapped peasants in debt, resulting in loss of land and greater economic dependency.