Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) with answers on “Maratha Confederacy: Shivaji’s Legacy and the Decline of Mughal Rule” designed for Civil Services Examination preparation
1. Who was the founder of the Maratha Empire?
- a) Peshwa Baji Rao I
- b) Sambhaji
- c) Shivaji
- d) Raja Jai Singh
Answer: c) Shivaji
2. Which title was conferred upon Shivaji during his coronation in 1674?
- a) Chhatrapati
- b) Maharaja
- c) Peshwa
- d) Raja
Answer: a) Chhatrapati
3. Which fort is considered the birthplace of Shivaji?
- a) Raigad
- b) Shivneri
- c) Pratapgad
- d) Sinhagad
Answer: b) Shivneri
4. The treaty of Purandar (1665) was signed between Shivaji and which Mughal general?
- a) Aurangzeb
- b) Jai Singh I
- c) Shaista Khan
- d) Afzal Khan
Answer: b) Jai Singh I
5. What was the administrative division introduced by Shivaji for revenue collection?
- a) Jagirdari
- b) Ryotwari
- c) Chauth and Sardeshmukhi
- d) Iqta
Answer: c) Chauth and Sardeshmukhi
6. Which Mughal Emperor imprisoned Shivaji in 1666?
- a) Akbar
- b) Shah Jahan
- c) Jahangir
- d) Aurangzeb
Answer: d) Aurangzeb
7. What was the capital of Shivaji’s Maratha Empire?
- a) Pune
- b) Satara
- c) Raigad
- d) Bijapur
Answer: c) Raigad
8. Who succeeded Shivaji after his death in 1680?
- a) Sambhaji
- b) Shahu
- c) Rajaram
- d) Peshwa Baji Rao
Answer: a) Sambhaji
9. What was the primary reason for the decline of Mughal rule in India during Aurangzeb’s reign?
- a) Weak administration
- b) Constant wars with the Marathas
- c) Invasion by Nadir Shah
- d) Poor financial management
Answer: b) Constant wars with the Marathas
10. Which battle marked the significant victory of the Marathas over the Mughals in 1707?
- a) Battle of Panipat
- b) Battle of Plassey
- c) Battle of Sinhagad
- d) Battle of Khed
Answer: d) Battle of Khed
11. Which Maratha king was known for rebuilding the Maratha Empire after the death of Aurangzeb?
- a) Rajaram
- b) Shahu
- c) Sambhaji
- d) Baji Rao I
Answer: b) Shahu
12. What is the term used for the council of ministers in Shivaji’s administration?
- a) Durbar
- b) Ashtapradhan
- c) Mansabdari
- d) Diwani
Answer: b) Ashtapradhan
13. Shivaji’s naval base was located at which fort?
- a) Janjira
- b) Vasai
- c) Sindhudurg
- d) Vijaydurg
Answer: c) Sindhudurg
14. Who was the first Peshwa under the Maratha Confederacy?
- a) Madhav Rao I
- b) Balaji Vishwanath
- c) Baji Rao I
- d) Narayan Rao
Answer: b) Balaji Vishwanath
15. The Marathas’ policy of demanding a certain tax from neighboring kingdoms was called:
- a) Zakat
- b) Jizya
- c) Chauth
- d) Khalsa
Answer: c) Chauth
16. Which Mughal general was defeated by Shivaji at the Battle of Pratapgad?
- a) Raja Jai Singh
- b) Shaista Khan
- c) Afzal Khan
- d) Mir Jumla
Answer: c) Afzal Khan
17. Who captured and executed Sambhaji in 1689?
- a) Aurangzeb
- b) Nizam Shah
- c) Tipu Sultan
- d) Mughal viceroy Azam Shah
Answer: a) Aurangzeb
18. In which year did Shivaji escape from Agra?
- a) 1664
- b) 1666
- c) 1670
- d) 1675
Answer: b) 1666
19. The rise of the Maratha Confederacy occurred under the leadership of which Maratha ruler?
- a) Shivaji
- b) Shahu
- c) Rajaram
- d) Balaji Baji Rao
Answer: b) Shahu
20. Which of the following forts was the site of Shivaji’s coronation?
- a) Sinhagad
- b) Raigad
- c) Pratapgad
- d) Purandar
Answer: b) Raigad
21. Which Mughal emperor died in 1707, leading to the eventual decline of Mughal power?
- a) Akbar
- b) Jahangir
- c) Aurangzeb
- d) Shah Jahan
Answer: c) Aurangzeb
22. Which of the following was a major military innovation introduced by Shivaji?
- a) Guerrilla warfare tactics
- b) Use of cannons
- c) Formation of standing army
- d) Alliance with the British
Answer: a) Guerrilla warfare tactics
23. The Peshwa during the Third Battle of Panipat (1761) was:
- a) Baji Rao I
- b) Balaji Vishwanath
- c) Madhav Rao
- d) Balaji Baji Rao
Answer: d) Balaji Baji Rao
24. Shivaji’s escape from Mughal captivity in Agra involved:
- a) Disguising himself as a Mughal noble
- b) Hiding in a fruit basket
- c) Killing his captors
- d) Negotiating his release
Answer: b) Hiding in a fruit basket
25. Which of the following was the official language of Shivaji’s administration?
- a) Persian
- b) Sanskrit
- c) Marathi
- d) Hindi
Answer: c) Marathi
26. The Maratha navy was primarily strengthened by which Maratha leader?
- a) Shivaji
- b) Sambhaji
- c) Rajaram
- d) Shahu
Answer: a) Shivaji
27. Who was the Mughal Emperor during the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761?
- a) Aurangzeb
- b) Bahadur Shah I
- c) Akbar II
- d) Shah Alam II
Answer: d) Shah Alam II
28. Which Maratha leader is credited with expanding the empire to its zenith in the 18th century?
- a) Shivaji
- b) Shahu
- c) Baji Rao I
- d) Balaji Baji Rao
Answer: c) Baji Rao I
29. Which was the first state to come under the Maratha Confederacy after Aurangzeb’s death?
- a) Bengal
- b) Mysore
- c) Bijapur
- d) Hyderabad
Answer: c) Bijapur
30. Which British governor referred to the Marathas as the “Mountains rats”?
- a) Warren Hastings
- b) Robert Clive
- c) Sir John Malcolm
- d) Lord Wellesley
Answer: a) Warren Hastings
These questions cover a wide range of topics related to Shivaji’s legacy, the Maratha Confederacy, and the decline of the Mughal Empire, ideal for Civil Services exam preparation.
