Rise of Marathas, Aurangzeb's Deccan Policy and Mughal Decline — UPSC Quiz
Answer all questions carefully.
The Maratha Challenge: Shivaji, the Deccan Wars, and Mughal Twilight•hard•11 questions•~14 min
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Question 01
hard
Consider the following statements about the Treaty of Purandar (1665):
1. Out of 35 forts held by Shivaji, 23 forts with territory yielding a revenue of four lakhs of huns a year were to be surrendered to the Mughals.
2. A mansab of 5000 was granted to Shivaji himself in lieu of his personal service.
3. Shivaji promised to join personally in any Mughal campaign in the Deccan.
4. The fatal flaw of the treaty was that Aurangzeb refused to provide Mughal support to Shivaji in making up from Bijapur the territory he had yielded.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Question 02
medium
Which of the following correctly describes the significance of Shivaji's coronation in 1674?
Question 03
medium
With reference to Shivaji's administrative system, consider the following statements:
1. The Ashtapradhan was a council of ministers where decisions were taken collectively.
2. The Peshwa was the most important minister, looking after the finances and general administration.
3. Shivaji preferred to give cash salaries to the regular soldiers.
4. Annaji Datto completed a new revenue assessment for Shivaji in 1679, patterned on the system of Malik Ambar.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Question 04
medium
Which of the following correctly describes 'chauth' and 'sardeshmukhi' as levied by Shivaji?
Question 05
hard
The 'high watermark of Hyderabadi influence over Bijapur and in the politics of the Deccan' as described by Satish Chandra refers to which event?
Question 06
hard
The execution of Sambhaji by Aurangzeb in 1689 has been described by Satish Chandra as 'another major political mistake'. Which of the following best explains this assessment?
Question 07
hard
Consider the following statements about the growth of the mansabdari system and the jagirdari crisis:
1. The number of mansabdars rose from 2069 at Jahangir's accession (1605) to 8000 in 1637 during Shah Jahan's reign.
2. By the latter half of Aurangzeb's reign, the number of mansabdars had risen to 11,456.
3. Revenue resources of the empire increased in the same proportion as the number of mansabdars.
4. Many jagirdars made secret pacts with the Marathas agreeing to pay chauth if the Marathas did not disturb their jagirs.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Question 08
hard
Satish Chandra's assessment of the decline of the Mughal Empire concludes that:
Question 09
hard
With reference to Aurangzeb's Deccan policy in its second phase (1668–81), which of the following statements is INCORRECT?
Question 10
medium
Shivaji's visit to Agra in 1666 is described as 'the turning point for Mughal relations with the Marathas'. Which of the following most accurately describes what happened and its consequence?
Question 11
hard
The Mughal-Maratha expedition against Bijapur under Jai Singh (1665) failed primarily because:
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