History Optional · Paper I · Medieval India
The Eighteenth Century Notes · PYQs · Solved Answers
Free notes, every previous year question and the solved answers for The Eighteenth Century (Paper I, Medieval India), arranged so you can read a topic and immediately see how UPSC has asked it. Syllabus: Decline of the Mughal empire, regional principalities, Marathas, Afghan power, Panipat, politics and economy on the eve of British conquest.
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1986–2025
Years covered
36
Questions listed
10
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Paper I · Unit 24
The Eighteenth Century notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order. Read a topic, then open its previous year questions below.
Free notes
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Causes of the Decline of Mughal Empire
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Decline of the Mughal Empire
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Emergence of Afgan Power
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Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire
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Maratha Ascendancy under the Peshwas
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Nature of Political System of Marathas
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Regional Principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh
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State of Politics, Culture and Economy on the eve of the British Conquest
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The Maratha Fiscal and Financial System
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Third Battle of Panipat
Free practice
Previous year questions: The Eighteenth Century
Every question UPSC has asked from this unit, year-wise, with a link to its solved answer.
Topic-wise question list
Year-wise question papers
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UPSC History Optional Question Paper 2026
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UPSC History Optional Question Paper 2025
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History Optional Question Paper: 2024
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History Optional Question Paper: 2023
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History Optional Question Paper: 2012
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History Optional Question Paper: 2011
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History Optional Question Paper: 2013
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History Optional Question Paper: 2014
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History Optional Question Paper: 2015
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History Optional Question Paper: 2016
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History Optional Question Paper: 2017
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History Optional Question Paper: 2018
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History Optional Question Paper: 2019
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History Optional Question Paper: 2021
History PYQ Master Pack
Solved PYQ answers: The Eighteenth Century
Topic-wise model answers, newest exam year first. Members open the full answer; everyone else sees the question and can join the pack.
PYQ Solutions
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Critically examine the political, military and administrative factors that led to the transformation of the Maratha character in the 18th century. How did these changes influence its rise and eventual decline?
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Evaluate the impact of the Third Battle of Panipat on the political economy of 18th-century India.
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Examine the role of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty in the political transformation of the State of Hyderabad.
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How did the Maratha guerilla warfare tactics contribute to their military successes against larger and more established armies?
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The economy of India was not stagnant in the eighteenth century. Discuss.
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Analyze the rise of the Sikhs under Ranjit Singh.
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“Haidar Ali was born to build an empire, and Tipu Sultan to lose one”. Comment.
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The Marathas posed a significant threat to the integrity of the Mughal Empire. Discuss.
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Account for the rise of the Maratha power in the eighteenth century.
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Aurangzeb’s Deccan policy was a major factor in Mughal decline. Discuss.
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How far is it justified to consider the states like Bengal, Awadh and Hyderabad as ‘successor states’ of the Mughal state?
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Critically evaluate history of the Eighteenth century India with reference to culture and economy.
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It was as much the court intrigues as also the defiance of the provincial powers that hastened the decline of the Mughals in the 18th Century. Comment.
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“The Afghan invasions in the Eighteenth Century not only signified the military irrelevance of the Mughal Empire but also hastened its decline”. Explain.
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How will you view the Maratha policy of expansion? Delineate.
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“The political disintegration was responsible for the socio-economic decline in India during the 18th century.” Comment.
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Is it true that the court intrigues and weak revenue system led to the collapse of the Maratha empire? Comment.
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Was it the weakening of the Mughal empire or the rise of regional power that led to British conquest of India? Discuss.
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Do you think that the agrarian crisis of the 17th century led to the disintegration of the Mughal empire? Discuss.
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Compare the Peshwas’ bureaucratic management with that of the Imperial Mughal administration.
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How was the Afghan nobility responsible for the decline of the Afghan empires? Discuss.
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Discuss the causes of the rise and growth of regional kingdoms with special reference to the Deccan in the 18th century.
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What are the distinguishing components of the debate on “The Eighteenth Century”?
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Write brief essay on Chauth and Sardeshmukhi of the Maratha rulers.
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How would you like to characterize the eighteenth century in Indian history?
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Write brief essay on the system of the collection of Chauth and Sardeshmukhi by the Maratha rulers.
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Write brief essay on Chauth and Sardeshmukhi.
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Write brief essay on Savai Jai Singh the astronomer.
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Were the Marathas restricted by their geopolitical limitations from becoming the paramount power of India?
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Write brief essay: Third Battle of Panipat.
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The expansion of Mughal empire in Deccan brought about its decline. Discuss.
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Write short answer of not more than 200 words: Structure and role of the Maratha Confederacy.
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Account for the rise of the Marathas as a political power. How did they influence the course of history?
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