The Eighteenth Century: History Optional PYQs

Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire;

The regional principalities: Nizam’s Deccan, Bengal, Awadh;

Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas;

The Maratha fiscal and financial system; •

Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat: 1761;

State of political, cultural and economic, on the eve of the British conquest.

PYQs: The Eighteenth Century [1985-2024]

1. Account for the rise of the Marathas as a political power. How did they influence the course of history? (1986)
2. Write short answer of not more than 200 words: Structure and role of the Maratha Confederacy. (1987)
3. “The expansion of Mughal empire in Deccan brought about its decline.” Discuss. (1988)
4. Write brief essay: Third Battle of Panipat. (1998)
5. Were the Marathas restricted by their geopolitical limitations from becoming the paramount power of India? (2001)
6. Write brief essay on Savai Jai Singh the astronomer. (2001)
7. Write brief essay on Consequences of the Third Battle of Panipat. (2002)
8. Write brief essay on Chauth and Sardeshmukhi. (2003)
9. Write brief essay on the system of the collection of Chauth and Sardeshmukhi by the Maratha rulers. (2004)
10. How would you like to characterize the eighteenth century in Indian history? (2005)
11. Write brief essay on Chauth and Sardeshmukhi of the Maratha rulers. (2007)
12. What are the distinguishing components of the debate on “The Eighteenth Century”? (2008)
13. Discuss the causes of the rise and growth of regional kingdoms with special reference to the Deccan in the 18th century. (2011)
14. How was the Afghan nobility responsible for the decline of the Afghan empires? Discuss. (2012)
15. Compare the Peshwas’ bureaucratic management with that of the Imperial Mughal administration. (2015)
16. Do you think that the agrarian crisis of the 17^th century led to the disintegration of the Mughal empire? Discuss. (2016)
17. Was it the weakening of the Mughal empire or the rise of regional power that led to British conquest of India? Discuss. (2016)
18. Is it true that the court intrigues and weak revenue system led to the collapse of the Maratha empire? Comment. (2016)
19. “The political disintegration was responsible for the socio- economic decline in India during the 18^th century.” Comment. (2017)
20. How will you view the Maratha policy of expansion? Delineate. (2017)
21. “The Afghan invasions in the Eighteenth Century not only signified the military irrelevance of the Mughal Empire but also hastened its decline”. Explain. (2018)
22. “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. (2019)
23. Critically evaluate history of the Eighteenth century India with reference to culture and economy. (2020)
24. How far is it justified to consider the states like Bengal, Awadh and Hyderabad as ‘successor states’ of the Mughal state? (2021)
25. Aurangzeb’s Deccan policy was a major factor in Mughal decline. Discuss. (2022)
26. Account for the rise of the Maratha power in the eighteenth century. (2022)
27. The Marathas posed a significant threat to the integrity of the Mughal Empire. Discuss. (2023)
28. “Haidar Ali was born to build an empire, and Tipu Sultan to lose one”. Comment. (2023)
29. Analyze the rise of the Sikhs under Ranjit Singh. (2023)
30. The economy of India was not stagnant in the eighteenth century. Discuss. (2023)
31. How did the Maratha guerilla warfare tactics contribute to their military successes against larger and more established armies? (2024)
32. Examine the role of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty in the political transformation of the State of Hyderabad. (2024)
33. Evaluate the impact of the Third Battle of Panipat on the political economy of 18th-century India. (2024)