Spectrum Test: India On The Eve Of British Conquest - UPSC MCQ

All the statements are historically accurate:
1. The Sayyid brothers, Abdulla Khan and Hussain Ali, were instrumental in helping Farrukhsiyar ascend to the throne in 1713.
2. During Muhammad Shah's reign (1719-1748), Nizam-ul-Mulk founded the independent state of Hyderabad in 1724.
3. Bahadur Shah Zafar was indeed the last Mughal emperor, reigning until 1857 when the British captured him and sent him to Rangoon.
Thus, all the statements (1, 2, and 3) are correct.

1. Kilich Khan, known as Nizam-ul-Mulk, was indeed the founder of the Asaf-Jah dynasty of Hyderabad.

2. Safdar Jang was not the founder of Awadh; Saadat Khan was the founder, and Safdar Jang succeeded him.

3. Suraj Mal was indeed the leader of the Jats at their zenith.

4. Ranjit Singh was indeed the founder of a strong Sikh kingdom in Punjab.

Thus, pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched.

All three statements provided are correct:
1. Alamgir II's reign (1754-1758) did indeed witness the Battle of Plassey in June 1757.
2. Farrukhsiyar issued a farman in 1717 AD, granting the British the right to reside and trade in Bengal.
3. Akbar II conferred the title of Raja to Ram Mohan Rai during his reign from 1806 to 1837.
Therefore, all the statements (1, 2, and 3) are correct.

1. Guru Gobind Singh indeed transformed the Sikhs into a militant sect.

2. Haider Ali did indeed rule Mysore.

3. Bahadur Shah I did indeed march against Ajit Singh.

4. Alivardi Khan was not the founder of Bengal; Murshid Kuli Khan was the founder. Alivardi Khan later became a significant ruler of Bengal after killing Sarfaraz Khan.

Thus, pairs 1, 2, and 3 are correctly matched.

1. Saadat Khan was the founder of Awadh, not Hyderabad.

2. Murshid Kuli Khan was indeed the founder of Bengal.

3. Martanda Varma was indeed the founder of the independent state of Kerala with Travancore as its capital.

4. Churaman was indeed one of the founders of the Jat state of Bharatpur, succeeded in setting up the Jat state along with Badan Singh.

Thus, pairs 2,3 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement I is correct: In the first half of the 18th century, the Peshwa-led Maratha polity, under commanders such as Bajirao I, pushed northwards and weakened Mughal administrative control. Their campaigns and subsequent military presence displaced Mughal authority in central and parts of western India, bringing regions such as Malwa under Maratha influence and extending Maratha power into parts of Gujarat.

Statement II is correct: During the period of Mughal decline, Afghan-origin groups migrated and settled in northern India. The Rohillas established the polity in the region known as Rohilkhand, and leaders of the Bangash tribe founded principalities (for example, domains centred on places like Farrukhabad), reflecting the political outcomes of Afghan migration.

Why Statement II does not explain Statement I.
Both statements describe consequences of the weakening of central Mughal power, but they refer to different processes and agents. The rise of Maratha authority in central and western provinces was driven by Maratha military expansion and political strategy from the Deccan; it was not caused by Afghan migration or the establishment of Afghan-origin principalities in the north. Therefore, although both statements are correct, Statement II does not explain Statement I.

Hence, Correct answer is Option C.

All three statements are accurate based on the historical context provided:
1. Jahandar Shah indeed abolished Jaziya during his brief reign from March 1712 to February 1713.
2. Nadir Shah defeated the Mughals in the Battle of Karnal in 1739 during Muhammad Shah's reign (1719-1748).
3. The Battle of Buxar was fought in 1764 during the reign of Shah Alam II (1759-1806).
Thus, all the statements (1, 2, and 3) are correct.

Both statements are true, but Statement II doesn't explain Statement I. They are separate facts from different historical contexts.

Therefore ,Correct Answer- Option B