The famous 'Pindaris' were irregular, predatory horsemen who frequently accompanied Maratha armies. They were primarily of which religious background?
- Mostly Muslim
- Orthodox Hindu
- Mixed affiliations
- Exclusively Sikh
Explanation: The Pindaris were an unpaid, irregular cavalry of mixed religious and caste affiliations (both Hindu and Muslim) who fought for plunder alongside the regular Maratha armies.
The Treaty of Poona (1817) severely restricted the power of the Peshwa just before the Third Anglo-Maratha War. Who forced this treaty upon him?
- John Malcolm
- Arthur Wellesley
- Charles Metcalfe
- M. Elphinstone
Explanation: Mountstuart Elphinstone, the British Resident at Pune, forced Peshwa Baji Rao II to sign the Treaty of Poona in June 1817, forcing him to renounce his headship of the Maratha Confederacy.
After the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the British created the small princely state of Satara and placed a descendant of whom on its throne to legitimize their conquest?
- Rajaram Bhonsle
- King Shivaji
- Balaji Vishwanath
- Shahu Maharaj
Explanation: To placate Maratha sentiment after abolishing the Peshwaship, the British restored Pratap Singh, a direct descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji, to the newly carved-out state of Satara.
Tipu Sultan sent a high-profile diplomatic mission to the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid I in 1787. What was the primary objective of this mission?
- Secure an Islamic fatwa
- Military alliance
- Seek trade concessions
- Acquire advanced weaponry
Explanation: Tipu Sultan sought international recognition of his legitimacy as an independent sovereign and, crucially, requested military assistance and an alliance to expel the British from India.
Arthur Wellesley secured a decisive victory against the combined forces of Scindia and Bhonsle at which battle in 1803?
- Battle of Assaye
- Battle of Laswari
- Battle of Mahidpur
- Battle of Delhi City
Explanation: The Battle of Assaye (1803) was a major British victory during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, where Major General Arthur Wellesley defeated the Scindia and Bhonsle armies.
Which Maratha Peshwa was murdered in 1773, sparking the intense succession crisis that ultimately led to the First Anglo-Maratha War?
- Madhavrao I
- Raghunathrao
- Vishwasrao
- Narayanrao
Explanation: Peshwa Narayanrao was murdered in 1773 in a conspiracy orchestrated by his uncle Raghunathrao, who seized power. The ensuing civil war invited British intervention.
Baji Rao II finally surrendered to the British under Sir John Malcolm in 1818 and was exiled to:
- Rangoon
- Varanasi
- Bithur
- Mandalay
Explanation: Following the collapse of Maratha resistance in the Third Anglo-Maratha War, Peshwa Baji Rao II surrendered and was sent to an estate in Bithur, near Kanpur, on a pension.
In the First Anglo-Mysore war, Haider Ali outmaneuvered the British and dictated peace terms at the gates of which major settlement?
- Arcot
- Calcutta
- Madras
- Bombay
Explanation: Haider Ali bypassed the British army and suddenly appeared before the gates of Madras in 1769, forcing the panicked Madras Council to sign a treaty on his terms.
Tipu Sultan was one of the first Indian rulers to recognize the importance of naval power. He established a Board of Admiralty known as:
- Mir Yam
- Mir Asaf
- Mir Bakhshi
- Mir Jumla
Explanation: In 1796, Tipu Sultan set up a Board of Admiralty called Mir Yam, initiating a massive program to build a fleet of warships to counter British naval supremacy.
Who was the British Governor-General during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799?
- Warren Hastings
- Charles Cornwallis
- Lord Dalhousie
- Richard Wellesley
Explanation: Lord Richard Wellesley, determined to eliminate the French threat and consolidate power, initiated the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War which resulted in Tipu Sultan's death.
Which treaty was signed by Yashwantrao Holkar with the British, ending the Second Anglo-Maratha War?
- Treaty of Deogaon
- Treaty of Bassein
- Surji Anjangaon
- Rajghat Treaty
Explanation: The Second Anglo-Maratha War officially ended when Yashwantrao Holkar signed the Treaty of Rajghat in 1805, restoring peace between his faction and the British.
Tipu Sultan planted a 'Tree of Liberty' and became a member of the Jacobin Club at which location?
- Mysore City
- Bangalore Fort
- Dindigul
- Seringapatam
Explanation: Influenced by the French Revolution, Tipu Sultan helped establish a Jacobin Club in his capital, Seringapatam, and planted a 'Tree of Liberty' to symbolize his alliance with the French.
What was the primary strategic objective of the British in launching the sequential Anglo-Mysore Wars?
- French elimination
- Control cotton trade
- Religious conversion
- Territorial expansion
Explanation: While territorial and economic gains were factors, the primary British strategic objective was eliminating the strong French influence and military alliance present in Mysore.
Which French commander was employed by Mahadji Scindia to modernize the Maratha army?
- Francois Dupleix
- Pierre Lally
- Charles Bussy
- Count Benoit de Boigne
Explanation: Mahadji Scindia employed the Savoyard military adventurer Benoit de Boigne to train and modernize his troops along European lines, making his army the most formidable in India.
The campaign against the Pindaris merged seamlessly into which major conflict?
- Second Maratha War
- First Afghan War
- Third Maratha War
- First Maratha War
Explanation: Lord Hastings' campaign against the Pindaris, who were covertly supported by the Marathas, directly escalated into the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818).
The Treaty of Purandar (1776), which temporarily annulled the Treaty of Surat, was signed between the Marathas and the:
- Calcutta Council
- Madras Presidency
- Bombay Council
- Board of Control
Explanation: Warren Hastings and the Supreme Council at Calcutta rejected the Bombay Presidency's Treaty of Surat with Raghunathrao and instead signed the Treaty of Purandar with the Pune ministers.
The humiliating Treaty of Bassein (1802) was signed by the British with which Maratha Peshwa?
- Baji Rao II
- Narayanrao
- Madhavrao II
- Balaji Baji Rao
Explanation: Fleeing from Yashwantrao Holkar, Peshwa Baji Rao II signed the Treaty of Bassein with the British, accepting the Subsidiary Alliance and sparking the Second Anglo-Maratha War.
To seek support against the British, Tipu Sultan sent embassies to which of the following countries?
- Portugal and Spain
- France and Turkey
- Dutch Republic
- Russia and China
Explanation: Tipu Sultan actively engaged in international diplomacy, sending emissaries to France, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey), Afghanistan, and Iran to build a coalition against the British.
Which treaty concluded the First Anglo-Maratha War, establishing the status quo for 20 years?
- Treaty of Surat
- Treaty of Salbai
- Treaty of Purandar
- Treaty of Wadgaon
Explanation: The Treaty of Salbai (1782) ended the First Anglo-Maratha War. It ensured peace between the Marathas and the British for the next 20 years.
The 'Subsidiary Alliance' system, heavily used to systematically neutralize the Marathas and Mysore, was perfected and extensively applied by:
- Warren Hastings
- Lord Cornwallis
- Robert Clive
- Lord Wellesley
Explanation: Lord Richard Wellesley used the Subsidiary Alliance system as a primary tool of British imperial expansion, forcing it upon Hyderabad, Mysore, and eventually the Marathas.
Who led the British forces that were disastrously defeated and captured by Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan at the Battle of Pollilur in 1780?
- Braithwaite
- General Coote
- Hector Munro
- William Baillie
Explanation: Colonel William Baillie's detachment was intercepted and virtually annihilated by Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan at Pollilur, marking one of the worst defeats for the East India Company.
After Tipu Sultan's death, the British restored Mysore to the Wodeyar dynasty under which minor ruler?
- Krishnaraja III
- Kanthirava Narasaraja
- Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar
- Chamaraja Wodeyar IX
Explanation: Following the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the British restored the Hindu Wodeyar dynasty and placed the five-year-old Krishnaraja III on the throne under a Subsidiary Alliance.
Who was the acting Governor-General of India who strictly followed a policy of non-intervention towards the Marathas after the First Anglo-Maratha War?
- Charles Metcalfe
- Sir John Shore
- Sir George Barlow
- Lord Cornwallis
Explanation: Sir John Shore (Governor-General from 1793-1798) rigidly adhered to the policy of non-intervention laid down in Pitt's India Act, refusing to aid the Nizam against the Marathas at Kharda.
Haider Ali died of cancer in 1782 during the course of which Anglo-Mysore War?
- First War
- Third War
- Fourth War
- Second Mysore War
Explanation: Haider Ali died of cancer in December 1782 during the Second Anglo-Mysore War. His son, Tipu Sultan, continued the war.
The Board of Control in Britain strongly criticized which Governor-General for the prolonged, costly, and controversial Third Anglo-Mysore War?
- Lord Cornwallis
- Richard Wellesley
- Sir John Shore
- Warren Hastings
Explanation: Lord Cornwallis was criticized in London for engaging in the expensive Third Anglo-Mysore War, as Pitt's India Act of 1844 explicitly discouraged wars of aggression.
Who was the Governor of Madras during the First Anglo-Mysore War, under whose administration the humiliating Treaty of Madras was signed?
- Thomas Rumbold
- Charles Bourchier
- Lord Pigot
- George Macartney
Explanation: Charles Bourchier was the Governor of Madras from 1767 to 1770. The First Anglo-Mysore War ended disastrously for the British during his tenure with Haider Ali dictating terms at the gates of Madras.
The Treaty of Mangalore (1784) was signed between Tipu Sultan and which British official?
- Lord Cornwallis
- Eyre Coote
- Warren Hastings
- Lord Macartney
Explanation: The Treaty of Mangalore, which ended the Second Anglo-Mysore War, was negotiated and signed by Lord Macartney, the Governor of Madras, much to the displeasure of Warren Hastings.
Tipu Sultan died defending his capital during the Siege of Seringapatam in which year?
- May 1799
- June 1801
- March 1784
- April 1792
Explanation: Tipu Sultan was killed in action on May 4, 1799, while defending the breach in the walls of Seringapatam during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War.
The Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon (1803) forced which Maratha leader to cede the Doab region to the British?
- Daulatrao Scindia
- Yashwantrao Holkar
- Nana Phadnavis
- Mahadji Scindia
Explanation: After being defeated in the Second Anglo-Maratha War, Daulatrao Scindia signed the Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon, ceding the Ganga-Yamuna Doab and Delhi to the British.
During the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the historic Battle of Koregaon (1818) was fought between the British East India Company and the faction of:
- Bhonsle of Nagpur
- Holkar of Indore
- Peshwa Baji Rao II
- Scindia of Gwalior
Explanation: The Battle of Koregaon was fought on 1 January 1818 between the British East India Company troops (comprising predominantly Mahar soldiers) and the army of Peshwa Baji Rao II.
The First Anglo-Mysore War ended with the signing of which treaty in 1769?
- Treaty of Seringapatam
- Treaty of Salbai
- Treaty of Madras
- Treaty of Mangalore
Explanation: The First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-1769) concluded with the Treaty of Madras, a mutual restitution of conquests and a defensive alliance against the Marathas.
The Treaty of Deogaon (1803) was signed by the British with which Maratha chief?
- Raghuji Bhonsle II of Berar
- Yashwantrao Holkar
- Daulatrao Scindia
- Baji Rao II
Explanation: Following his defeat at the Battle of Argaon during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, Raghuji Bhonsle II signed the Treaty of Deogaon, ceding Cuttack to the British.
Tipu Sultan introduced a new calendar, new scales of weights, and a coinage system. His coins were uniquely named after:
- Mysore rulers
- French figures
- Hindu deities
- Islamic figures
Explanation: Tipu Sultan introduced a new coinage system where the coins were named after Islamic caliphs, imams, and stars, completely abandoning the old Wodeyar naming conventions.
Tipu Sultan's heavily fortified capital, Seringapatam, was strategically located on an island in which river?
- Godavari
- Tungabhadra
- Cauvery
- R. Krishna
Explanation: Seringapatam (Srirangapatna) is a river island fortress encircled by the river Cauvery (Kaveri), which provided significant natural defense against invading armies.
During the First Anglo-Maratha War, the British attempt to install Raghunathrao as Peshwa was strongly resisted by a regency council of 12 Maratha chiefs known as the:
- Ashtapradhan
- Baarbhai Council
- Dal Khalsa
- Chauthai
Explanation: Led by Nana Phadnavis, the Baarbhai Council (Council of Twelve) successfully protected the infant Peshwa Madhavrao II and resisted British efforts to install Raghunathrao.
During the Anglo-Maratha wars, the Bhonsle dynasty ruled from which capital city?
- Baroda
- Gwalior State
- Indore City
- Nagpur City
Explanation: The Maratha Confederacy was divided into major spheres of influence. The Bhonsles ruled from Nagpur, while the Scindias were in Gwalior, Holkars in Indore, and Gaekwads in Baroda.
The Battle of Sitabuldi (1817) was a crucial and fierce engagement during the Third Anglo-Maratha War involving which Maratha faction?
- Holkar
- Scindia
- Bhonsle
- Gaekwad
Explanation: The Battle of Sitabuldi was fought in Nagpur between the forces of Mudhoji II Bhonsle (Appa Sahib) and the British, resulting in a British victory and the subjugation of Nagpur.
Which British commander successfully led the army that stormed the fortress of Seringapatam in 1799, ending the Mysore Wars?
- Hector Munro
- Sir Eyre Coote
- Arthur Wellesley
- General Harris
Explanation: Lieutenant-General George Harris was the commander-in-chief of the British army that besieged and successfully captured Seringapatam in 1799.
The Subsidiary Alliance system required the allied Indian ruler to maintain a British contingent at his own cost, surrender foreign policy, and expel all:
- Revenue collectors
- Maratha envoys
- European foreigners
- Local militias
Explanation: A crucial clause of the Subsidiary Alliance was that the native ruler had to expel all non-British European foreigners (especially the French) from their service, ensuring a British monopoly.
In the First Anglo-Mysore War, Haider Ali successfully broke the British alliance with the Marathas and the:
- Nizam of Hyderabad
- Raja of Travancore
- French East India Co
- Nawab of Arcot
Explanation: Haider Ali used his diplomatic skills to break the tripartite alliance of the British, Marathas, and the Nizam of Hyderabad, eventually bringing the Nizam to his side.
The immediate cause of the Third Anglo-Mysore War was Tipu Sultan's attack on which kingdom?
- Maratha Confederacy
- Carnatic Sultanate
- Kingdom of Travancore
- Nizam of Hyderabad
Explanation: Tipu Sultan attacked the Kingdom of Travancore in 1789, which was a British ally. This provoked Lord Cornwallis into declaring the Third Anglo-Mysore War.
The British forces faced a humiliating defeat at the Battle of Wadgaon (1779) during which war?
- First Maratha War
- First Mysore War
- Second Maratha War
- Second Mysore War
Explanation: During the First Anglo-Maratha War, the British Bombay army was heavily defeated by the Marathas led by Mahadji Scindia at Wadgaon, leading to the Treaty of Wadgaon.
The immediate pretext for the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War was Tipu Sultan's correspondence with the French directory and his welcoming of French troops from:
- Pondicherry
- Reunion Isle
- Madagascar
- Mauritius
Explanation: Wellesley used the arrival of a small contingent of French volunteers from the Isle of France (Mauritius) in 1798 as the cassus belli to launch the final war against Tipu Sultan.
Who was the Maratha resident in Delhi who effectively controlled the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II until British intervention?
- Mahadji Scindia
- Nana Phadnavis
- Yashwantrao Holkar
- Daulatrao Scindia
Explanation: Mahadji Scindia escorted Shah Alam II back to Delhi in 1771 and became the de facto ruler of northern India, holding the title of 'Vakil-i-Mutlaq' (Regent of the Empire).
What was the primary consequence of the Treaty of Gwalior (1817) forced upon Daulatrao Scindia by Lord Hastings?
- Ceding Delhi
- Losing Malwa
- Subsidiary Alliance
- Anti Pindari aid
Explanation: The Treaty of Gwalior essentially neutralized Scindia just before the Third Anglo-Maratha War, forcing him to actively aid the British in their military campaign against the Pindaris.
Under the Treaty of Seringapatam (1792), Tipu Sultan had to surrender how much of his territory?
- Two Thirds
- Almost Half
- One Third
- One Fourth
Explanation: Following his defeat in the Third Anglo-Mysore War, Tipu Sultan was forced to sign the Treaty of Seringapatam, giving up almost half of his kingdom and paying a massive indemnity.
Which major Maratha chief did NOT sign the Subsidiary Alliance and remained largely aloof during the initial phases of the Second Anglo-Maratha War?
- Holkar
- Peshwa Faction
- Scindia Clan
- Bhonsle
Explanation: Yashwantrao Holkar initially remained aloof while Scindia and Bhonsle fought the British in 1803. He later engaged the British separately in 1804 after the others had surrendered.
During the Second Anglo-Mysore War, who defeated Haider Ali at the Battle of Porto Novo in 1781?
- Arthur Wellesley
- Hector Munro
- Sir Eyre Coote
- Warren Hastings
Explanation: Sir Eyre Coote decisively defeated Haider Ali at Porto Novo in 1781, saving the British position in the Carnatic during the Second Anglo-Mysore War.
The death of which prominent Maratha statesman in 1800 removed the last stabilizing force in the Maratha Confederacy?
- Ahilyabai Holkar
- Madhavrao I
- Mahadji Scindia
- Nana Phadnavis
Explanation: Nana Phadnavis was the influential minister who held the Maratha Confederacy together in Pune. His death in 1800 sparked fatal infighting among the Maratha chiefs.
Who was the last Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, exiled to Bithur after the Third Anglo-Maratha War?
- Narayanrao
- Madhavrao II
- Nana Sahib
- Baji Rao II
Explanation: Baji Rao II was the last Peshwa. After his defeat in the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1818), the Peshwaship was abolished, and he was exiled to Bithur near Kanpur with a pension.
Haider Ali realized the necessity of modern artillery and established a modern arsenal in 1755 with the help of French experts at which location?
- Seringapatam
- Dindigul
- Bangalore
- Mysore City
Explanation: As the Faujdar of Dindigul in 1755, Haider Ali established a modern arsenal there with the assistance of French engineers to counter the Maratha light cavalry.
Who was the Governor-General of India during the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818)?
- Lord Hastings
- Lord Minto
- Lord Wellesley
- Lord Cornwallis
Explanation: Lord Hastings (Moira) was the Governor-General who initiated the campaign against the Pindaris, leading directly to the decisive Third Anglo-Maratha War.
Which Maratha leader, despite signing the Treaty of Bassein to save himself, secretly plotted to overthrow British dominance, igniting the Third Anglo-Maratha War?
- Appa Sahib
- Baji Rao II
- D. Scindia
- Y. Holkar
Explanation: Peshwa Baji Rao II chafed under British control after signing the Treaty of Bassein in 1802. He secretly encouraged the Pindaris and other Maratha chiefs to rise against the British in 1817.
The Third Anglo-Maratha War ended for the Holkars with the signing of which treaty in 1818?
- Treaty of Poona
- Treaty of Gwalior
- Treaty of Bassein
- Treaty of Mandasor
Explanation: After being defeated at the Battle of Mahidpur, the Holkars signed the Treaty of Mandasor (1818), effectively accepting the British Subsidiary Alliance.
The Battle of Mahidpur (1817), a decisive engagement during the Third Anglo-Maratha War, resulted in the crushing defeat of which Maratha power?
- Holkar of Indore
- Bhonsle of Nagpur
- Peshwa of Pune
- Scindia of Gwalior
Explanation: The Holkar army was decisively defeated by the British under Sir Thomas Hislop at the Battle of Mahidpur in December 1817, shattering their military power.
Which territory was ceded to the British by Tipu Sultan under the Treaty of Seringapatam (1792), providing them a highly strategic continuous foothold on the western coast?
- Coorg territory
- Malabar Coast
- Dindigul fort
- Canara region
Explanation: By securing the Malabar coast, the British effectively landlocked Mysore on the western side, cutting off Tipu Sultan's direct maritime contact with the French.
After the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the territories of the Peshwa were largely absorbed into which British presidency?
- Madras Region
- Bombay Presidency
- Bengal Province
- Central Tracts
Explanation: Following the abolition of the Peshwaship in 1818, the vast territories formerly directly controlled by the Peshwa were annexed and incorporated into the Bombay Presidency.
Which British General was responsible for the crucial victories in northern India, notably at the Battle of Laswari (1803) against Daulatrao Scindia's forces?
- David Ochterlony
- Gerard Lake
- Arthur Wellesley
- Sir Eyre Coote
Explanation: While Arthur Wellesley commanded the Deccan theater, General Gerard Lake commanded the northern campaign during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, capturing Delhi, Agra, and winning at Laswari.
The First Anglo-Maratha War was triggered by which controversial treaty signed by Raghunathrao with the British in 1775?
- Treaty of Salbai
- Treaty of Surat
- Treaty of Purandar
- Treaty of Wadgaon
Explanation: Raghunathrao, seeking British help to become Peshwa, signed the Treaty of Surat (1775) with the Bombay Presidency, triggering the First Anglo-Maratha War.
Tipu Sultan's army was technologically notable for its deployment of iron-cased what against the British?
- Repeating Rifles
- Mysorean Rockets
- Heavy Artillery
- Flintlock Muskets
Explanation: The Mysorean army under Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan pioneered the use of iron-cased rockets, which caused massive disruptions among the British East India Company forces.