Here are 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) about the Maratha Empire along with their answers:
1. Who founded the Maratha Empire?
a) Shivaji
b) Baji Rao I
c) Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath
d) Chhatrapati Shahu
Answer: a) Shivaji
2. The Maratha Empire reached its peak under the leadership of which ruler?
a) Shivaji
b) Baji Rao I
c) Chhatrapati Shahu
d) Balaji Baji Rao
Answer: d) Balaji Baji Rao
3. The capital of the Maratha Empire was located in which city?
a) Pune
b) Delhi
c) Agra
d) Aurangabad
Answer: a) Pune
4. The Marathas followed which religion?
a) Hinduism
b) Islam
c) Sikhism
d) Christianity
Answer: a) Hinduism
5. Which of the following battles marked the decline of the Maratha Empire?
a) Battle of Panipat
b) Battle of Plassey
c) Battle of Haldighati
d) Battle of Buxar
Answer: a) Battle of Panipat
6. Who was the first Peshwa of the Maratha Empire?
a) Balaji Vishwanath
b) Baji Rao I
c) Balaji Baji Rao
d) Madhavrao Peshwa
Answer: a) Balaji Vishwanath
7. The Maratha Empire was known for its efficient administration and military organization influenced by which ancient text?
a) Arthashastra
b) Ramayana
c) Mahabharata
d) Manusmriti
Answer: a) Arthashastra
8. Which Mughal emperor faced significant challenges from the Marathas during his reign?
a) Akbar
b) Jahangir
c) Shah Jahan
d) Aurangzeb
Answer: d) Aurangzeb
9. Who was the prime minister (Peshwa) of the Maratha Empire during the Third Battle of Panipat?
a) Balaji Baji Rao
b) Raghunathrao
c) Mahadji Scindia
d) Nana Phadnavis
Answer: b) Raghunathrao
10. The Marathas gained control over which region of India during their expansion?
a) Deccan
b) Bengal
c) Punjab
d) Rajasthan
Answer: a) Deccan
11. The Marathas used which language as their official administrative language?
a) Hindi
b) Marathi
c) Sanskrit
d) Persian
Answer: b) Marathi
12. Who was the last ruling Peshwa of the Maratha Empire?
a) Balaji Baji Rao
b) Madhavrao Peshwa
c) Baji Rao II
d) Nana Phadnavis
Answer: c) Baji Rao II
13. The Maratha navy was known as:
a) Sindhudurg Navy
b) Chaul Navy
c) Vijaydurg Navy
d) Konkan Navy
Answer: c) Vijaydurg Navy
14. The Maratha Empire had a significant impact on which
field of literature?
a) Poetry
b) Drama
c) Prose
d) Philosophy
Answer: b) Drama
15. Who was the commander-in-chief of the Maratha forces during the Battle of Panipat?
a) Baji Rao I
b) Balaji Baji Rao
c) Sadashivrao Bhau
d) Malharrao Holkar
Answer: c) Sadashivrao Bhau
16. The Maratha Empire was established in which century?
a) 14th century
b) 15th century
c) 16th century
d) 17th century
Answer: d) 17th century
17. The Maratha Empire faced fierce opposition from which regional power in South India?
a) Vijayanagara Empire
b) Mysore Kingdom
c) Chola Empire
d) Hoysala Empire
Answer: b) Mysore Kingdom
18. The Marathas adopted a guerrilla warfare tactic known as:
a) Guptavidya
b) Salwa Judum
c) Ashtapradhan
d) Ganimi Kava
Answer: d) Ganimi Kava
19. Who succeeded Shivaji as the ruler of the Maratha Empire?
a) Sambhaji
b) Rajaram
c) Chhatrapati Shahu
d) Tarabai
Answer: a) Sambhaji
20. The Marathas were known for their expertise in which form of combat?
a) Archery
b) Swordsmanship
c) Elephant warfare
d) Naval warfare
Answer: b) Swordsmanship
21. The Maratha Empire expanded its influence beyond the Indian subcontinent to which island nation?
a) Sri Lanka
b) Maldives
c) Mauritius
d) Seychelles
Answer: a) Sri Lanka
22. Which Mughal emperor granted the rights and territories to the Marathas, initiating their rise to power?
a) Jahangir
b) Shah Jahan
c) Aurangzeb
d) Bahadur Shah I
Answer: a) Jahangir
23. Who led the Maratha resistance against the Mughals in the 27-year-long Deccan Wars?
a) Balaji Baji Rao
b) Shivaji
c) Raghunathrao
d) Nana Phadnavis
Answer: a) Balaji Baji Rao
24. The Maratha Empire's power declined following the death of which ruler?
a) Shivaji
b) Baji Rao I
c) Chhatrapati Shahu
d) Balaji Baji Rao
Answer: b) Baji Rao I
25. Who was the Maratha king who sought the help of the British against the Peshwas during the Anglo-Maratha Wars?
a) Chhatrapati Shahu
b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
c) Nana Sahib
d) Baji Rao II
Answer: a) Chhatrapati Shahu
26. The Marathas established a confederacy known as:
a) Maratha Mandate
b) Maratha League
c) Maratha Union
d) Maratha Confederacy
Answer: d) Maratha Confederacy
27. The Maratha Empire was instrumental in breaking the
Mughal control over which region of India?
a) Rajasthan
b) Punjab
c) Bengal
d) Deccan
Answer: d) Deccan
28. Which Peshwa of the Maratha Empire extended Maratha influence up to Delhi?
a) Balaji Vishwanath
b) Baji Rao I
c) Balaji Baji Rao
d) Madhavrao Peshwa
Answer: b) Baji Rao I
29. The Marathas maintained a tax-free area for trade and commerce known as:
a) Swarajya
b) Mughal Road
c) Jagir
d) Chauth and Sardeshmukhi
Answer: d) Chauth and Sardeshmukhi
30. The Marathas controlled the strategic forts of Raigad, Pratapgad, and:
a) Lal Mahal
b) Sindhudurg
c) Red Fort
d) Golconda Fort
Answer: b) Sindhudurg
31. Who was the commander-in-chief of the Maratha forces during the Battle of Assaye?
a) Malharrao Holkar
b) Baji Rao II
c) Daulat Rao Scindia
d) Mahadji Scindia
Answer: d) Mahadji Scindia
32. The Maratha Empire faced significant opposition from which European colonial power?
a) British East India Company
b) Dutch East India Company
c) French East India Company
d) Portuguese Empire
Answer: a) British East India Company
33. Who was the first Peshwa to hold the title of "Senapati" or "Commander-in-chief" of the Maratha Empire?
a) Balaji Vishwanath
b) Baji Rao I
c) Balaji Baji Rao
d) Madhavrao Peshwa
Answer: b) Baji Rao I
34. The Maratha Empire faced a significant defeat at the hands of the British East India Company in which battle?
a) Battle of Plassey
b) Battle of Buxar
c) Battle of Wandiwash
d) Battle of Panipat
Answer: b) Battle of Buxar
35. The Maratha Empire implemented a taxation system known as:
a) Zamindari system
b) Ryotwari system
c) Mahalwari system
d) Chauth and Sardeshmukhi
Answer: d) Chauth and Sardeshmukhi
36. The Maratha Empire had a significant impact on the architecture of which region in India?
a) Rajasthan
b) Gujarat
c) Madhya Pradesh
d) Maharashtra
Answer: d) Maharashtra
37. Who was the founder of the Bhonsle dynasty, which played a prominent role in the Maratha Empire?
a) Shivaji
b) Baji Rao I
c) Balaji Baji Rao
d) Malharrao Holkar
Answer: a) Shivaji
38. The Maratha Empire was known for its cavalry units called:
a) Sowar
b) Sepoy
c) Rajput
d) Ghazi
Answer: a) Sowar
39. Who was the Maratha ruler who successfully defended against the Mughal siege of Panhala Fort?
a) Sambhaji
b) Rajaram
c) Tarabai
d) Jijabai
Answer: a) Sambhaji
40. The Maratha Empire extended its influence and control over which trade route in Central India?
a) Silk Road
b) Spice Route
c) Indus Valley Trade Route
d) Dakshinapatha
Answer: d) Dakshinapatha
41. The Marathas built a strong navy to counter the influence of which European naval power?
a) British Royal Navy
b) French Navy
c) Portuguese Navy
d) Dutch Navy
Answer: c) Portuguese Navy
42. Who was the Maratha ruler known for his successful military campaigns in northern India?
a) Balaji Vishwanath
b) Baji Rao I
c) Balaji Baji Rao
d) Madhavrao Peshwa
Answer: b) Baji Rao I
43. The Marathas followed which system of governance?
a) Feudalism
b) Monarchy
c) Democracy
d) Confederacy
Answer: a) Feudalism
44. Who was the Maratha ruler who fought against the Mughals and established Maratha rule in Maharashtra?
a) Shivaji
b) Sambhaji
c) Chhatrapati Shahu
d) Balaji Baji Rao
Answer: a) Shivaji
45. The Marathas built a strong network of forts primarily to defend against which threat?
a) British invasion
b) Mughal invasion
c) Portuguese invasion
d) Dutch invasion
Answer: b) Mughal invasion
46. Who was the Maratha ruler known for his diplomatic and administrative skills during the late 18th century?
a) Balaji Vishwanath
b) Baji Rao I
c) Madhavrao Peshwa
d) Nana Phadnavis
Answer: d) Nana Phadnavis
47. The Maratha Empire witnessed internal conflicts and power struggles primarily between which two factions?
a) Bhonsle and Holkar
b) Scindia and Gaikwad
c) Peshwas and Sardars
d) Marathas and Rajputs
Answer: c) Peshwas and Sardars
48. The Maratha Empire had a significant impact on the development of which form of Indian classical music?
a) Hindustani classical music
b) Carnatic classical music
c) Ghazal music
d) Qawwali music
Answer: a) Hindustani classical music
49. Who was the Maratha ruler who actively supported the revival of Hindu traditions and culture?
a) Balaji Vishwanath
b) Shivaji
c) Chhatrapati Shahu
d) Baji Rao II
Answer: c) Chhatrapati Shahu
50. The Maratha Empire contributed to the growth of which city as a prominent cultural and educational center?
a) Pune
b) Mumbai
c) Nagpur
d) Nashik
Answer: a) Pune
These questions cover various aspects of the Maratha Empire's history, rulers, military, administration, and cultural impact. They can be used for educational purposes, quizzes, or general knowledge assessments related to the Maratha Empire.







