Political Formations in the Eighteenth Century, Class- 7, Subject- Social Science, Solved exercises for these chapter.

A. Choose the correct answer

1. Awadh emerged as an independent state under:
(a) Saadat Khan


2. The Battle of Plassey was fought in the year:
(b) 1757


3. Chin Qilich Khan was given the title:
(b) Nizam‑ul‑Mulk


4. Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan were the rulers of:
(c) Mysore




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B. Write T for True and F for False statements

1. The Mughal emperors after Aurangzeb are referred to as the Later Mughals. – T


2. Suraj Mal was the most famous Jat ruler. – T


3. The Third Battle of Panipat was fought between the Mughals and Ahmad Shah Abdali. – F (It was fought between Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali.)


4. Chauth and sardeshmukhi were two taxes levied by the Mughals. – F (These were levied by the Marathas.)




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C. Fill in the blanks

1. The Battle of Buxar was fought in 1764.


2. The ijaradari system was introduced by Saadat Khan in Awadh.


3. The Bengal became independent from the Mughal rule under Murshid Quli Khan.


4. Under Peshwas, the Marathas emerged as a powerful force.


5. In the Third Battle of Panipat, the Marathas were defeated by Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1761.




D. Very Short Answer Type Questions (20–30 words)

1. Who were the later Mughals?
Answer: The Mughal emperors who ruled after Aurangzeb (1707) are called the Later Mughals. They were weak rulers, and their empire gradually disintegrated.


2. Who were the parties in the Battle of Buxar?
Answer: The Battle of Buxar (1764) was fought between the British East India Company and the combined forces of Mir Qasim (Bengal), Shuja‑ud‑Daulah (Awadh) and Shah Alam II (Mughal).


3. Who was Saadat Khan? What was the title given to him?
Answer: Saadat Khan was the founder of the independent kingdom of Awadh. He was given the title Burhan‑ul‑Mulk by the Mughal emperor.


4. Who was Maharana Pratap?
Answer: Maharana Pratap was the brave Rajput ruler of Mewar who resisted Mughal emperor Akbar’s attempts to capture his kingdom, most notably in the Battle of Haldighati (1576).


5. What was the Ashtapradhan?
Answer: The Ashtapradhan was a council of eight ministers appointed by Shivaji to assist in administration and governance of the Maratha kingdom.




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E. Short Answer Type Questions (50–60 words)

1. What was the ijaradari system?
Answer: The ijaradari system was introduced by Saadat Khan in Awadh. Under this system, the right to collect revenue from land was auctioned to the highest bidder, called the ijardar. The ijardar paid a fixed sum to the state and kept the remaining revenue, which often led to exploitation of peasants.


2. Write a note on Sawai Raja Jai Singh.
Answer: Sawai Raja Jai Singh was a powerful Rajput ruler of Amber (Jaipur). He was a skilled administrator, diplomat, and astronomer. He built the city of Jaipur and established astronomical observatories called Jantar Mantars in different cities, including Delhi and Jaipur.



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F. Long Answer Type Questions (80–100 words)


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1. Analyse the reasons for the decline of the Mughal Empire.

Answer: The Mughal Empire declined after Aurangzeb’s death due to several reasons. The later Mughals were weak and unable to control the vast empire. Continuous wars drained the treasury, and heavy taxes angered the people. Powerful nobles and regional leaders like the Marathas, Sikhs, and Jats became independent. Invasions by Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali weakened the empire further. The rise of the British East India Company also led to the empire’s downfall.


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2. Explain the rise of Bengal as an independent kingdom.

Answer: Bengal became independent under Murshid Quli Khan, who was appointed as governor by the Mughals. After Aurangzeb’s death, he stopped sending revenue to Delhi and started ruling independently. Bengal was rich in trade, agriculture, and resources, which made it powerful. Its strategic location near the sea helped it flourish as a major trading centre. Later rulers like Alivardi Khan continued Bengal’s prosperity until the British conquest.


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3. Trace the emergence of the Sikhs as an important political power.

Answer: The Sikhs, founded by Guru Nanak, gradually turned into a military power under later Gurus, especially Guru Gobind Singh, who formed the Khalsa in 1699. After Aurangzeb’s death, the Sikh Misls united under Maharaja Ranjit Singh to form a strong kingdom in Punjab. They resisted Mughal and Afghan forces and later built a powerful empire with Lahore as the capital.


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4. Examine the rise and fall of the Marathas.

Answer: The Marathas rose under Shivaji, who established Swarajya and challenged Mughal power. After his death, the Peshwas controlled the Maratha Confederacy and expanded it across India. They became the most powerful force in the 18th century. However, internal divisions and defeat in the Third Battle of Panipat (1761) against Ahmad Shah Abdali weakened them. Later, the British defeated the Marathas in the Anglo‑Maratha wars.


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5. Describe the Maratha administration.

Answer: The Maratha administration, founded by Shivaji, was well‑organized. He appointed the Ashtapradhan, an eight‑member council of ministers to help him. Revenue was collected through chauth and sardeshmukhi taxes. The kingdom was divided into provinces called subhas, managed by officers. Forts were built for defence, and a disciplined army was maintained. The system promoted efficiency and loyalty.


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G. Differentiate between the following


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1. Chauth and Sardeshmukhi

Chauth: A 25% tax on revenue or produce collected by the Marathas from lands not directly under their control.

Sardeshmukhi: An additional 10% tax claimed as the hereditary right of the Maratha ruler over the region.



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2. Swarajya and Mughlai

Swarajya: Areas directly controlled by the Marathas under Shivaji’s administration.

Mughlai: Areas controlled by the Mughals or those who paid revenue to them.



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3. Misl and Dal Khalsa

Misl: Small Sikh military groups led by individual chiefs in Punjab.

Dal Khalsa: The united army of all Sikh Misls formed to defend Punjab and fight against invaders.



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H. Higher‑Order Thinking Skills


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1. The Battle of Buxar had more far‑reaching consequences than the Battle of Plassey. Why?

Answer: The Battle of Plassey (1757) gave the British control over Bengal, but the Battle of Buxar (1764) was more important as it gave them control over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha. The Mughal emperor granted them Diwani rights, making the British the real rulers of Eastern India, which laid the foundation for British rule in India.