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CBSE · Class 8 · Social Science

The Rise of the Marathas

Standard difficulty · 20 questions · 40 marks

Name: Date: Score: ____ / 40

Write full answers in Sections B and C. Answers are on the last page — try every question first!

Section A — Choose the correct answer8 × 1 = 8 marks
1.
Chhatrapati Shivaji was born in:
  1. 1707
  2. 1757
  3. 1674
  4. 1630
2.
In the ashta pradhan, as the textbook gives it, the Amatya was in charge of:
  1. finance
  2. foreign affairs
  3. commander-in-chief
  4. chief justice
3.
Who was Mahadji Shinde?
  1. the Holkar ruler who promoted Maheshwar weaving
  2. a Peshwa who led expansion
  3. Chhatrapati Shivaji’s mother
  4. recaptured Delhi in 1771
4.
Chhatrapati Shivaji was born in 1630; Chhatrapati Shivaji died in 1680. How many years apart were these?
  1. 50 years
  2. 51 years
  3. 60 years
  4. 47 years
5.
A province had a revenue of ₹15,000. How much was chauth, at 25%?
  1. ₹3,750
  2. ₹7,500
  3. ₹1,500
  4. ₹4,750
6.
On a revenue of ₹24,000, chauth (25%) and sardeshmukhi (10%) were both collected. What was the total?
  1. ₹6,000
  2. ₹8,400
  3. ₹2,400
  4. ₹10,800
7.
Chhatrapati Shivaji was born in 1630. How old was he in 1666?
  1. 26 years
  2. 46 years
  3. 38 years
  4. 36 years
8.
Which of these was a feature of Maratha government?
  1. a British Resident at court
  2. the mansabdari system of ranks
  3. hundreds of forts at the heart of defence
  4. the Doctrine of Lapse
Section B — Short answer8 × 2 = 16 marks
9.
Who were the Marathas?
10.
What was each minister in charge of, as the textbook gives it? (a) Sachiv (b) Mantri
11.
Who was each? (a) Serfoji II (b) Tarabai
12.
Which came first, and by how many years? (a) the campaign of the South began (1677) (b) Pune became the Peshwas’ capital (1728)
13.
A town’s revenue is ₹8,000. Work out chauth (25%), sardeshmukhi (10%) and the total.
14.
Chhatrapati Shivaji was crowned in 1674. How many years before 2056 was that? Where was the coronation held?
15.
Suppose 5 Maratha ships each carried 90 sailors. How many sailors was that, and why was a navy important to the Marathas?
16.
Explain each word: (a) sardeshmukhi (b) Peshwa
Section C — Longer answers4 × 4 = 16 marks
17.
Describe how Chhatrapati Shivaji built his kingdom.
18.
Match each with its portfolio: (a) Mantri (b) Senapati (c) Nyayadhish. Choose from: commander-in-chief; intelligence; chief justice.
19.
(a) Put these in order, earliest first: the Maratha navy was founded (1657); Chhatrapati Shivaji was born (1630); the Adnyapatra was written (1715). (b) How many years from the first to the last? (c) Which of these do you think mattered most to the Maratha state, and why?
20.
A province’s revenue was ₹23,000. (a) What was chauth at 25%? (b) Sardeshmukhi at 10%? (c) What did the province get in return for paying?
AmbifulWorksheets
Practice that never repeats
CBSE · Class 8 · Social Science

Answer key

The Rise of the Marathas · AW-8SS-ROM-2026-V1 · For parents — fold back or tear off before handing the sheet to your child.

QAnswerWorking
1(d) 1630—
2(a) finance—
3(d) recaptured Delhi in 1771—
4(a) 50 years1680 − 1630 = 50
5(a) ₹3,75025% of 15,000 = 3,750
6(b) ₹8,40035% of 24,000
7(d) 36 years1666 − 1630
8(c) hundreds of forts at the heart of defence—
9People of the Deccan, mainly present-day Maharashtra, identified by the Marathi language.—
10(a) land revenue (b) intelligence—
11(a) the Thanjavur ruler who set up a printing press (b) the queen who led the push north—
12The campaign of the South began, by 51 years1728 − 1677
13chauth ₹2,000, sardeshmukhi ₹800, total ₹2,8008000 ÷ 4; 8000 ÷ 10
14382 years; at Raigad2056 − 1674
15450 sailors; to defend the coast and protect trade.5 × 90
16(a) an extra tax of 10 per cent (b) the prime minister—
17From 1646 he captured neglected forts, founded a navy, defeated larger forces with guerrilla tactics, was crowned at Raigad in 1674 and expanded south in 1677.—
18(a) intelligence (b) commander-in-chief (c) chief justice—
19(a) Chhatrapati Shivaji was born; the Maratha navy was founded; the Adnyapatra was written (b) 85 years (c) Answers will vary; see the chapter.—
20(a) ₹5,750 (b) ₹2,300 (c) Maratha protection, without direct Maratha rule.23,000 ÷ 4; ÷ 10