Q1. Who was responsible for overthrowing Nanjaraj and establishing control over Mysore in 1761?
- Tipu Sultan
- Chikka Krishna Raj
- Haidar Ali
- Rama Varma
Correct Option: 3. Haidar Ali.
Explanation: Haidar Ali, starting as a petty officer, gradually rose through the ranks and overthrew Nanjaraj in 1761, establishing his control over Mysore.
Q2. Which military innovation did Haidar Ali introduce in the Mysore army?
- Western military training
- Guerrilla warfare
- Use of war elephants
- Recruitment of tribal warriors
Correct Option: 1. Western military training.
Explanation: Haidar Ali realized the importance of Western military techniques and introduced them to the Mysore army. He even established a modern arsenal in Dindigul with French help in 1755.
Q3. What was one of Tipu Sultan’s key administrative reforms?
- Abolition of the zamindari system
- Introduction of universal suffrage
- Introduction of a new religion
- Elimination of jagirs to increase state income
Correct Option: 4. Elimination of jagirs to increase state income.
Explanation: Tipu Sultan attempted to do away with the practice of granting jagirs (land grants) and reduce the hereditary possessions of poligars to boost state income and centralize power.
Q4. Which European power did Martanda Varma defeat to end their political influence in Kerala?
- Portuguese
- Dutch
- French
- British
Correct Option: 2. Dutch.
Explanation: Martanda Varma defeated the Dutch, marking the end of their political power in Kerala. He used his Western-style army to consolidate power and expand Travancore.
Q5. Which city became a center of Sanskrit scholarship and literary revival in the 18th century?
- Mysore
- Cochin
- Trivandrum
- Calicut
Correct Option: 3. Trivandrum.
Explanation: Under the rule of Rama Varma, Trivandrum became a major hub of Sanskrit learning and Malayalam literary revival in the second half of the 18th century.