Acme Ai
A
अ
Question No. 34Interactive Test Mode
00:00
+2-0.66

Q34. Assertion (A): The Marathas emerged as the strongest native power in India after the decline of the Mughal Empire. Reason (R): Marathas were the first to have a clear concept of a united Indian nation.

Assertion (A): The Marathas emerged as the strongest native power in India after the decline of the Mughal Empire. Reason (R): Marathas were the first to have a clear concept of a united Indian nation.

Select the correct option below (or cross out options to eliminate)

Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution

Ready to check the official UPSC Answer Key?

Click any option above to test yourself under exam conditions, or reveal the explanation directly.

Official UPSC Answer KeyUPSC Prelims 2003 • Medieval History

Correct Answer: Option (C) — A is true but R is false

Concept & Option Breakdown

Standard Reference Verified
  • Assertion (A) is true: With the decline of Aurangzeb and the later Mughals in the 18th century, the Maratha Confederacy expanded rapidly across western, central, and northern India, becoming the pre-eminent political power.
  • Reason (R) is false: The Marathas were driven by dynastic, regional, and revenue-maximizing interests (Chauth and Sardeshmukhi) rather than the modern political concept of a unified Indian nation-state.
Elimination Heuristic & Exam Approach

The concept of a modern 'united nation-state' developed during the 19th-century national movement, not during 18th-century feudal expansions.

Reviewed by Avinash Sir & Acme AI Research Team

Practice Full-Length & Sectional Prelims Mocks on this Interface

50 simulated tests in the APT Prelims Test Series (₹1,493) or 1-on-1 Mentorship with Avinash Sir.

Question Specifications & Syllabus Mapping

Examination & YearUPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2003 (Q34)
Paper & Marking SchemeGS Paper I • 2 Marks (-0.66 Negative for incorrect response)
Syllabus Subject & TopicMedieval History → Medieval Trade & Economy
Official Answer KeyOption (C) — A is true but R is false

Related & Repeated Prelims PYQs (14)

Questions from other UPSC Prelims years testing the same or closely linked concept.

View Cluster in 3D Graph
2000 • Q3183% Match

Assertion (A): Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire. Reason (R): Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to South India.

Ancient History • Mauryan EmpireSolve
2001 • Q5983% Match

Assertion (A): Harshavardhana convened the Prayag Assembly. Reason (R): He wanted to popularize only the Mahayana form of Buddhism.

Ancient History • South Indian KingdomsSolve
1999 • Q8583% Match

Assertion (A): During the time of Akbar, for every ten cavalrymen, the mansabdars had to maintain twenty horses. Reason (R): Horses had to be rested while on ma

Medieval History • Mughal EmpireSolve
2001 • Q1883% Match

Direction: The following item consists of two statements. One labeled the ‘Assertion A’ and the other as ‘Reason R’ You are to examine these two statements care

Medieval History • Delhi SultanateSolve
1998 • Q2482% Match

Assertion (A): At first, the Turkish administration in India was essentially military. Reason (R): The country was parcelled out as ‘Iqtas’ among leading milita

Medieval History • Delhi SultanateSolve
1998 • Q8782% Match

Assertion (A): During the reign of Shahjahan, Dara Sikoh was sent on expedition to Balkh, Badakhshan and Qandahar. Reason (R): The expedition sent by Shahjahan

Medieval History • Mughal EmpireSolve
1998 • Q6982% Match

Assertion (A): Partition of Bengal in 1905 brought to an end the moderates’ role in the Indian freedom movement. Reason (R): The Surat session of Indian Nationa

Modern History • Partition & IndependenceSolve
2000 • Q4882% Match

Assertion (A): The origin of the feudal system in ancient India can be traced to military campaigns. Reason (R): There was considerable expansion of the feudal

Ancient History • Gupta EmpireSolve
2000 • Q6381% Match

Consider the following statements: Assertion (A): The basic weakness of the early nationalist movement lay in its narrow social base. Reason (R): It was fought

Modern History • Partition & IndependenceSolve
1996 • Q17081% Match

Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): British sovereignty continued to exist in fre

Modern History • Partition & IndependenceSolve
1998 • Q9981% Match

Assertion (A): Gandhi stopped the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922. Reason (R): Violence at Chauri-Chaura led him to stop the movement.

Modern History • Partition & IndependenceSolve
2007 • Q13380% Match

Assertion (A):According to the Wavell Plan, the number of Hindu and Muslim members in the Executive Council were to be equal. Reason (R): Wavell thought that th

Modern History • Partition & IndependenceSolve
2008 • Q13280% Match

Assertion (A): The Congress Ministries in all the provinces resigned in the year 1939. Reason (R): The Congress did not accept the decision of the Viceroy to de

Modern History • Partition & IndependenceSolve
2003 • Q7880% Match

Directions: The following item consists of two statements: one labelled as the Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). You are to examine these two statement

Medieval History • Mughal EmpireSolve

More PYQs from Medieval History (Medieval Trade & Economy)

Master the Medieval History syllabus cluster by practicing these related previous year questions.

View All Medieval History PYQs

Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Prelims 2003 Q34

What is the official answer for UPSC Prelims 2003 GS Paper I Question 34 (Medieval History)?

The official UPSC answer key for this 2003 Medieval History (Medieval Trade & Economy) question is Option (C): "A is true but R is false". Correct attempts carry 2 Marks with -0.66 Negative penalty for wrong answers.

Which UPSC Prelims syllabus topic does this 2003 question belong to?

This question belongs to GS Paper I under the subject "Medieval History" and micro-topic "Medieval Trade & Economy". You can explore all repeated questions from Medieval Trade & Economy in Acme AI's 3D Prelims PYQ Realm or practice 50 full-length and sectional tests in the APT Prelims Test Series.

How can I solve this Medieval Trade & Economy UPSC Prelims question using option elimination?

The concept of a modern 'united nationstate' developed during the 19thcentury national movement, not during 18thcentury feudal expansions.

Beyond Previous Year Questions

Structured Prelims Practice & Mentorship

Pair previous year question analysis with full-length simulated mock tests and 1-on-1 faculty guidance.

APT 2027 • 50 Prelims Tests17% OFF

Acme Prelims Test Series (APT)

Built to eliminate 1/3rd negative marking losses and 50–50 option traps through structured simulation and NCERT-backed keys.

  • 50 High-Yield Tests: Subject Sectionals, Current Affairs, CSAT Paper II & Full-Length Simulators
  • 1/3rd Penalty & Trap Analytics: Identify whether marks are lost to over-attempting or conceptual gaps
  • Option-by-Option NCERT Keys: Detailed distractor analysis and elimination logic for every question
  • Custom PDF-to-Mock Generator: Convert your revision notes or current affairs PDFs into practice tests
Complete 50-Test Package
₹1,493₹1,799• Valid till Prelims 2027
1-on-1 Personal MentorshipCapped at 10 Seats

1-on-1 UPSC Mentorship with Avinash Sir

Weekly 1-on-1 strategy reviews, daily study accountability, and personalized MCQ attempt audits with an experienced UPSC mentor.

  • Weekly 1-on-1 Sessions: Direct mentorship with Avinash Sir (Former Plutus IAS Mentor, UPSC & UPPCS Mains Written)
  • APT 50-Test Series Included: Full Prelims GS1 & CSAT test series bundled at no additional cost
  • Mock Attempt & Elimination Audit: Question-by-question review to calibrate your risk and attempt accuracy
  • Prelims & Integrated Tracks: Available as dedicated Prelims mentorship or end-to-end Prelims + Mains guidance
Prelims & Integrated Tracks
17% OFF• Includes APT 50-Test Series