CAPF AC 2020 Q91: Medieval History – Maratha Empire
On which one of the following conditions, did the Marathas agree to serve the Mughal king with a cavalry contingent of 15,000 in the early 18th century?
- (a) Grant of the jagir of Malwa province
- (b) Control of the resources of Gujarat
- (c) The right to levy chauth and sardeshmukhi in the Deccan and South India
- (d) The right to mint coins in their own name
Answer: (c) The right to levy chauth and sardeshmukhi in the Deccan and South India
Explanation
The Maratha-Mughal agreement of 1719
How to think: the Marathas always pressed for two taxes, chauth and sardeshmukhi.
Any deal with the Mughals in this period turns on these two words.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Year | 1719 |
| Maratha side | Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, for King Shahu |
| Mughal side | Sayyid Husain Ali, one of the Sayyid brothers |
| Marathas got | Right to chauth and sardeshmukhi in the six provinces of the Deccan |
| Marathas gave | 15,000 cavalry for the emperor's service and a yearly tribute |
The two taxes:
| Tax | Share |
|---|---|
| Chauth | One-fourth of the land revenue |
| Sardeshmukhi | A further one-tenth |
The options checked:
| Option | Verdict |
|---|---|
| (a) Jagir of Malwa | Incorrect; Malwa came under Maratha control later |
| (b) Resources of Gujarat | Incorrect |
| (c) Chauth and sardeshmukhi in the Deccan and South India | Correct |
| (d) Right to mint coins | Incorrect |
Answer: (c) The right to levy chauth and sardeshmukhi in the Deccan and South India.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Malwa was not the price of the 1719 agreement.
- (b) Incorrect. Control of Gujarat was not part of this agreement.
- (c) CORRECT. The Marathas got chauth and sardeshmukhi of the Deccan in return for 15,000 cavalry.
- (d) Incorrect. The agreement was about revenue rights, not minting coins.
Key point
1719: Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath and Sayyid Husain Ali; Marathas got chauth (one-fourth) and sardeshmukhi (one-tenth) of the Deccan in return for 15,000 cavalry.
Remember
1719: chauth and sardeshmukhi of the Deccan for 15,000 Maratha cavalry.
Common mistakes
- Swapping the shares: chauth is one-fourth, sardeshmukhi is one-tenth.
- Naming Baji Rao I as the Peshwa; in 1719 it was Balaji Vishwanath.
- Thinking chauth was collected only inside the Maratha kingdom; it was levied on outside lands.
Exam tip
Educated guess: Maratha plus Mughal plus Deccan almost always means chauth and sardeshmukhi.
Sources
- NCERT Class VII History — Our Pasts II (Eighteenth-Century Political Formations)
- Satish Chandra — History of Medieval India (The Marathas and the Mughals)