UPSC CSE Pre 2021

Post-Mughal Successor States

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State. 2. The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire. 3. Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept The 18th century in India was a period of political fragmentation. As the Mughal Empire and Vijayanagara collapsed, various regional powers emerged, some as former vassals and others as independent breakaway states.

Explanation The Mysore Kingdom was originally a vassal state under the Vijayanagara Empire before becoming independent. The Nizamat of Arcot (Carnatic) was a protected territory but did not emerge *out
of Hyderabad as a breakaway. Rohilkhand arose in 1721 during the Mughal decline, long before the major annexations by Ahmad Shah Durrani.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1 (Statement 1): Incorrect. While Arcot was linked to Hyderabad, it was historically distinct and didn't 'emerge' from it in a structural sense like a split.
Logic 2 (Statement 2): Correct. The Wodeyars of Mysore were loyal vassals of Vijayanagara and took advantage of the empire's decline after the Battle of Talikota to assert sovereignty.
Logic 3 (Statement 3): Incorrect. Rohilkhand was formed by Ali Mohammed Khan in the 1720s from Mughal territories, whereas Ahmad Shah Durrani's major invasions happened much later in the mid-18th century.

Active Recall

Question

What is a 'Successor State' in Indian history?

Answer

A successor state is a regional kingdom that formed as the centralized authority of a larger empire (like the Mughals) weakened, often led by former provincial governors.

Core Insight

The rise of states like Mysore shows that regional identities and local dynasties often outlived the massive empires that once controlled them.