Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

Important Questions and Answers for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 The Rise of the Marathas 2025-26

ffImage
banner

Practice CBSE Exam-Focused Questions with Answers and PDF for Chapter 3

On this page, you’ll find Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 The Rise of the Marathas. This resource is for Class 8 students studying Social Science under the CBSE curriculum. All questions align with the exam pattern for Chapter 3 and focus on topics that matter most.


Chapter 3, The Rise of the Marathas, highlights how the Marathas grew to power in Indian history. Here, we have included important questions with answers for Class 8 Social Science, keeping in mind step marking and answer keywords. Vedantu’s experts picked likely question types—MCQs, short answers, long answers, and map-based questions—for targeted revision.


Practising these questions helps you focus your study time, learn marking schemes, and reduce mistakes. For easy revision, download the Important Questions PDF for free and get ready for your exams with confidence.


Practice CBSE Exam-Focused Questions with Answers and PDF for Chapter 3

1. Multiple choice questions.


Q1. Which fort marks the coronation place of Shivaji as the Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire?


  • (a) Sindhudurg Fort
  • (b) Raigad Fort
  • (c) Pratapgad Fort
  • (d) Gingee Fort

Answer: (b) Raigad Fort.


Q2. The main script used by Marathas for administrative correspondence was:


  • (a) Devanagari
  • (b) Persian
  • (c) Modi
  • (d) Roman

Answer: (c) Modi.


Q3. Who led the Marathas immediately after the death of Shivaji's son Sambhaji?


  • (a) Ahilyabai Holkar
  • (b) Peshwa Bajirao I
  • (c) Tarabai
  • (d) Nanasaheb Peshwa

Answer: (c) Tarabai.


Q4. Which tax collected by the Marathas accounted for 25% of the revenue from provinces not directly ruled by them?


  • (a) Jagir
  • (b) Chauth
  • (c) Sardeshmukhi
  • (d) Zamindari

Answer: (b) Chauth.


2. Very Short Answer (VSA).


Q1. Who was the founder of the Maratha kingdom?


Answer: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded the Maratha kingdom in the 17th century.


Q2. What was the main strength of the Europeans in India during the Maratha period?


Answer: The main strength of the Europeans in India was their powerful naval forces (navies).


Q3. Name two famous Maratha women known for their contributions or leadership.


Answer: Two famous Maratha women are Ahilyabai Holkar and Tarabai.


Q4. What does ‘Swarajya’ mean?


Answer: Swarajya means self-rule or independent Indian rule, a key vision of Shivaji.


3. Short Answer Questions.


Q1. How did the geography of Maharashtra play a role in Maratha military strategies?


Answer: The mountainous terrain and coastal regions of Maharashtra helped Marathas in guerrilla warfare. They used hills and forts for defense and surprise attacks, while coastal access enabled them to build a navy for protecting trade and territory.


Q2. What were the roles of the Ashta Pradhana Mandal in Maratha administration?


Answer: The Ashta Pradhana Mandal was a council of eight ministers assisting Shivaji in administration. Their roles included finance, intelligence, land revenue, justice, religious affairs, military leadership, foreign matters, and acting as the prime minister, ensuring systematic governance.


Q3. Explain the importance of forts for the Marathas.


Answer: Forts were the core of the Maratha state, providing safety during invasions, serving as bases for operations, and helping them survive against larger and better-equipped enemies, as emphasized by Ramachandrapant Amatya.


Q4. Describe Shivaji's approach towards religious diversity.


Answer: Shivaji respected all religions while upholding Hindu traditions. He rebuilt desecrated temples, avoided attacking religious places during campaigns, and promoted social harmony among his subjects, reflecting his tolerant policies.


4. True or False Questions.


Q1. The Marathas had no navy and only depended on land forces.


Answer: False.


Q2. Shivaji abolished hereditary posts in his administration and paid his officials from the state treasury.


Answer: True.


Q3. Ahilyabai Holkar rebuilt the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.


Answer: True.


Q4. The Battle of Panipat (1761) resulted in a major defeat for the Marathas but they recovered their power in northern India soon after.


Answer: True.


3. Fill in the Blanks Questions.


Q1. The Marathas levied a tax called _______ amounting to 25% from provinces not directly ruled by them.


Answer: Chauth.


Q2. _______ was a Maratha naval leader who won several battles against the Europeans.


Answer: Kanhoji Angre.


Q3. The _______ script was the main administrative script of the Maratha state.


Answer: Modi.


Q4. After Sambhaji’s execution, _______ led the Marathas and expanded the conflict into north India.


Answer: Tarabai.


Why Learning About the Rise of the Marathas Matters

Understanding Important Questions Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 The Rise of the Marathas helps students discover the legacy of a powerful empire. With exam-ready questions, you can develop critical thinking and grasp how governance and culture shaped Indian history in the 17th and 18th centuries.


Mastering these important questions makes learning facts about Shivaji, forts, and Maratha society simpler. Secondary keywords like administration, Maratha navy and Swarajya bring the chapter topics to life and prepare you for CBSE 2025-26 exams with confidence.


Learnings from Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 teach us about leadership, unity, and diversity. Explore key contributions of famous Maratha personalities and build a strong foundation for higher studies, all while improving your Social Science concepts easily.


FAQs on Important Questions and Answers for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 The Rise of the Marathas 2025-26

1. What are the most important questions in Chapter 3 The Rise of the Marathas?

Focus on questions about the origins and rise of the Marathas, role of Shivaji Maharaj, the features of Maratha administration, and differences with Mughal rule. Practice MCQs on important battles, and be prepared for short and long answers around key events and personalities in the chapter.

2. How to write high scoring answers for Social Science Class 8?

Use specific keywords from the textbook, write to the point, and cover all main steps. For higher marks, include important dates, names, and properly structured points as required by the question. Underline key terms and always follow stepwise marking.

3. Is map work important in The Rise of the Marathas chapter?

Yes, map work is important for Social Science Chapter 3. You should be able to locate and label major Maratha regions, important forts, and battle sites. Practice neat labelling and follow the CBSE map conventions for Class 8.

4. Which high-weightage subtopics should I revise first?

Start revision with the rise and consolidation of the Maratha power, contributions of Shivaji, Maratha administration, main wars, and comparison with Mughal policies. These often carry more marks and are frequent exam-focused questions.

5. How to structure 3-mark and 5-mark answers in Chapter 3 for the exam?

Begin with a brief introduction, then write 3 points for 3-mark questions and 5 key points for 5-mark ones. For 5 marks, add examples or explanations. Number each point and underline keywords for clarity.

6. Where can I download important questions with answers as PDF?

Vedantu provides a free PDF download of important questions with answers for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3. Find the download button after the revision notes on the main page. Use the PDF for practice and last-minute revision.

7. Do examiners award partial marks for correct steps even if my final answer is wrong?

Yes, CBSE uses stepwise marking. If you write correct steps but the final answer is incorrect, you may still get partial marks for the right process. Always show your steps and highlight key parts of your answer.