RAS question
Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Marwar served which Mughal Emperor and was governor of several provinces?
Correct answer: (B) Aurangzeb.
Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Marwar served Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and held governorships including Gujarat and later Kabul.
Explanation
Maharaja Jaswant Singh belongs to the Mughal-Rajput relationship strand of Marwar history. Britannica's Rajasthan history notes that Jaswant Singh of Marwar served in the imperial Mughal forces with loyalty and distinction under Aurangzeb. Jaswant Singh was also appointed governor of Gujarat and later Kabul, linking his career to both military service and provincial administration. The aftermath is equally important for RAS: after Jaswant Singh's death in 1678, the succession dispute in Marwar fed into the Rajput War of Independence. Britannica's Aurangzeb section describes the wider Rajput rebellion connected with Jodhpur and Ajit Singh during Aurangzeb's reign.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Akbar is linked with Mughal-Rajput alliances in Britannica's Rajasthan history, but Jaswant Singh of Marwar served under Aurangzeb, not Akbar.
- (C) Jahangir belongs to an earlier Mughal phase, whereas Jaswant Singh's governorships and the later Marwar succession conflict belong to Aurangzeb's period.
- (D) Shah Jahan preceded Aurangzeb, whereas Jaswant Singh's service and the context leading to the post-1678 Marwar conflict belong to Aurangzeb's reign.
Concept
Medieval Rajasthan history often treats Mughal-Rajput relations through Marwar's role inside imperial administration. Ruler-emperor links connect political service, provincial appointments, and later resistance in RAS preparation.