RAS question
Which Kota ruler stayed mostly with the imperial army in southern campaigns against the Marathas after his accession and died there?
Correct answer: (C) Rao Kishor Singh.
Rao Kishor Singh was the Kota ruler who, after his accession, served mainly with the imperial army in the south against the Marathas and died there.
Explanation
Rao Kishor Singh is the correct ruler because his career after accession was tied to southern imperial service and his life ended there. The Kota annals record that Kishor Singh, after being placed on the throne, was again serving in the south under Aurangzeb, distinguished himself at the siege of Bijapur, and was finally slain at the escalade of Arkatgarh, identified as Arcot. After accession, his main activity was with the imperial army on the southern front against the Marathas, and he died in that theatre. The other rulers belong to different event markers: Dharmat for Mukund Singh, Khajua and Deccan service for Jagat Singh, and Raigarh-Jajau for Ram Singh I.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Rao Mukund Singh belongs to the Dharmat episode and died supporting Dara, so his death does not fit the post-accession southern campaign context.
- (B) Rao Jagat Singh is linked with Khajua and Aurangzeb's Deccan service, but accession followed by southern Maratha fighting and death there identifies Kishor Singh.
- (D) Rao Ram Singh I is associated with Raigarh and Jajau, and his death belongs to the succession struggle at Jajau rather than Kishor Singh's southern campaign context.
Concept
This tests ruler-event matching in the Hada history of Kota, a recurring RAS theme because similar names and overlapping Mughal service make chronology easy to confuse. The exam often asks such clues through place of death, campaign theatre, or succession context.