CORE Key Points at a Glance

  1. 1

    Prithviraj III (Chahamana/Chauhan)

    • Won First Battle of Tarain (1191 CE) — defeated Muhammad Ghori
    • Lost Second Battle of Tarain (1192 CE) — captured and killed
    • His defeat ended Rajput supremacy in northern India
  2. 2

    Rana Kumbha of Mewar (r. 1433–1468 CE)

    • Built 32 forts including Kumbhalgarh
    • Authored 4 Vedic commentaries and the Sangita-raja treatise
    • Patronised the Vijay Stambha (1448 CE) at Chittorgarh
  3. 3

    Rana Sanga (r. 1508–1528 CE)

    • United a 100,000-strong pan-Rajput confederacy
    • Lost the Battle of Khanwa (1527 CE) to Babur's Timurid artillery
    • His defeat entrenched Mughal power permanently in India
  4. 4

    Maharana Pratap (r. 1572–1597 CE)

    • Fought Battle of Haldighati (18 June 1576 CE) against Akbar's forces led by Man Singh I
    • Waged 25 years of guerrilla resistance from the Aravalli forests
    • Never surrendered Mewar's independence
  5. 5

    Rao Maldeo of Marwar (r. 1532–1562 CE)

    • Expanded Jodhpur's territory to 80,000 sq km — largest Rajput state of his era
    • Offered asylum to Humayun (1540 CE) then withdrew it at Khairwa (1542 CE)
    • Resisted Sher Shah at Battle of Samel (1544 CE); his diplomacy shaped north Indian politics
  6. 6

    Sawai Jai Singh II (r. 1699–1743 CE)

    • Founded Jaipur city in 1727 CE on a 9-sector grid plan by architect Vidyadhar
    • Built 5 Jantar Mantar observatories at Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, and Mathura
    • Authored astronomical treatise Zij-i-Muhammad Shahi (1738 CE)
  7. 7

    Man Singh I of Amber (r. 1589–1614 CE)

    • Served as Akbar's commander with mansab 7,000 zat — highest for any Rajput noble
    • Built Man Singh Palace at Amber (1592 CE) and funded Govinddev temple at Vrindavan
    • His Mughal alliance set the template for Rajput-Mughal political accommodation
    • Note: Man Mandir Palace at Gwalior was built by Man Singh Tomar (Tomar dynasty, c. 1486–1516 CE) — a different ruler
  8. 8

    Ranthambhor Fort

    • Occupied by Chauhans from c. 944 CE; controlled the vital Vindhya-Aravallis trade pass
    • Contains 19 water reservoirs enabling long siege resistance
    • 1301 CE jauhar under Hammiradeva against Alauddin Khalji became a symbol of Rajput honour
  9. 9

    Meherangarh Fort (1459 CE)

    • Founded by Rao Jodha on a 122-metre-high rock outcrop at Jodhpur
    • Has 7 gates: Jayapol (1806 CE — victory over Jaipur-Bikaner) and Fatehpol (1707 CE — victory over Mughals) are the most significant
    • Interior palaces include Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, and Sheesh Mahal
  10. 10

    Miniature Painting Schools of Rajasthan

    • Five major schools: Mewar (earliest, c. 1260 CE), Marwar (Jodhpur/Nagaur), Amber-Jaipur, Bundi-Kota, and Bikaner
    • Each school has distinct palette, themes, and stylistic identity
    • Kishangarh school (c. 1720–1850 CE) produced the iconic Bani Thani portrait
  11. 11

    Bappa Rawal (c. 728 CE) — Guhila Dynasty

    • Defeated Arab forces that had penetrated Rajasthan after the conquest of Sindh (712 CE)
    • Established Mewar's lasting sovereignty; received Chittorgarh fort
    • Founded or substantially renovated the Eklingji temple at Kailashpuri (Udaipur) c. 734 CE
  12. 12

    Din-i-Ilahi (1582 CE)

    • Akbar's syncretic faith combining Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity
    • Only ~18 disciples accepted it; died with Akbar in 1605 CE
    • Rajput allies like Man Singh I did not join despite their alliance with Akbar
  13. 13

    Hada Rajputs of Bundi-Kota

    • Established control of the Chambal valley by 1241 CE under Hara Deva
    • Bundi school of painting (c. 1600–1750 CE) is known for indigo-emerald palette and lush landscapes
    • Over 50 step-wells (baoris) built in Bundi; Raniji ki Baori (1699 CE) is the finest
  14. 14

    Bhatis of Jaisalmer

    • Founded Jaisalmer fort in 1156 CE by Rao Jaisal on a 250-feet-high Trikuta Hill
    • Fort's Jain temples (12th–15th century CE) represent merchant-patron architecture at its peak
    • Patwon ki Haveli (1805 CE onward) is the pinnacle of desert merchant architecture

PREDICTED Predicted RAS Questions

Based on PYQ trends and 2026 syllabus analysis

1 5M Evaluate the political and cultural achievements of Rana Kumbha of Mewar. 5 marks · 50 words

Model Answer

Rana Kumbha (1433–1468 CE) was Mewar's greatest ruler. Politically, he defeated Sultan Mahmud Khalji of Malwa at Sarangpur (1437 CE), controlled 84 forts including Kumbhalgarh, and built a 36-km perimeter wall. Culturally, he composed the musicological treatise Sangita-raja, authored four Vedic commentaries, and erected the Vijay Stambha (1448 CE) at Chittorgarh — commemorating his Sarangpur victory.

~50 words • 5 marks

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