Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 3 Solutions (NCERT 2026–27) – The Rise of the Marathas
These Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 3 solutions cover The Rise of the Marathas from Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part I), the new NCF-2023 textbook for the 2026–27 session. The chapter belongs to the theme Tapestry of the Past and traces how the Marathas, under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, rose from the Deccan to build the largest pan-Indian power before the British takeover — their ideal of Swarājya, their forts and navy, their administration, and their cultural revival. Below you get step-by-step answers to all Questions and activities, clear notes on key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.
Class: 8Subject: Social ScienceBook: Exploring Society: India and BeyondChapter: 3Theme: Tapestry of the PastSession: 2026–27
Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 3 – Overview
Chapter 3, The Rise of the Marathas, tells the story of a people native to the Deccan plateau (present-day Maharashtra) who, strengthened by the bhakti tradition and Marathi literary culture, grew into a powerful political force. Born in 1630, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj united the Marathas, captured and built forts, used guerrilla warfare, killed Afzal Khan, raided Shaista Khan, sacked Surat and famously escaped from Agra. Crowned at Raigad in 1674, he pursued the ideal of Swarājya (self-rule), founded a navy and built a relatively centralised administration with an aṣhṭa pradhāna maṇḍala. After his death the Marathas decentralised under the Peshwas, expanded across India, suffered defeat at Panipat (1761), recovered, and finally lost power to the British in the three Anglo-Maratha wars (1775–1818). The chapter also highlights Maratha women like Tarabai and Ahilyabai Holkar and the cultural flowering at Thanjavur.
Key Concepts & Terms
Marathas: a group of people native to the Deccan plateau, especially present-day Maharashtra, identified with the Marathi language, which has had a rich literary history since the 12th century.
Bhakti: devotion to the divine or a particular deity. Between the 7th and 17th centuries, saints across India chose the path of bhakti over external ritualism and composed devotional songs in the people’s languages, giving Maratha society a strong cultural foundation.
Swarājya: Chhatrapati Shivaji’s vision of a sovereign, self-ruled kingdom, extending to political, economic and cultural independence.
Guerrilla warfare: a tactic that uses small groups of fighters with speed, surprise and knowledge of the terrain to defeat much larger armies.
Jāgīr: a piece of land given by a king or ruler to a noble or soldier as a reward for service; the holder could collect taxes from that land.
Aṣhṭa pradhāna maṇḍala: Chhatrapati Shivaji’s council of eight ministers (such as the Peśhwā/Pradhān, Amātya, Sumant, Senāpatī and Nyāyādhīsh) that assisted him in administration.
Chauth and sardeshmukhi: taxes levied by the Marathas on provinces not directly under them — chauth was 25 per cent and sardeshmukhi an additional 10 per cent — in return for protection and non-interference.
Peshwa: a Persian term for ‘prime minister’. In the decentralised later Maratha state the Peshwa (e.g. Bajirao I and Nanasaheb) wielded great power, even over the Chhatrapati.
Other key terms:Dakṣhiṇa-digvijaya (Chhatrapati Shivaji’s conquest of the South), cartaz (naval trade passes the Europeans forced Indians to buy), panchāyat (the local body that delivered justice), and Moḍī script (a cursive form of Devanagari used by the Marathas for correspondence).
“Questions and activities” — Full Solutions
All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Questions and activities section. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style.
1. Analyse how geography (particularly mountains and coastlines) guided Maratha military strategy and state formation.
ANSWERThe mountainous Deccan terrain shaped Maratha strategy in several ways. The hills and thick forests of the Sahyadri ranges were ideal for guerrilla warfare — small, fast-moving bands could ambush large enemy armies, as the Marathas did to Afzal Khan’s force near Pratapgad.The high ground also allowed Chhatrapati Shivaji to capture, build and defend a large number of forts, which controlled important routes and sheltered his army. Ramachandrapant Amatya called forts “the core of the state,” and it was these forts that helped the Marathas survive decades of Mughal onslaught.The long western coastline pushed the Marathas to build a navy — a revolutionary step — to secure access to coastal resources and trade and to resist European sea power. Coastal forts like Sindhudurg and Vijaydurg protected the shore. Thus geography made forts, mobility and naval strength the foundations of the Maratha state.
2. Imagine you are creating a short biography of a Maratha leader for younger students. Choose one personality (Kanhoji Angre, Bajirao I, Mahadji Shinde, Ahilyabai Holkar or Tarabai) and write 3-4 paragraphs highlighting what makes them inspirational. Include at least one challenge they overcame.
ANSWERThis is a writing activity; any well-researched biography of one listed leader is acceptable. A model answer on Ahilyabai Holkar:Ahilyabai Holkar belonged to the Holkar dynasty, one of the families that helped the Marathas expand into north India. In the 18th century the Holkars ruled a large kingdom in central India around present-day Indore.Her greatest challenge was personal tragedy — she lost both her husband and her son. Yet, instead of giving up, she bravely governed the state for about thirty years, ruling wisely and caring deeply for the common people.She is remembered as a devout builder who restored hundreds of temples, ghats, wells and roads across India, from Kedarnath in the north to Rameswaram in the south, including the rebuilt Kashi Vishwanath and Somnath temples. She also promoted the Maheshwar handloom-weaving industry that still thrives today. Her courage, wisdom and service make her truly inspirational. (Your own choice of leader is accepted.)
3. If you could visit one Maratha fort today (such as Raigad, Sindhudurg, Gingee, or Pratapgad), which would you choose and why? Research its history, architecture, and strategic importance. Present your findings as a digital presentation or a poster in class.
ANSWERThis is a research-and-presentation activity, so any well-supported choice is correct. A model response choosing Raigad:I would choose Raigad Fort because of its great historical importance — it was here, in 1674, that Chhatrapati Shivaji was crowned with full Vedic rites, marking the formal beginning of the Maratha Empire. It later served as the Maratha capital.Architecturally, Raigad is a strong mountain fortress with a grand entrance to the palace, massive walls and gateways, and watchpoints that gave a clear view of the surrounding country. Strategically, its great height and steep approaches made it almost impossible to capture, which is why it was chosen as the capital. I would present this with maps, photographs and a timeline. (Your own choice of fort is accepted.)
4. The chapter states, “The British took India from the Marathas more than from the Mughals or any other power.” What do you think this means? What evidence from the chapter supports this idea?
ANSWERIt means that by the late 18th century the Marathas, not the Mughals, were the dominant Indian power, so when the British finally won control of India, it was mainly the Marathas they had to defeat.Evidence from the chapter: The Marathas had built the largest Indian empire before the British, controlling much of central and northern India and even recapturing Delhi in 1771, which stayed under their control for three decades. The chapter states that in the latter half of the 18th century the chief rivals of the British in India were the Marathas.Three Anglo-Maratha wars were fought between 1775 and 1818; the Marathas even won the first one. It was only because of their internal disunity and the superior organisation and technology of the British that their power finally ended in 1818. Hence the British effectively took India from the Marathas.
5. Compare how Chhatrapati Shivaji and later Marathas treated religious places and people of different faiths. What evidence from the chapter shows their approach to religious diversity?
ANSWERChhatrapati Shivaji was a devout Hindu who respected other religions while upholding his own. Even while sacking the wealthy port of Surat, he was careful not to attack religious places and even spared the house of Mohandas Parekh, a charitable man. He rebuilt desecrated temples and promoted Sanskrit and Marathi literature, religious institutions and traditional arts.Later Marathas generally continued this spirit: they revived local Hindu traditions without religious discrimination, and Ahilyabai Holkar rebuilt important temples such as Kashi Vishwanath and Somnath. At Thanjavur, the Marathas helped create a rich, syncretic culture that blended Tamil, Telugu and Marathi influences.However, with regional chiefs gaining power, there was sometimes indiscipline and abuse, such as the cruelty during the Bengal campaign, in contrast with Chhatrapati Shivaji’s values. Overall, the Maratha approach was one of tolerance and respect for religious diversity.
6. The chapter describes how forts were ‘the core of the state’ for Marathas. Why were they so important? How did they help the Marathas survive against larger enemies?
ANSWERForts were central to Maratha power because they let a relatively small force control a large, difficult terrain. Chhatrapati Shivaji captured, repaired and built a great number of forts to strategically control important routes and to shelter his army during guerrilla warfare.Ramachandrapant Amatya, in his Ādnyāpatra, wrote that “forts are the core of the state” and that in their absence the land gets devastated during an invasion. The Maratha kingdom, he said, was created “from forts alone.”Against larger enemies the forts acted as strong, almost unconquerable bases. Even when a powerful emperor like Aurangzeb invaded the Deccan and conquered great empires like Bijapur and Golconda, the Marathas defended their fortresses staunchly and survived decades of onslaught. The forts thus gave them safety, control and the ability to fight back.
7. You have been appointed as the chief designer for Maratha coins. Design a coin that represents Maratha achievements and values. Explain the symbols you chose.
ANSWERThis is a creative design activity; any thoughtful design with clear reasons is acceptable. A model description:One side of my coin shows a fort on a hill with a fluttering saffron flag. The fort represents the forts that were the core of the Maratha state, and the saffron flag was the flag adopted by all Marathas, standing for Swarājya and cultural pride.The other side carries an inscription in the Devanagari script, the way Chhatrapati Shivaji used Devanagari on his own coins to assert his cultural identity and sovereignty. I would add a small image of a ship to honour the revolutionary Maratha navy. Together, the fort, flag, script and ship represent Maratha achievements in land power, naval strength, self-rule and cultural revival. (Your own design is accepted.)
8. After this introduction to the Maratha period, what do you think was their most important contribution to Indian history? Write a paragraph supporting your opinion with examples from the chapter. Then share and discuss your ideas with classmates.
ANSWERThis is an opinion question, so any reasoned answer with examples is correct. A model answer:In my opinion, the most important Maratha contribution was reviving the confidence of Indians that they could govern themselves. Through the ideal of Swarājya, Chhatrapati Shivaji showed that mighty empires like the Mughals could be challenged and defeated, and that Indians could build, expand and administer an empire of their own.The Marathas set up an efficient administration with salaried officials and a council of ministers, revived Hindu traditions without religious discrimination, and built the largest Indian empire before the British. The chapter notes that this spirit later inspired many Indians and planted the early seeds of India’s freedom movement. This lasting inspiration, I feel, was their greatest legacy. (Your own opinion is accepted.)
Extra Practice Questions
Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. Who were the Marathas?
ANSWERThe Marathas were a group of people native to the Deccan plateau, especially present-day Maharashtra. They are identified with the Marathi language, which has had a rich and continuous literary history since the 12th century, and they rose into a powerful political entity that altered the course of India’s history.
Q2. What was ‘Swarājya’?
ANSWERSwarājya was Chhatrapati Shivaji’s vision of a sovereign, self-ruled kingdom. It grew over the years to include political, economic and cultural independence, and became the guiding ideal of the Maratha struggle against foreign and oppressive rule.
Q3. What is guerrilla warfare and why did the Marathas use it?
ANSWERGuerrilla warfare uses small groups of fighters in a focused way, relying on speed, surprise and knowledge of the terrain to defeat bigger armies. The Marathas used it to protect their people from powerful enemies; for example, hidden in the mountains, they routed Afzal Khan’s army near Pratapgad.
Q4. Why was the founding of the Maratha navy a revolutionary step?
ANSWERIt was revolutionary because, at the time, even the Bijapur Sultanate had only merchant ships and no full-time naval force, and the Mughal Empire’s use of a navy was very limited. Chhatrapati Shivaji built a navy to secure access to the resources of the west coast and to resist European sea power, and its exploits became legendary.
Q5. What were chauth and sardeshmukhi?
ANSWERChauth and sardeshmukhi were taxes the Marathas levied on provinces not directly under their rule. Chauth was 25 per cent and sardeshmukhi an additional 10 per cent. In return, the Marathas protected those provinces and did not interfere in their internal administration.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q1. Describe the main features of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s civilian and military administration.
ANSWERChhatrapati Shivaji built a relatively centralised administration. He abolished hereditary posts and land assignments and instead paid every government official a salary from the state treasury, transferring officials periodically so that none could grow powerful enough to dictate to the king. He gave pensions to widows of soldiers killed in battle and even offered military posts to their sons. To help him, he had an aṣhṭa pradhāna maṇḍala, a council of eight ministers including the Pradhān (prime minister), Amātya (finance), Sumant (foreign affairs), Senāpatī (commander-in-chief) and Nyāyādhīsh (chief justice). His military was divided into infantry, cavalry and navy; the cavalry had bārgīrs (state-equipped) and shiledārs (self-equipped) soldiers. Swords, lances and guns were used, along with rockets from Shivaji’s own time. Forts were the mainstay of his power. The judicial system, run mainly through the panchāyat, was known for its moderation in using capital punishment.
Q2. Trace the rise and fall of the Marathas as a pan-Indian power.
ANSWERStrengthened by the bhakti tradition and Marathi culture, the Marathas were united by Chhatrapati Shivaji in the 17th century, who founded the kingdom and resisted the Mughals through forts, guerrilla warfare and a navy. After his death, Sambhaji, Rajaram and Tarabai continued the resistance, and Aurangzeb died without subduing the Marathas. In the 18th century the state became decentralised under the Peshwas; Peshwa Bajirao I and Nanasaheb led a rapid pan-Indian expansion, briefly reaching Lahore, Attock and Peshawar. They suffered a disastrous defeat at Panipat in 1761 but recovered under Madhavrao I and recaptured Delhi in 1771. In the later 18th century the Marathas were the chief rivals of the British. Three Anglo-Maratha wars (1775–1818) followed; owing to internal disunity and the superior organisation of the British, Maratha power finally ended in 1818.
Q3. Discuss the cultural contributions of the Marathas, including the role of Maratha women and Thanjavur.
ANSWERThe Marathas contributed substantially to India’s culture. Chhatrapati Shivaji’s seal carried a Sanskrit inscription instead of the usual Persian, and he commissioned the Rājya-Vyavahāra-Koṣha to give Sanskrit equivalents for Persian diplomatic words, reducing foreign loanwords. He rebuilt desecrated temples and promoted Sanskrit and Marathi literature and arts. Among Maratha women, Tarabai was a fearless warrior queen who organised armies into the north and became the architect of Maratha expansion, while Ahilyabai Holkar ruled wisely for thirty years and rebuilt temples like Kashi Vishwanath and Somnath and revived the Maheshwar handloom craft. At Thanjavur, Ekoji (Chhatrapati Shivaji’s half-brother) began Maratha rule, and rulers like Serfoji II patronised Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam, set up the Dhanwantari Mahal for medicine and started India’s first native-ruler printing press, creating a rich syncretic culture.
MCQs & Assertion–Reason
1. The Marathas are a group of people native to which region?
(a) the Gangetic plains (b) the Deccan plateau (present-day Maharashtra) (c) Bengal (d) Punjab
2. Chhatrapati Shivaji was born in the year:
(a) 1646 (b) 1657 (c) 1630 (d) 1674
3. Chhatrapati Shivaji’s coronation took place in 1674 at:
(a) Pune (b) Raigad (c) Purandar (d) Sindhudurg
4. The military tactic of using small groups with speed, surprise and knowledge of terrain is called:
For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.
A-R 1. Assertion: Forts were extremely important to Maratha power.
Reason: Forts controlled important routes, sheltered the army and helped the Marathas survive decades of onslaught.
A-R 2. Assertion: Building a navy was a revolutionary step for Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Reason: At the time, even the Bijapur Sultanate and the Mughals had little or no full-time naval force.
A-R 3. Assertion: The British took India effectively from the Mughals rather than the Marathas.
Reason: In the latter half of the 18th century the chief rivals of the British in India were the Marathas.
A-R 4. Assertion: Chhatrapati Shivaji respected other religions while upholding his own.
Reason: While sacking Surat he avoided attacking religious places and spared the house of a charitable man.
A-R 5. Assertion: After Chhatrapati Shivaji, the Maratha state became more decentralised.
Reason: Regional chiefs and the Peshwa came to wield greater power, sometimes even over the Chhatrapati.
Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(A), 3-(D), 4-(A), 5-(A).
Exam Tips & Common Mistakes
How to score full marks in this chapter
Remember the key dates — 1630 (birth), 1674 (coronation at Raigad), 1761 (Panipat), 1775–1818 (Anglo-Maratha wars). Always link geography to strategy (mountains → forts and guerrilla war; coastline → navy). Use the textbook’s own evidence — the Ādnyāpatra on forts, the sparing of Surat’s religious places, the recapture of Delhi in 1771 — to back up your answers. For the activity questions (2, 3, 7, 8) give a clear, reasoned response with named examples; do not leave them blank.
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing the dates — Chhatrapati Shivaji was born in 1630 and crowned in 1674, not the other way round.
Mixing up the taxes — chauth was 25 per cent, sardeshmukhi an extra 10 per cent.
Calling the Peshwa a king — Peshwa means ‘prime minister’ (a Persian term).
Saying the British defeated mainly the Mughals — the chapter stresses they took India from the Marathas.
Writing that Chhatrapati Shivaji attacked religious places at Surat — he was careful not to.
Leaving activity-based questions blank instead of giving your own reasoned answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Chhatrapati Shivaji and why is he important in Class 8 Chapter 3?
Chhatrapati Shivaji (born 1630) was the founder of the Maratha kingdom. He united the Marathas, captured and built forts, used guerrilla warfare, founded a navy and pursued the ideal of Swarājya (self-rule). Crowned at Raigad in 1674, he built a relatively centralised administration and inspired generations of Indians, making him the central figure of the chapter.
What were chauth and sardeshmukhi?
They were taxes the Marathas levied on provinces not directly under their rule. Chauth was 25 per cent and sardeshmukhi an additional 10 per cent. In return, the Marathas gave protection and did not interfere in those provinces’ internal administration.
What is the exercise heading for Chapter 3 of Exploring Society?
The end-of-chapter exercise in Exploring Society: India and Beyond Chapter 3 is headed Questions and activities and contains 8 numbered questions, all answered step by step on this page.
