Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 Solutions – The Rise of the Marathas

These Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 solutions cover The Rise of the Marathas from Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part I), the NCERT textbook first published in July 2025 and reprinted for 2026–27. 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: 8 Subject: Social Science Book: Exploring Society: India and Beyond Chapter: 3 Theme: Tapestry of the Past Session: 2026–27
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Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 Solutions: 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.

Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 timeline: Maratha rise, Panipat defeat, recovery and Anglo-Maratha wars
Key turning points from the chapter’s chronology. Panipat in 1761 was a serious defeat followed by recovery; 1818 ended Peshwa rule while some Maratha states continued under British supremacy. The cards are arranged in chronological order, not to a proportional time scale. Tap to view at full size.

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.

Jagir: an assignment of revenue from an area, usually connected with service to a ruler. The holder’s right to collect revenue should not be confused with unrestricted ownership of the 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 (Portuguese naval trade passes; other powers also asserted control over sea trade), panchāyat (the local body that delivered justice), and Moḍī script (a cursive form of Devanagari used by the Marathas for correspondence).

The Big Questions

Who were the Marathas and how did they expand?

They arose from the Marathi-speaking Deccan. Shivaji built a regional state through forts, military mobility, coastal defence and administration. Successors sustained resistance; Peshwas and regional chiefs expanded influence as Mughal power weakened.

What were the main features of governance?

Shivaji’s government sought stronger central control and used a council of ministers and revenue systems. Later power became more decentralised under influential Peshwas and regional houses. Administrative arrangements changed over time.

What legacy did they leave?

They challenged Mughal and European power, strengthened traditions of self-rule and supported public works, literature and arts. Their legacy includes both achievements and the hardships of war.

Think About It and Let’s Explore: Activity Guidance

These are model approaches to the textbook’s in-text prompts. Use your own observations and research where required; imagined examples are not historical documents or actual survey findings.

Textbook promptModel explanation or approach
Bhakti saint research (p. 63)Bhakti means devotion. Choose a saint such as Tukaram, identify region, language and teachings, and cite a reliable biography and the poem’s source. Summarise the message rather than copying an entire modern translation.
Three questions for Shivaji (p. 65)Ask how he balanced forts and navy; how he financed government without overburdening subjects; and how he chose officials. Explain why each question helps understand governance. Any imagined response must be labelled as such.
Guerrilla warfare beyond India (p. 66)Research one case, such as resistance in the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic wars. Discuss how mountains, local knowledge and short attacks affected larger forces. It is a historical comparison, not a guide to violence.
Stage an event as a play (p. 69)A coronation or discussion about protecting villagers can be staged without graphic violence. Use dated facts, assign roles and distinguish invented dialogue from documented statements.
Shivaji’s letter about trees (p. 72)It shows concern for people’s labour, livelihoods and attachment to fruit trees, and opposes coercion. Link navy timber needs with the limits placed on acquiring resources.
Bharatanatyam and Thanjavur (p. 79)The chapter links court patronage with music and dance. Research the roles of Thanjavur’s artists and patrons, while recognising earlier performance traditions and later reform. Avoid saying that the Marathas invented the entire dance form.

“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.

ANSWER The 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.

ANSWER

Model biography: Ahilyabai Holkar

Ahilyabai Holkar became the ruler of the Holkar state in central India in 1767 and ruled until 1795, about 28 years. The textbook rounds this to roughly thirty years. Her administration is associated with the welfare of her subjects and the town of Maheshwar.

She faced major personal losses, including the deaths of her husband and son. She took on the responsibilities of government and worked with experienced officials and military leaders. Her example shows leadership through sustained responsibility after difficult setbacks.

She supported roads, wells, ghats and religious institutions in many regions and encouraged Maheshwar’s weaving tradition. These activities linked public facilities, craftsmanship and patronage.

For younger students, her inspiring qualities are perseverance, thoughtful administration and service. This is a summary based on NCERT and the Government of India’s biographical note, not an invented first-person account.

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.

ANSWERModel choice: Raigad. I would study Raigad because Shivaji was crowned there in 1674 and it became a major centre of Maratha government.For a poster, I would include a location map, a short chronology, the palace and gateway remains, fortifications, water storage and the steep hill setting. Terrain restricted attackers and made observation easier, but supplies and water were still essential.A fort was not impossible to capture: the chapter describes the Mughal capture of Raigad after Sambhaji’s death. Use verified photographs and label surviving remains separately from reconstructions. The UNESCO Maratha Military Landscapes of India page is a reliable starting point for the forts’ landscape and heritage context.

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?

ANSWERThe statement stresses the importance of the Marathas as a major opponent of the East India Company in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when Mughal political power had weakened.Evidence includes Maratha influence across much of central and northern India, their return to Delhi in 1771 and the three Anglo-Maratha wars between 1775 and 1818. Defeating their forces and limiting their states was central to Company expansion.This does not mean all India passed from one ruler to another in a single event. British conquest involved other states as well, and several Maratha princely states continued under British paramountcy after the Peshwa’s power ended in 1818.

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?

ANSWERThe chapter portrays Shivaji as a devout Hindu who respected other faiths. Its examples include instructions protecting subjects and the sparing of religious places during the raids on Surat.Later patronage included Ahilyabai’s support for temples and public facilities, and a multilingual cultural environment at Thanjavur. Such examples show cultural support, but Tamil, Telugu and Marathi are languages, not evidence by themselves of every religious policy.The chapter also notes misconduct and suffering during some later campaigns, notably in Bengal. Distinguish a ruler’s ideals and specific examples from a claim that every Maratha chief always acted alike. Respect for religious diversity should be assessed from evidence.

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 secured routes, administrative centres, stores and bases for troops. Their heights, restricted approaches and strong walls helped smaller garrisons resist larger armies.A network of forts supported movement, retreat, communication and renewed attacks. Coastal forts also protected anchorages and maritime routes. This explains why Ramachandrapant Amatya called them the core of the state.They were defensible, not unconquerable. Some were lost and recovered; success depended on supplies, water, garrisons, tactics and the wider network. Continued resistance was possible even when individual forts fell.

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.

ANSWERModern classroom design, not an actual historical coin: I would draw a hill fort on one side to represent defence and self-rule. A small ship on the other side would represent coastal protection and maritime trade.I would add a short, carefully checked Devanagari inscription expressing public welfare. A saffron flag could recall Maratha identity. Each symbol should remain clear on a small coin.Compare the idea with NCERT Figs. 3.12 and 3.14: actual coins show inscriptions and different conventions. Do not label a newly invented fort-and-ship design as a coin issued by Shivaji.

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.

ANSWERModel opinion: I consider the Marathas’ contribution to self-rule and political resilience especially important. Shivaji built a state supported by forts, administration and coastal defence; later leaders continued resistance and expanded Maratha influence.Their cultural patronage also supported Marathi and Sanskrit learning, public works and traditions at Thanjavur. These examples support my judgement, while the suffering caused by some campaigns reminds us to assess power critically.Other reasoned choices, such as naval organisation, cultural patronage or the contributions of Tarabai and Ahilyabai, are valid. An 18th-century kingdom should not be treated as identical to a modern democratic nation-state.

Extra Practice Questions

These questions and MCQs are ClearStudy practice, separate from the NCERT exercise.

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 was a levy of one-quarter (25%) of an assessed revenue amount. Sardeshmukhi was an additional levy of one-tenth (10%) of the assessment, not 10% of the chauth itself. For a classroom assessment of ₹100, the two would be ₹25 and ₹10. Arrangements varied by region and treaty; the chapter links them to Maratha protection and influence outside areas of direct rule.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe the main features of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s civilian and military administration.

ANSWERThe chapter emphasises Shivaji’s efforts to strengthen central authority through salaried officials, transfers and checks on hereditary local power. His council of eight ministers assisted administration; support for soldiers’ families and instructions against oppressing subjects expressed concern for welfare.The forces included infantry, cavalry and navy. Bargirs received horses and equipment from the state, while shiledars supplied their own. Forts, local knowledge, mobility and coastal bases mattered alongside weapons. Later Maratha leaders also developed more disciplined artillery and infantry.Local assemblies and officials handled disputes, with opportunities for appeal. These institutions belonged to their historical setting; they were not the same as today’s elected panchayats.

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, the Peshwa’s political power ended in 1818, while some Maratha states continued under British supremacy.

Q3. Discuss the cultural contributions of the Marathas, including the role of Maratha women and Thanjavur.

ANSWERShivaji supported Marathi and Sanskrit learning, promoted administrative terminology through the Rajya-Vyavahara-Kosha, and used a Sanskrit seal expressing welfare. Later patronage included temples, public facilities, textiles and other arts.Tarabai’s leadership helped preserve Maratha resistance; Ahilyabai Holkar governed from 1767 to 1795 and supported public works and weaving. At Thanjavur, Maratha rulers patronised a cultural environment shaped by Tamil, Telugu and Marathi traditions. Serfoji II supported learning, medicine, printing, music and performance.Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music developed through long histories and many contributors. Maratha court patronage was one influence, not proof that a single ruler invented these traditions.

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:

(a) naval blockade    (b) guerrilla warfare    (c) siege warfare    (d) cavalry charge

5. Chhatrapati Shivaji’s vision of a sovereign kingdom was called:

(a) Swarājya    (b) jāgīr    (c) chauth    (d) cartaz

6. The council of eight ministers that assisted Chhatrapati Shivaji was the:

(a) panchāyat    (b) aṣhṭa pradhāna maṇḍala    (c) Peshwa council    (d) kotwāl

7. The tax called ‘chauth’ levied by the Marathas was at the rate of:

(a) 10 per cent    (b) 25 per cent    (c) 35 per cent    (d) 50 per cent

8. The Persian term for ‘prime minister’ used in the later Maratha state was:

(a) Senāpatī    (b) Amātya    (c) Peshwa    (d) Sumant

9. The Marathas suffered a disastrous defeat in 1761 at the Battle of:

(a) Panipat    (b) Purandar    (c) Pratapgad    (d) Surat

10. Which Maratha queen is described as the architect of the northward Maratha expansion?

(a) Jijabai    (b) Ahilyabai Holkar    (c) Tarabai    (d) Mastani

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(b), 4-(b), 5-(a), 6-(b), 7-(b), 8-(c), 9-(a), 10-(c).

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 write a clear answer

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 only one Indian power; the chapter stresses the Marathas’ major role, alongside other opponents.
  • 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?

Chauth was 25% and sardeshmukhi an additional 10% of an assessed revenue amount. The additional levy was not 10% of the chauth itself. Arrangements differed across regions and treaties; the chapter links them with Maratha protection and influence.

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.

See how Company expansion developed in Chapter 4: The Colonial Era in India.

Textbook reference: NCERT Chapter 3, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Grade 8, Part I (2026–27 reprint). Answers and illustrations on this page are original ClearStudy learning aids. Reviewed 10 October 2026.

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