Maratha Wars — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

Attach each treaty to a phase: Salbai closes the first war in 1782; Bassein in 1802 precedes the second war; the abolition of the Peshwaship belongs to 1818. Practise identifying an option that uses the right treaty but the wrong political effect. Restoration of Baji Rao II under British protection did not mean restoration of unrestricted autonomy.

Keep the war ranges separate: 1775–1782, 1803–1805 and 1817–1818. Assaye and Laswari are second-war anchors. Do not confuse these with the earlier third battle of Panipat merely because both involve Maratha power.

Read map questions with political status in mind. A princely state remaining on the map after 1818 does not disprove British predominance. Likewise, a title such as Peshwa does not establish uniform command over every chief. For causal statements, prefer a specified effect of rivalry or organisation to a claim that one side possessed an inherent, unchanging capacity for victory. The first war itself tests that overstatement.