States PCS: Maharashtra GK Questions for MPSC Examinations
For all Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) exams including Rajyaseva, Group B, PSI, STI, ASO, and other Maharashtra government posts.
21. Who was appointed as the first Peshwa by Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1674?
[A] Moropant Pingle
[B] Baji Rao I
[C] Nana Saheb
[D] Balaji Vishwanath
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Moropant Pingle]
Notes:
Moropant Pingle was the first Peshwa (Prime Minister) appointed by Shivaji in 1674. The Peshwa title, rooted in Persian administrative traditions introduced by the Bahmani Sultanate, became prominent in the Maratha Empire, shaping Maharashtra’s political leadership.
22. Which Hindu community in Maharashtra, known for its Rajput ancestry, was historically classified as a “criminal tribe” by the British?
[A] Koli
[B] Kunbi
[C] Kshatriya Maratha
[D] Pardhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Pardhi]
Notes:
Pardhi is a Hindu tribe in Maharashtra with Rajput roots. They were labeled a “criminal tribe” under the British Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 due to hunting activities. Pardhis worship local deities and were mainly hunters. The stigma persisted despite denotification in 1952.
23. Which was the first cooperative bank in India to introduce Mobile Banking services?
[A] Saraswat Bank
[B] Pune District Central Cooperative Bank
[C] Dombivli Nagari Sahakari Bank (DNS Bank)
[D] Bombay Mercantile Cooperative Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Dombivli Nagari Sahakari Bank (DNS Bank)]
Notes:
Dombivli Nagari Sahakari Bank (DNS Bank), established in 1970 in Thane, Maharashtra, was the first cooperative bank in India to launch Mobile Banking services. It is a Scheduled Urban Cooperative Bank with operations in 12 Maharashtra districts and is also active on the UPI platform.
24. Which 16th-century saint did penance at Shuli Bhanjan?
[A] Dnyaneshwar Maharaj
[B] Namdev Maharaj
[C] Eknath Maharaj
[D] Tukaram Maharaj
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Eknath Maharaj]
Notes:
Eknath Maharaj, a 16th-century saint from Maharashtra, performed penance at Shuli Bhanjan, near Daulatabad, where he met his guru, Janardan Swami. The site is also associated with a Datta Mandir, hot springs, and is revered by Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains alike.
25. Which Maratha princely state ruled by Patwardhans had an 11-gun salute?
[A] Miraj Senior
[B] Sangli
[C] Jamkhandi
[D] Kurundvad Junior
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sangli]
Notes:
Sangli, ruled by the Patwardhan family, became a British protectorate in 1819 and was granted an 11-gun hereditary salute, distinguishing it among Maratha states. Other Patwardhan states include Miraj, Kurundvad, Jamkhandi, and Tasgaon, but only Sangli received the 11-gun salute from the British.
26. Which river surrounds Painganga Wildlife Sanctuary on three sides?
[A] Godavari
[B] Penganga
[C] Wardha
[D] Painganga
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Painganga]
Notes:
Painganga Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Yavatmal district, Maharashtra. It is bordered on three sides by the Painganga River, which is a tributary of the Godavari. The sanctuary has southern mixed deciduous forests and hosts diverse wildlife including leopards, blackbucks, and various birds.
27. Who founded the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM)?
[A] Prakash Ambedkar
[B] B. R. Ambedkar
[C] Ramdas Athawale
[D] Jogendra Kawade
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Prakash Ambedkar]
Notes:
Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) was founded by Prakash Ambedkar in 1994 in Maharashtra as a breakaway group of the Republican Party of India, drawing on B. R. Ambedkar’s legacy and Scheduled Castes Federation roots.
28. Which tree mainly dominates Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests?
[A] Sala
[B] Teak
[C] Mahua
[D] Arjun
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Teak]
Notes:
Teak (Tectona grandis) is the dominant species in Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests. These forests, spanning Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and nearby areas, feature a mix of deciduous trees, but teak forms the principal canopy. Important protected areas include Bandhavgarh and Melghat Tiger Reserve.
29. Which is India’s first externally-strutted box girder bridge in Nashik?
[A] Godavari Bridge
[B] Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Uddanpul
[C] Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya Bridge
[D] Krishnaraj Sagar Bridge
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Uddanpul]
Notes:
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Uddanpul in Nashik is India’s first externally-strutted segmental box girder bridge. Opened in 2002, it connects Pandavleni Caves to Adgaon and is also the country’s second-longest road bridge, with a load capacity of 100 tons.
30. Akluj Fort in Solapur was built by which dynasty?
[A] Satavahana dynasty
[B] Shilahara dynasty
[C] Rashtrakuta dynasty
[D] Yadav dynasty
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Yadav dynasty]
Notes:
Akluj Fort was built during the Yadav dynasty era in Maharashtra, showcasing medieval Deccan architecture. Later, it was restored by the Thopte family. It also houses cultural exhibits related to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s life, making it a significant historical and cultural landmark in Solapur district.
