Consider the following statements regarding political rivalries in early medieval India: Statement I: The Rashtrakutas launched several campaigns to gain control over the region of Kanauj. Statement II: The Pratiharas were primarily based in eastern India, while the Palas were established in the western and central regions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct — A. Statement I is correct. The Rashtrakutas of the Deccan were one of three powers in the tripartite struggle for Kanauj, and their kings Dhruva and Govinda III led campaigns into the north.

Statement II is wrong because it swaps the two dynasties. The Pratiharas were based in western India and the Palas in Bengal and Bihar, in the east. Only Statement I → option (a).

Why the others are wrong

• (b)
  Only Statement II is correct — Only Statement II picks the wrong statement. Statement II reverses the map: the Pratiharas held western India, and the Palas held Bengal and Bihar.
• (c)
  Both Statement I and II are correct — Both correct cannot stand, because Statement II puts the Pratiharas in the east and the Palas in the west, the reverse of the facts.
• (d)
  Neither Statement I nor Statement II is correct — Neither correct throws out Statement I, but the Rashtrakutas' northern campaigns for Kanauj are what made them a party to the tripartite struggle.

From the late 8th century, three dynasties fought for Kanauj, whose throne stood for authority over northern India. Historians call this the tripartite struggle.

Each came from a different direction: the Gurjara-Pratiharas from western India (Rajasthan and Gujarat), the Palas from Bengal and Bihar, and the Rashtrakutas from the Deccan. The Pratiharas finally held Kanauj after Nagabhata II took the city.

Key facts

• The tripartite struggle for Kanauj was fought between the Gurjara-Pratiharas, the Palas and the Rashtrakutas.
• The Palas ruled Bengal and Bihar, and the Gurjara-Pratiharas ruled western India.
• The Rashtrakuta kings Dhruva and Govinda III led campaigns into northern India.
• The Pratihara king Nagabhata II defeated Chakrayudha and made himself king of Kanauj.

Common traps

• Swapping east and west: the Palas were the eastern power, in Bengal and Bihar.
• Placing the Rashtrakutas in the north because they fought over Kanauj: they were a Deccan dynasty campaigning northward.

No directly related past PYQ was found.