How did Ahilyabai Holkar's construction works increase acceptance of authority?

They increased public trust through welfare and religious cultural patronage

Direct answer: Option A is correct. Ahilyabai Holkar’s temples, ghats, wells, roads, rest houses, and other public works helped people and supported religious and cultural life. Such works showed that the ruler cared about public welfare, order, pilgrimage, and community needs. People could therefore see her authority as useful, just, and worthy of respect, not merely as power imposed by force. Her reputation as a capable and compassionate ruler of Malwa was strengthened, with Maheshwar as an important centre. Option A correctly combines welfare with religious and cultural patronage. Option B is wrong because her construction programme was not simply a system of punishment. Option C is wrong because it was not based on sea plunder. Option D is wrong because these works represented constructive rule, not defeat in war. Memory cue: Ahilyabai Holkar = just rule, public works, Malwa, and Maheshwar.

This is a Class 10 General Knowledge question. Chapter: Indian History. Topic: Famous Indian Rulers.