Mughal Period: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Medieval History)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Mughal Period (Medieval History). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 1998Medieval History · Mughal Period
Q1. Assertion (A): During the reign of Shahjahan, Dara Sikoh was sent on expedition to Balkh, Badakhshan and Qandahar. Reason (R): The expedition sent by Shahjahan to the Middle-East was a marvelous success.
Explanation
As direct descendants of Tamerlane, the Mughals of India considered Central Asia their true home and ancestral domain and thus desired to recover their ancestral lands. Also, the areas of Kandahar, Balkh, and Badakhshan were strategically important for the Mughal Empire due to their proximity to the borders of the Safavid Empire. Assertion (A) is correct: Dara Sikoh, the son of Shah Jahan, was sent on a military expedition to Balkh, Badakhshan, and Kandahar. These missions aimed to consolidate Mughal influence in these strategically important regions. Reason (R) is incorrect: Dara Shikoh’s expedition to the Middle east failed despite the use of a large army and advanced Mughal artillery. The campaign did not achieve its goals, and the Mughals suffered significant setbacks during Shah Jahan’s reign, including the permanent loss of Kandahar to the Safavids, weakening their influence in the region.
UPSC 1998Medieval History · Mughal Period
Q2. The loss of Qandhar was a big blow to the Mughal empire from the viewpoint of:
Explanation
The loss of Kandahar was a significant setback for the Mughal Empire due to its strategic importance. It was located in present-day Afghanistan and served as a vital buffer zone between the Mughals and the Safavid Empire, protecting the western frontier. Kandahar was also a key strategic stronghold, controlling trade and military routes with Central Asia and the Middle East. Its fortifications were crucial for projecting Mughal power into regions like Balkh, Badakhshan, and Herat. Losing Kandahar weakened the Mughal position in the northwest.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
1998
(c) A is true but R is false
2
1998
(d) Strategic stronghold
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Mughal Period?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Mughal Period (Medieval History), asked from 1996 to 2021. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Mughal Period?
Questions on Mughal Period (Medieval History) are available for 13 years, from 1996 to 2021. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
