23 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on the Mughal Period are on this page, from 1996 to 2021. This is the largest Medieval History chapter. It covers the mansabdari system, administration under Akbar, painting under Jahangir, the Balkh and Qandahar campaigns of Shah Jahan, the war of succession and the first English trade at Surat. The explanations show each term in its reign.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 11–20 of 23 questions
Mughal Emperor Shahjahan’s failing health set off the war of succession among his four sons Shuja, Murad, Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb in 1657.
Option (c) is correct: The Battle of Dharmat was fought between Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh on April 30, 1658, who were both vying for the Mughal throne. Aurangzeb emerged victorious in the battle.
Jahandar Shah (1661-1713) was the 9th Mughal Emperor who reigned from 1712 to 1713 and he was the son of Bahadur Shah. After the death of Bahadur Shah, a new element entered Mughals’ political arena, in which nobles were ‘king makers,’ and rulers were only ‘puppets’ in their hands. Jahandar Shah was considered as the first Mughal India puppet ruler as he won the seat of throne with the support of Zulfiqar Khan, the most powerful noble of the time. Jahandar Shah’s reign came to an early end in January 1713. He was defeated in the battle at Samugarh (a city near Agra) by his nephew Farrukhsiyar on 10th January 1713 with the help of Sayyid Brothers. Farrukshiyar proclaimed himself the Mughal emperor after the battle.
Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) used diplomacy and military campaigns to expand the Mughal Empire. Assertion (A) is correct: In 1580s, Akbar led his army to Kabul and defeated Hakim Mirza, the king of Kabul. When Hakim Mirza died, the territory of Kabul was annexed to the Mughal Empire. Reason (R) is incorrect: Akbar marched towards Afghanistan in 1580s to create a safety valve to this empire but not to reclaim his ancestral country of Ferghana in Central Asia.
/(c) Shah Alam II (1728-1806) was the Mughal Emperor, ruling from 1759 to 1806. His reign marked a period of decline for the Mughal Empire, as it faced significant challenges, including invasions and internal rebellions. Assertion (A) is Correct: Shah Alam II spent his early years away from Delhi, primarily in Bihar and Allahabad, due to political instability, including internal rivalries and external threats, such as Ahmed Shah Durrani’s invasions. Reason (R) is correct: During Shah Alam II’s reign, invasions from the northwest, especially by Ahmed Shah Durrani, posed significant threats to the Mughal Empire. The primary reason for Shah Alam II’s absence was internal threats and the dominance of nobles like Najib-ud-Daula in Delhi, rather than solely the danger of foreign invasions. Hence Reason (R) does not explain Assertion (A). Hence, Option (b) is the correct answer.
Balkh, in modern day Northern Afghanistan, was a gateway to Central Asia and a significant center of trade and culture. The region was also critical for securing the northwestern frontier of the Mughal Empire from Uzbek threats.
Option (a) is correct: Shah Jahan’s Balkh Campaign (1646 to 1647) was a military expedition to consolidate and expand the Mughal Empire’s influence in Central Asia. The campaign was aimed at asserting Mughal control and securing a friendly ruler in Balkh and Badakshan which bordered Kabul. During this period Balkh was controlled by Uzbeks, under Nazr Muhammad Khan. The Mughal forces successfully captured Balkh and Badakhshan with minimal resistance, as Nazr Muhammad fled to Iran. In 1647, Shah Jahan decided to withdraw Mughal forces from Balk and the region reverted to Uzbek control.
The Babul Makka (Gate of Makka) was a symbolic and ceremonial term often associated with structures built or designated during the Mughal period that signified spiritual or geographical connections to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam.
Option (d) is correct: During the Mughal period, the port of Surat was referred to as Babul Makka due to its importance as a major trading port and its role in facilitating the pilgrimage to Makka.
The Mughal Empire began in 1526 and lasted for over 200 years. At its peak it covered modern day India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The empire was founded by Babur, a Muslim warrior prince from Central Asia, who descended from the Mongols. Several European travelers, including Ralph Fitch, William Hakins, Sir Thomas Roe, Francois Bernier, and Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, documented the Mughal Empire’s wealth, administration, society, and culture.
Pair 1 is correctly matched: William Hawkins visited Jahangir’s court as a representative of the East India Company. He gained favor with Jahangir and was granted trading privileges.
Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Sir Thomas Roe (1615-1619), an English ambassador sent by King James I to Jahangir’s court to negotiate trade rights for the East India Company.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: Jean-Baptiste Tavernier was a French gem (particularly diamond) trader and traveler in the 17th century Tavernier visited India six times between 1630 and 1668 and provided invaluable accounts of trade, society, and the Mughal court, particularly during the reign of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. He also provided descriptions of the Peacock Throne commissioned by Shah Jahan.
Pair 4 is correctly matched: Niccolao Manucci (1639-1717) was an Italian traveler who spent over fifty years in India during the Mughal period, primarily under the reign of Aurangzeb.
Assertion is true: During Akbar’s reign, the Mansabdari system was an essential part of his military and administrative structure. The Mansabdar was a title given to officials who held military or civil offices. The Mansabdars were required to maintain a specific number of cavalrymen, and the ratio was set at 10 cavalrymen for every 20 horses. Reason is true: Horses needed rest during long marches, especially in difficult terrain or extended campaigns. Additionally, during war, horses might get injured or exhausted, and replacements were essential to ensure that the cavalry remained effective. Having extra horses provided the necessary logistical support for the Mansabdars to keep their cavalry functional during both long marches and active combat situations.
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.
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.
| Q | UPSC year | Correct answer |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 2003 | (c) Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh |
| 12 | 2003 | (c) He was defeated by his nephew in a battle |
| 13 | 2003 | (c) A is true but R is false |
| 14 | 2003 | (b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A |
| 15 | 2002 | (a) Secure a friendly ruler in Balkh and Badakshan which bordered Kabul |
| 16 | 2001 | (d) Surat |
| 17 | 1999 | (b) Akbar: Sir Thomas Roe |
| 18 | 1999 | (a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A |
| 19 | 1998 | (c) A is true but R is false |
| 20 | 1998 | (d) Strategic stronghold |
This page covers 23 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.
Jahangir’s. The English East India Company obtained a farman in 1613 allowing a factory at Surat, and Sir Thomas Roe’s mission to Jahangir’s court in 1615 helped the Company win wider trading privileges.
Jahangir. He was a keen observer of nature and artists, and court painters produced detailed portraits, animal studies and albums, with Ustad Mansur and Abul Hasan among the leading artists of his court.
The Mir Bakshi, who supervised the mansabdars, recommended appointments and promotions, and maintained the army’s records. The central machinery under Akbar also included the Diwan for revenue and the Sadr for religious grants.
The official historian of Shah Jahan’s reign. He wrote the Padshahnama, the chronicle of the first twenty years of the emperor’s rule, which remains a primary source for the period’s politics and court life.
