The Decline of Mughal Empire and The Rise of Autonomous States MCQs for UPPSC (UP) Exam

Muhammad shah

(Correct Answer:- A)

Ahmad Shah:- (Reign; 1748-1754)---
Alamgir ll:- (Reign; 1754-1759)---
Shah Alam ll:- (Reign; 1759-1806)---
Akbar ll; (Reign; 1806-1837)---
Bahadur Shah; (Reign; 1837-1857).

Dislike of Peasants for Ijarah or Revenue Farming

Revenue farming, also known as ijarah, was a system of revenue collection that was encouraged by Zulfiqar Khan during his governance in Bengal. However, this system was disliked by the peasants for various reasons.

Collection by Middlemen

One of the main reasons for the dislike of the peasants for ijarah was the involvement of farmers and middlemen who would collect whatever they could from them. The middlemen were often corrupt and would extract as much revenue as possible from the peasants. This led to an increase in the burden of taxes on the peasants, making it difficult for them to sustain their livelihood.

Fixed Rate of Revenue Collection

Another reason for the dislike of the peasants for ijarah was the fixed rate of revenue collection. The peasants were often unable to pay the fixed rate because of poor harvests or natural calamities. This led to the accumulation of arrears, which increased the burden on the peasants.

Semi-Annual Feature

Ijarah was a semi-annual feature, which meant that the peasants had to pay taxes twice a year. This led to a continuous burden on the peasants, who were often unable to pay the taxes. The semi-annual feature also meant that the peasants had to make arrangements for the payment of taxes twice a year, which was a difficult task.

Fragmentation of Land

Ijarah often led to the fragmentation of land, as the revenue collectors would divide the land into smaller plots to increase revenue collection. This led to a decrease in agricultural productivity, as the smaller plots were often not suitable for cultivation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ijarah or revenue farming was disliked by the peasants because of the involvement of corrupt middlemen, the fixed rate of revenue collection, the semi-annual feature, and the fragmentation of land. These factors led to an increase in the burden of taxes on the peasants, making it difficult for them to sustain their livelihood.

In 1782 Haidar Ali suddenly died amd Tipu became king. In 1783 British took the town of Coimbatore and by January 1784 Tipu retook managalore from British. With neither side in a position to win, the war ended in a stalemate and was concluded by treaty of Mangalore.

Chronological Order of Conquests of Ranjit Singh:

I. Ludhiana
II. Amritsar
III. Kangra
IV. Lahore

Explanation:

Ranjit Singh was the founder of the Sikh Empire in India. He conquered various territories during his reign. The chronological order of his conquests is as follows:

II. Amritsar: Ranjit Singh captured Amritsar in 1802, which was a significant victory for him. Amritsar is a holy city for the Sikhs, and the capture of the city gave Ranjit Singh a lot of prestige and influence among the Sikh community.

I. Ludhiana: Ranjit Singh captured Ludhiana in 1806. Ludhiana was an important commercial and strategic center, and its capture helped Ranjit Singh expand his territory and consolidate his power.

III. Kangra: Ranjit Singh captured Kangra in 1809. Kangra was a fortified city in the Himalayan foothills, and its capture gave Ranjit Singh control over the region and access to the valuable resources of the area.

IV. Lahore: Ranjit Singh captured Lahore in 1799. Lahore was the capital of the Mughal Empire and was a center of power and culture. The capture of Lahore was a significant victory for Ranjit Singh, and it marked the beginning of his rise to power.

In conclusion, the chronological order of Ranjit Singh's conquests is II, I, III, IV, i.e., Amritsar, Ludhiana, Kangra, and Lahore.

Nizum-ul-Mulk decided to leave the Emperor and his Empire to their fate and to strike out on his own. He relinquished his office in October 1724 and marched south to find the state of Hyderabad in the Deccan. "His departure was symbolic of the flight of loyalty and virtue from the Empire.”

Bahadur shah ( 1707-1712)
jahandar shah (1712-1713)
farrukh siyar (1713-1719)
Muhammad shah (1720-1748)

Mughal ruler under the control of wazir Imad-ul-Mulk

Introduction
The Mughal Empire was one of the largest and most powerful empires in Indian history. The Mughal rulers were known for their military prowess, their patronage of the arts, and their efforts to promote religious tolerance. However, towards the end of the empire, the power of the Mughal rulers began to decline, and they became puppets in the hands of their ministers.

The role of wazir Imad-ul-Mulk
Imad-ul-Mulk was a powerful wazir (minister) of the Mughal Empire during the reign of Alamgir II. He was appointed as the wazir in 1754 and remained in this position until 1757. During his tenure, he exercised tremendous power and influence over the Mughal ruler Alamgir II. In fact, Alamgir II was reduced to a puppet ruler who only acted on the advice of his wazir.

Alamgir II
Alamgir II was the son of Mughal Emperor Jahandar Shah. He became the Mughal Emperor in 1754 after deposing his predecessor Ahmad Shah Bahadur. However, Alamgir II was not a strong ruler and was easily influenced by his ministers, especially Imad-ul-Mulk. Under the influence of Imad-ul-Mulk, Alamgir II made a number of decisions that were detrimental to the interests of the Mughal Empire.

The decline of the Mughal Empire
The decline of the Mughal Empire was caused by a number of factors, including the weakening of central authority, the rise of regional powers, and the increasing influence of European powers. However, one of the key factors that contributed to the decline of the Mughal Empire was the puppetry of the Mughal rulers. The Mughal rulers were no longer independent and were controlled by their ministers, who were often corrupt and self-serving.

Conclusion
Imad-ul-Mulk was one of the most powerful ministers of the Mughal Empire and was responsible for reducing the Mughal ruler Alamgir II to a puppet. This puppetry of the Mughal rulers was one of the key factors that contributed to the decline of the Mughal Empire. Today, the Mughal Empire is remembered for its architecture, art, and culture, but its decline serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of weak leadership.

But shah Alam 2 ruled from 1759 to 1806 nearly about 47 years then how correct answer is Muhammad shah

Mughal Empire Decline

The Mughal Empire was one of the most powerful empires in India, ruling from the early 16th century until the mid-19th century. However, the decline of the Mughal Empire began in the first half of the 18th century.

Causes of Decline

The decline of the Mughal Empire was caused by a number of factors, including:

1. Weak Rulers: The Mughal emperors who ruled during the 18th century were weak and ineffective. They lacked the ability to govern effectively and were easily manipulated by their courtiers.

2. Economic Decline: The Mughal Empire's economy began to decline in the 18th century due to the loss of revenue from the declining agricultural sector and the decline of the textile industry.

3. Political Instability: The Mughal Empire was plagued by political instability during the 18th century. There were frequent rebellions by regional governors and the empire was constantly under threat from external powers.

4. Military Weakness: The Mughal Empire's military strength declined significantly during the 18th century. The empire was unable to defend itself against the growing power of the Maratha Confederacy and other regional powers.

British Occupation of Delhi

The decline of the Mughal Empire was so severe that the British army was able to occupy Delhi in 1803. This marked the beginning of British rule in India, which lasted until India gained independence in 1947.

The British initially entered India as traders, but soon began to expand their influence through military conquest. The occupation of Delhi was a major milestone in the British conquest of India, as it gave them control over the Mughal capital and symbol of power.

The British continued to expand their control over India, gradually taking over more and more territory until they became the dominant power in the subcontinent. The decline of the Mughal Empire was a key factor in the British conquest of India, as it weakened the existing power structures and allowed the British to expand their influence.