GS 1 Mains Practice Questions: The Decline of Mughal Empire and Rise of Autonomous States | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1. Evaluate the factors responsible for the decline of the Mughal Empire in the 18th century. How did these contribute to the rise of autonomous states? (250 words)

Answer

Introduction

The Mughal Empire, a dominant power in the 17th century, faced a sharp decline in the 18th century due to internal weaknesses and external challenges. These factors created a power vacuum, enabling regional leaders to establish autonomous states. This shift transformed India’s political landscape, paving the way for new power dynamics.

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Internal Factors of Decline

• Weak Leaders: Emperors like Farrukhsiyar and Muhammad Shah were poor rulers, unable to manage the empire effectively, causing chaos.
• Noble Rivalries: Fights among nobles split the court, weakening the Mughal central power and creating disunity.
• Money Troubles: Constant wars and heavy taxes drained the treasury, making it hard to maintain the empire’s strength.

External Pressures

• Foreign Invasions: Attacks by Nadir Shah in 1739 and Ahmad Shah Abdali showed the Mughal army’s weakness, damaging their reputation.
• Regional Rebellions: Marathas and Sikhs rose against Mughal rule, capturing territories and challenging their control.

Rise of Autonomous States

• Independent Governors: Regional leaders like the Nizam of Hyderabad and Nawab of Bengal broke away, using Mughal weakness to gain power.
• Regional Powers: Marathas and Mysore, led by Haidar Ali, built strong independent states, filling the gap left by the Mughals.

Interconnection

• Decentralized Rule: The Mughal system gave too much power to local governors, who became independent as central control faded.
• Economic Shifts: Trade and wealth moved to regional powers, boosting their ability to rule independently.

Conclusion

The Mughal Empire fell due to weak leadership, internal fights, financial issues, and external attacks. These problems allowed regional leaders to form autonomous states, reshaping India’s politics and opening the door for European influence.

Q2. Discuss the role of the Marathas in challenging Mughal authority and establishing an autonomous state in the 18th century. (150 words)

Answer

Introduction

The Marathas, under leaders like Shivaji and the Peshwas, played a key role in weakening Mughal authority in the 18th century. Their military strength and smart governance helped them build a powerful autonomous state. This rise significantly altered India’s political landscape.

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Military Campaigns

• Shivaji’s Strategies: Shivaji’s guerrilla tactics, capturing forts like Raigad, disrupted Mughal control in the Deccan, challenging their dominance.
• Peshwa Expansion: Peshwa Bajirao I’s campaigns defeated Mughal governors in Malwa and Gujarat, expanding Maratha influence across India.

Administrative Structure

• Confederacy Model: The Marathas, led by the Peshwas, created a flexible system where leaders like Holkar and Scindia governed their own regions while staying united.
• Revenue System: Taxes like chauth and sardeshmukhi provided steady income, strengthening the Maratha economy and administration.

Impact on Mughal Authority

• Raids and Conquests: Maratha attacks, including on Delhi, exposed Mughal weaknesses, undermining their authority.
• Military Strength: Despite setbacks like the Battle of Panipat (1761), their power challenged Mughal rule consistently.

Conclusion

Through clever military tactics and a strong administrative system, the Marathas weakened Mughal dominance and established a robust autonomous state. Their rise fragmented the Mughal Empire, reshaping India’s political framework in the 18th century.

Q3. Analyze the emergence of Bengal as an autonomous state under Murshid Quli Khan and Alivardi Khan. How did their policies contribute to regional stability? (250 words)

Answer

Introduction

In the 18th century, as the Mughal Empire weakened, Bengal emerged as a strong autonomous state under Murshid Quli Khan and Alivardi Khan. Their effective policies in administration, military, and diplomacy ensured regional stability and economic growth. This autonomy made Bengal a key power until British control began in 1757.

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Murshid Quli Khan’s Reforms

• Revenue Administration: As Diwan, Murshid Quli Khan introduced the malguzari system, streamlining tax collection to boost efficiency and increase Bengal’s revenue.
• Capital Relocation: He moved the capital to Murshidabad, centralizing governance and promoting economic activity, which strengthened administrative control.

Alivardi Khan’s Consolidation

• Military Defense: Alivardi Khan, taking power in 1740, defeated Maratha raids through strategic campaigns, securing Bengal’s borders and ensuring safety.
• Diplomatic Balance: He maintained cordial ties with European traders, encouraging trade without allowing foreign dominance, preserving Bengal’s sovereignty.

Economic Stability

• Wealth Generation: Bengal’s fertile lands and thriving textile trade, supported by efficient revenue systems, created significant wealth, fueling economic prosperity.
• Infrastructure Growth: Investments in markets, roads, and trade facilities boosted commerce, leading to urban development and economic vibrancy in the region.

Political Stability

• Loyal Bureaucracy: Both rulers built a reliable administrative system, minimizing internal conflicts and ensuring smooth governance.
• Local Alliances: By working with zamindars and local elites, they gained support, strengthening regional control and stability.

Conclusion

Murshid Quli Khan and Alivardi Khan transformed Bengal into a stable autonomous state through effective revenue reforms, military strategies, and diplomatic prudence. Their policies ensured economic prosperity and political stability, making Bengal a model of regional autonomy during the Mughal decline, until the British rise in 1757.

Q4. Compare and contrast the administrative systems of the Mughal Empire and the autonomous state of Hyderabad under Nizam-ul-Mulk in the 18th century. (150 words)

Answer

Introduction

In the 18th century, the Mughal Empire and the autonomous state of Hyderabad under Nizam-ul-Mulk had distinct administrative systems. While the Mughals relied on centralized control, Hyderabad adopted a flexible regional model, reflecting differing approaches to governance.

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Mughal Administrative System

• Centralized Control: The Mughal emperor held supreme authority, managing the empire through mansabdars and jagirdars responsible for revenue and military duties.
• Revenue System: The zabt system standardized tax collection, but inefficiencies under weak rulers like Muhammad Shah led to financial strain.

Hyderabad’s Administrative System

• Semi-Independent Rule: Nizam-ul-Mulk retained Mughal titles but governed Hyderabad autonomously, adapting policies to local needs.
• Efficient Revenue: He streamlined tax collection through local zamindars, ensuring steady revenue with greater regional flexibility.

Comparison

• Structure: The Mughal system was rigid and centralized, while Hyderabad’s was adaptive, prioritizing local governance and efficiency.
• Local Engagement: Hyderabad relied on alliances with zamindars, unlike the Mughals’ dependence on nobles, which often led to factionalism.

Conclusion

The Mughal Empire’s centralized administration weakened due to poor leadership, while Hyderabad’s flexible system under Nizam-ul-Mulk ensured regional stability. This contrast highlights the shift toward autonomous governance in the 18th century, as regional powers adapted to Mughal decline.

Q5. Critically assess the socio-economic impact of the Mughal Empire’s decline on Indian society and the role of autonomous states in mitigating these effects. (250 words)

Answer

Introduction

The Mughal Empire’s decline in the 18th century disrupted India’s socio-economic stability, causing widespread challenges. Autonomous states like Bengal, Hyderabad, and the Maratha confederacy played a key role in addressing these issues through localized governance and economic reforms, though with limitations.

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Socio-Economic Impact of Mughal Decline

• Political Instability: The collapse of centralized Mughal authority led to chaos, disrupting trade routes and agricultural productivity across regions.
• Economic Distress: Invasions, such as Nadir Shah’s in 1739, drained resources, while heavy taxation worsened economic conditions for peasants and merchants.
• Social Unrest: Rising power of zamindars and local elites weakened traditional social structures, increasing tensions within communities.

Role of Autonomous States

• Economic Reforms: Bengal, under Murshid Quli Khan, implemented the malguzari system, boosting textile trade and stabilizing local economies.
• Agricultural Support: The Marathas offered tax incentives to farmers, promoting agricultural growth and supporting rural communities in their territories.
• Community Governance: The Sikhs in Punjab established inclusive systems, fostering social unity and reducing unrest through community-driven policies.

Limitations

• Inter-State Conflicts: Rivalries, like those between the Marathas and Mysore, disrupted broader economic recovery and regional cooperation.
• Elite Focus: Some states prioritized the interests of zamindars and elites, often neglecting artisans and peasants, limiting inclusive growth.

Long-Term Effects

• Regional Prosperity: Autonomous states preserved local economies, attracting European traders, which later enabled colonial expansion.
• Regional Identities: Their decentralized systems strengthened regional identities, shaping modern India’s political landscape.

Conclusion

The Mughal decline caused socio-economic instability, but autonomous states mitigated these effects through effective governance and economic reforms. Despite limitations, they restored regional stability, though their fragmentation inadvertently facilitated European colonial dominance in India.

Q6. Evaluate the role of Sikh military and political organization in the establishment of an autonomous state in Punjab during the 18th century. How did their resistance to Mughal authority shape regional power dynamics? (150 words)

Answer

Introduction

In the 18th century, the Sikhs, led by figures like Banda Bahadur and the misls, built an autonomous state in Punjab through strong military and political organization. Their resistance to Mughal authority reshaped regional power dynamics, establishing Punjab as a significant power.

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Military Organization

• Khalsa’s Strength: The Sikhs’ Khalsa, a disciplined military order, used guerrilla tactics to defeat Mughal forces, as seen in Banda Bahadur’s campaigns (1709–1715).
• Misl System: The formation of misls, independent Sikh confederacies, allowed coordinated resistance, capturing key areas like Lahore by the 1760s.

Political Structure

• Theocratic Governance: The Dal Khalsa unified misls for collective decision-making at Amritsar, creating a strong political framework rooted in Sikh values.
• Balanced Autonomy: Leaders like Jassa Singh Ahluwalia maintained local autonomy while fostering centralized authority, ensuring effective governance.

Resistance to Mughal Authority

• Disrupting Control: Sikh uprisings weakened Mughal governors in Punjab, especially after Nadir Shah’s invasion (1739), exposing imperial vulnerabilities.
• Territorial Gains: Capturing Mughal forts eroded Mughal legitimacy, strengthening Sikh control over the northwest.

Impact on Regional Power Dynamics

• Countering Rivals: The Sikh state checked Maratha and Afghan influences, establishing Punjab as a formidable autonomous region.
• Regional Stability: Their military strength deterred invasions, solidifying their regional dominance.

Conclusion

The Sikhs’ military and political organization, through the Khalsa and misls, enabled an autonomous Punjab. Their resistance to Mughal rule weakened imperial control, reshaping regional power dynamics and laying the foundation for Ranjit Singh’s Sikh empire.