GS1 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Disintegration of Mughal Empire

Q1: The roots of the disintegration of the Mughal empire may be found in the Indian economy and external incursions. Discuss. (UPSC GS 1 Mains)
Answer: 
Introduction
Disintegration of the Mughal empire was a decisive event in the history of India which led to the rise of different regional powers as well as British rule for over 200 years.

Beginning of the disintegration of of Mughal empire can be traced to the strong rule of Aurangzeb.

Aurangzeb inherited a large empire, yet he adopted a policy of extending it further to the farthest geographical limits in the south at the great expense of men and materials

Reasons for disintegration of Mughal empire:

Economic reasons: The Mughal economy was affected by a number of reasons which in turn led to disintegration of the Mughal empire.
Some of the factors are as following:

• War of succession: Due to the absence of any fixed rule of succession, the Mughal dynasty often had to face civil wars between the princes. These wars of succession became increasingly destructive and fierce during the 18th century which resulted in great loss of life and property.
• Jagirdars: The economy of the empire deteriorated due to the Jagir crisis as many Jagirdars were contesting for a limited number of jagirs which in turn led to further political crisis between the nobles. To increase profit with a limited number of jagirs, the Jagirdars started to maintain less than expected number of troops which weakened the army of the Mughal empire.
• Foreiegn invasion: After the death of Aurangzeb, due to the weakness of later Mughals, many foreign invasions struck the empire. Such invasions resulted in plundering much of the wealth of the empire. It worsened the economy of an already declining power.
• Empty Treasury: Shah Jahan's zeal for construction (eg Taj Mahal) had depleted the treasury. Aurangzeb's long wars in the south had further drained the exchequer.
• External incursions: A series of foreign invasions affected Mughal Empire terribly.
• Invasion by Nadir Shah: The condition of Mughal empire with its incompetent rulers, weak administration and poor military strength attracted foreign invaders. Nadir Shah, the ruler of Persia, attacked the empire in 1739. Nadir Shah's invasion gave a crushing blow to the already tottering Mughal Empire and hastened the process of its disintegration.
• Invasion by Ahmad Shah Abdali: In 1761, during the reign of Shah Alam II, Ahmad Shah Abdali, the independent ruler of Afghanistan, invaded India. He conquered Punjab and marched towards Delhi. Ahmad Shah Abdali's invasion further weakened the Mughal Empire.
• Further, the emergence of British and other European powers in the Indian subcontinent also posed as a challenge took away the last hope of the revival of the Mughal Empire.

Conclusion

• The disintegration of Mughal Empire made the soil fertile for the colonisation by the British.
• In 1857, Bahadur Shah II played an important symbolic role and with his death in 1862, the Mughal Empire came to an end.
• Thus, decline of economy and external incursions acted as termites in the strong wood of mughal empire.

Q2: Discuss, in a nutshell, the causes of the downfall of the Mughal empire in India. (UPSC GS 1 Mains)

Answer: 
Introduction
The period of the Great Mughals, which began in 1526 with Babur's accession to the throne, ended with the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. Aurangzeb's death marked the end of an era in Indian history. When Aurangzeb died, the empire of the Mughals was the largest in India. Yet, within about fifty years of his death, the Mughal Empire disintegrated.
Body
Some of the main causes for the decline of the Mughals were as follows:

• The government of the Mughals was a personal despotism and so its success depended on the character of the reigning ruler. The later Mughals were worthless and neglected the administration of the state.
• With the absence of a definite law of succession, there always occurred a war of succession; this weakened the stability of the government, and fostered partisanship at the cost of patriotism.
• The degeneration of the rulers led to the degeneration of the nobility, with factious quarrels and intrigues costing the empire heavily.
• The deterioration of the army also proved disastrous for the empire.
• The empire had become too vast and unwieldy to be efficiently governed from a central authority under weak rulers, especially under the existing conditions of transport and communication.
• Aurangzeb's religious policy was largely responsible, leading to revolts by Rajputs, Sikhs, Jats and Marathas.
• Aurangzeb's Deccan policy was a complete failure and was an important cause of the downfall of the Mughal empire.
• Invasions of Irani and Durrani kingdoms gave a death-blow to the Mughal empire.

Conclusion
There was no Indian power except Marathas that could fill the power vacuum created by the downfall of Mughal empire. However, Marathas' loss in Third battle of Panipat didn't let them become paramount power in India. This paved the way for the British to form an empire in India.