UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims): The Mughal Empire & Sher Shah Suri | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q.1. With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?    (2021)
(a) Paragana- Sarkar- Suba
(b) Sarkar-Paragana-Suba
(c) Suba-Sarkar-Paragana
(d) Paragana-Suba-Sarkar

Correct Answer is Option (a)

• Ascending order means- from smallest to largest
• Pargana- group of villages
• Sarkar- district unit during the Mughals
• Subah- Province of Mughal Empire- where Subahdars were appointed.

Q.2. Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to the album and individual portrait?     (2019-I) 
(a) Humayun 
(b) Akbar 
(c) Jahangir 
(d) Shah Jahan

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Under Akbar, the painting appears to have been confined only to manuscript illustration. So b is wrong. Portrait reached great heights during Jahangir's reign. The portrait was painted with great care of details and finesse of drawing and modeling.

Q.3. With reference to the Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct  (2019-I) 
(a) Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar. 
(b) Tansen composed Dhrupads on Hindu gods and goddesses. 
(c) Tansen composed songs for his patrons. 
(d) Tansen invented many Ragas.

Correct Answer is Option (a)

• Tansen invented the night raga Darbari Kanhra, morning raga Mian Ki Todi, mid-day raga, Mian ki Sarang, seasonal raga Mian ki Malhar. So #d is right, therefore eliminated, because we've to find the wrong statement. 
• He composed much dhrupad on Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati, and Rama. He also composed songs for his patrons. Sob and c were also eliminated. 
• Tansen was the title given to him by Raja Vikramjit of Gwalior. So, a is wrong, and therefore it's the answer.

Q.4. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/ differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar?       (2019-I) 

1. Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection. 
2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary. 

Select the correct answer using the code given below. 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both 1 and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer is Option (d)

• Two classes shared power of the State with the Mughal emperor: zamindars and the nobles. The zamindars were hereditary owners of their lands who  enjoyed certain privileges on hereditary basis. They occupied an important place in the empire because they helped in the collection of revenue and in local administration, for which they maintained soldiers. 
• The nobility comprised people who were either assigned  large jagirs / Mansabs or appointed Subahdars. Thus, both 1 and 2 are wrong

Q.5. Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?     (2016-I) 
(a) Georg Buehler 
(b) James Prinsep 
(c) Max Muller 
(d) William Jones

Correct Answer is Option (b)
In 1837, British archeologist and historian James Prinsep decoded the edicts of emperor Ashoka. Prinsep’s inscription proved to be a series of edicts issued by a king calling himself “Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi.”

Q.6. Consider the following:       (2015-I)
The arrival of Babur into India led to the 

1. introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent 
2. introduction of the arch and dome in the region's architecture 
3. establishment of the Timurid dynasty in the region 

Select the correct answer using the code given below. 
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer is Option (b)
In the fourteenth and fifteenth century gun powder was used for military purposes in India and even artillery in its rudimentary form was known. The Babur's first real expedition took place in India in 1519 when he captured Bhera. The Delhi Sultanate's greatest contribution to Indian fine arts was the introduction of Islamic architectural features, including true domes and arches, and the integration of Indian and Islamic styles of architecture. The Timurid dynasty was a Sunni Muslim dynasty. Members of the Timurid dynasty were strongly influenced by the Persian culture and had established two well-known empires in history, namely the Timurid Empire (1370-1507) in Persia and Central Asia and the Mughal Empire (1526-1857) in the Indian subcontinent.

Q.7. Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was     (2014 - I)
(a) the mosque for the use of Royal Family
(b) Akbar’s  private  prayer chamber
(c) the hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions
(d) the room in which the nobles belonging to different religions gathered to discuss religious affairs

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was the hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions every Thursday to debate on religious issues raised by Akbar.

Q.8. With whose permission did the English set up their first factory in Surat?      (2009) 
(a) Akbar
(b) Jahangir
(c) Shahjahan
(d) Aurangzeb

Correct Answer is Option (b)
James-I William Hawkins was sent to the court of Jahangir and Jahangir provided the Farman which allowed East India Co. to set up a factory at Surat in 1613.

Q.9. During the time of which Mughal Emperor did the English East India Company establish its first factory in India?      (2008)
(a) Akbar 
(b) Jahangir  
(c) Shahjahan 
(d) Aurangzeb

Correct Answer is Option (b)
William Hawkins visited the court of Jahangir and received a Farman which allowed East India Company to set up their first factory at Surat in 1613.

Q.10. In Indian history, who was Abdul Hamid Lahori?       (2006) 
(a) An important military commander during Akbar's reign. 
(b) An official historian of the reign of Shahjahan. 
(c) An important noble and confidant of Aurangzeb.
(d) A chronicler and poet during the reign of Muhammad Shah.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Abdul Hamid Lahori (d. 1654) was a traveler during the period of Shahjahan who later became a court historian of Shahjahan. He wrote the book Padshah Nama also referred to as Badshah Nama, about the reign of Shahjahan.

Q.11. Bhakta Tukaram was a contemporary of which Mughal emperor?      (2006)
(a) Babar
(b) Akbar
(c) Jahangir 
(d) Aurangzeb

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The best answer is c as Tukaram (1608–1650) was a Marathi Bhakti poet and a devotee of Lord Krishna. The time period of Jahangir was 1605-1627.

Q.12. In the year 1613, where was the English East India Company given permission to set up a factory (trading post)?      (2006)
(a) Bangalore
(b) Madras 
(c) Masulipattam
(d) Surat

Correct Answer is Option (d)
In 1612  Sir Thomas Roe visited Mughal Emperor Jahangir to arrange for a commercial treaty that would give the company exclusive rights to reside and build factories in Surat and other areas.  In return, the company offered to provide the Emperor with goods and rarities from the European market.  Jahangir accepted the proposal and the company created trading posts in Surat (where a factory was built in 1613), Madras (1639), Bombay (1668), and Calcutta (1690).

Q.13. Consider the following statements:    (2003)

1. Kitab-i-Nauras, a collection of songs in praise of Hindu deities and Muslim saints, was written by Ibrahim Adil Shah II 
2. Amir Khusrau was the originator in India of the early form of the musical style known as Qawali                  

Which of these statements is/are correct?
(a) Only 1 
(b) Only 2 
(c) Both 1 and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Ibrahim Adil Shah II was ruler of Bijapur and wrote Kitab-i-Nauras. Amir Khusrau is popularly known as the 'Father of Qawali' in India.

Q.14. How did the Mughal Emperor Jahandarshah's reign, come to an early end?     (2003)
(a) He was deposed by his Wazir
(b) He died due to a slip while climbing down the steps 
(c) He was defeated by his nephew in a battle
(d) He died of sickness due to drinking

Correct Answer is Option (c)
He was defeated by his nephew, Farrukh Siyyar with the help of the Sayyid Brothers.

Q.15. Battle of Dharmat was fought between      (2003) 
(a) Muhammad Ghori and Jai Chand
(b) Babur and Afghans 
(c) Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh 
(d) Ahmad Shah Durrani and the Marathas

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The battle of Dharmat was fought between Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh in 1658 for Shahjahan's throne. Dara Shikoh was defeated by Aurangzeb.

 Q.16. Directions: The following item consists of two statements: one labeled as the Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). You are to examine these two statements carefully and select the answers to these items using the codes given below:     (2003)
Assertion (A): Emperor Akbar marched towards Afghanistan in 1581 with a huge army. 
Reason (R): He was on his way to reclaim his ancestral country of Ferghana in Central Asia. 
(a) Both A and R are individually true but R is the correct explanation of A 
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A 
(c) A is true but R is false 
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer is Option (c)
A is correct as Akbar marched towards Afghanistan in 1581 to conquer Kabul to expand his kingdom. R is incorrect as he had no intention to reclaim his ancestral country of Ferghana.

Q.17. The motive behind Shah Jahan's Balkh campaign was to     (2002)
(a) secure a friendly ruler in Balkh and Badakshan which bordered Kabul
(b) conquer Samarqand and Fargh ana, the Mughal homelands 
(c) fix the Mughal frontier on the 'scientific line', the Amu Daria
(d) expand the Mughal Empire beyond the sub-continent

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The motive behind Shah Jahan's Balkh and Badakshan campaign in central Asia was to secure the defence of NorthWest India. That's why the statement a is correct.

Q.18. Which among the following ports was called Babul Makka (Gate of Makka) during the Mughal period?      (2001)
(a) Calicut
(b) Broach 
(c) Cambay
(d) Surat

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Surat was called the Gate of Makka because the pilgrimage to Makka started from Surat.

Q.19. The shaded area in the above map shows the empire of:    (2000)
(a) Alauddin Khalji 
(b) Mohammad Tughlaq
(c) Shahjahan 
(d) Aurangzeb

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Shah Jahan assumed the Mughal throne on 24 January 1628 in Agra, a few days after the death of Jahangir. He inherited a vast and rich empire; and at mid-century this was perhaps the greatest empire in the world, exhibiting a degree of centralized control rarely matched before. Shah Jahan expanded his empire in all directions: he annexed the Rajput kingdoms of Baglana and Bundelkhand to the west, and in 1635 he captured the kingdoms of Bijapur and Golconda in the Deccan.

Q.20. Which one of the following Muslim rulers was hailed as the 'Jagadguru' by his Muslim subject because of his belief in secularism?      (2000) 
(a) Hussain Shah
(b) Zain-ul-Abidin
(c) Ibrahim Adil Shah 
(d) Mahmud II

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Ibrahim Adil Shah II (1556 – 1627), of the Adil Shahi dynasty, was the king of Bijapur Sultanate.

Q.21. Assertion (A): During the time of Akbar, for every ten cavalrymen, the mansabdars had to maintain twenty horses.     (1999)
Reason (R): Horses had to be rested while on march and replacements' were necessary in times of war.   
(a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true

Correct Answer is Option (d)
A is in correct as the Duaspa Sihaspa system was introduced by Jahangir (not Akbar). So the answer is d.

Q.22. In the given map, the shaded part represents Akbar's empire at a certain juncture, A stands for an independent country and 'B' marks the site of the city. Which one of the following alternatives gives all correct information?     (1998)
(a) Akbar in 1557 : (A) Gokunda, (B) Lahore
(b) Akbar in 1557 : (A) Khandesh, (B) Multan
(c) Akbar in 1605: (A) Gondwana, (B) Multan
(d) Akbar in 1605: (A) Gondwana, (B) Lahore

Correct Answer is Option (d)
The shaded part represents Akbar’s territory at the time of his death in 1605. A – Gondwana; B – Lahore

Q.23. Head of the military department under the recognized central machinery of administration during Akbar's reign was:      (1997)
(a) Diwan
(b) Mir Bakshi
(c) Mir Saman
(d) Bakshi

Correct Answer is Option (b)
He was the head of the military and intelligence department. He was not the Commander-in-Chief but was the paymaster-general. All intelligence officers (bands) and news reporters (Waqia-Davis) reported to him.

Q.24. Mughal painting reached its zenith under    (1996) 
(a) Humayun 
(b) Akbar 
(c) Jahangir 
(d) Shahjahan

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Jahangir was the Mughal Emperor from 1605–1627.