History & Culture chapter practice
Practise 80+ Mughal India MCQs for UPSC Prelims in History & Culture, including 21+ previous year questions. The sample set below is shown with correct answers and explanations.
12 sample questions are shown here; sign up free to practise all 80.
'Yogavasistha' was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of:
Explanation
Correct. Akbar's court sponsored large-scale translation of Sanskrit works into Persian. The Yogavasistha, a philosophical text attributed to Valmiki, was rendered into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati under Akbar's patronage as part of his broader project of cultural synthesis.
With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?
Explanation
Correct. Under Mughal provincial administration, the pargana was the smallest unit (a cluster of villages), followed by the sarkar (district comprising several parganas), and then the suba (province comprising several sarkars). This ascending order is Pargana < Sarkar < Suba.
With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar? 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:
Explanation
Correct. Neither statement accurately describes the distinction. Jagirs were revenue assignments tied to mansabdari service and were transferable, not hereditary. Zamindars held local hereditary rights and had wider responsibilities than just revenue collection. Both descriptions in the statements are misleading.
Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India?
Explanation
Correct. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier was a 17th-century French jeweller and traveller who made six voyages to India. His 'Travels in India' contains the most detailed contemporary European account of Indian diamond mines, including Golconda, and the gem trade.
Consider the following: The arrival of Babur into India led to the: 1. Introduction of gunpowder 2. Introduction of the arch and dome in the region's architecture 3. Establishment of Timurid dynasty Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Correct. Babur's primary historical contribution was establishing the Timurid (Mughal) dynasty in India. Gunpowder and arch-dome architecture both pre-dated his arrival — the former was known from at least the 14th century and the latter was introduced during the Delhi Sultanate.
Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was:
Explanation
Correct. The Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) was established by Akbar in 1575 at Fatehpur Sikri as a hall for religious discussions. Scholars from various faiths — including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jains, Zoroastrians and others — were invited to debate theology and philosophy.
How did the dynasty of Nizam Shahis of Ahmadnagar come to an end?
Explanation
Correct. The Nizam Shahi dynasty of Ahmadnagar ended when the Mughal forces under Shah Jahan finally annexed the sultanate in 1636. The last ruler, Husain Shah, was captured and imprisoned for life.
The Battle of Dharmat was fought between:
Explanation
Correct. The Battle of Dharmat (1658) was fought between the forces of Aurangzeb (led by his generals) and the imperial army supporting Dara Shikoh during the Mughal war of succession. Dara's forces were decisively defeated.
How did the Mughal Emperor Jahandar Shah's reign come to an early end?
Explanation
Correct. Jahandar Shah was defeated in 1713 by his nephew Farrukhsiyar (supported by the Sayyid brothers) at the Battle of Agra. He was subsequently captured and executed, ending his brief reign of about one year.
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.
Explanation
Correct. Akbar did march towards Afghanistan in 1581 with a large army, but the purpose was to deal with the rebellion of his half-brother Mirza Muhammad Hakim, the governor of Kabul. Reclaiming Ferghana was not his objective.
The motive behind Shah Jahan's Balkh campaign was to:
Explanation
Correct. Shah Jahan's Balkh campaign (1646–1647) was primarily motivated by the desire to install a friendly ruler in Balkh and Badakhshan, regions that bordered Kabul and were vital for the security of the Mughal northwestern frontier.
Which among the following ports was called Babul Makka (Gate of Mecca) during the Mughal Period?
Explanation
Correct. Surat was called Babul Makka (Gate of Mecca) because it was the principal port from which Indian Muslims embarked on the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. It was also the chief commercial port of the Mughal Empire.
Sign up free to unlock the full chapter set, timed mock tests, and progress analytics.