History & Panipat Battles — Set 7

Correct Answer: B. Founder of Durrani Empire (Afghanistan)

Ahmad Shah Durrani (also known as Ahmad Shah Abdali) was the founder of the Durrani Empire in Afghanistan. He is often called the 'Father of the Afghan Nation'. His repeated invasions of India, including the victory at the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), significantly weakened the Mughal and Maratha powers.

Correct Answer: B. Around 100,000 troops with 1,000 war elephants

According to historical sources, Ibrahim Lodi's army at the First Battle of Panipat (1526) numbered around 100,000 troops with approximately 1,000 war elephants. Babur's force was significantly smaller — estimated at 12,000–15,000 soldiers. However, Babur's superior tactics (the 'tulugma' flanking maneuver) and use of artillery overcame Ibrahim's numerical advantage.

Correct Answer: B. Ajmer (Shakambhari) and Delhi (Qila Rai Pithora)

Prithviraj Chauhan III ruled from both Ajmer (his ancestral Chahamana capital) and Delhi (called Qila Rai Pithora or Lal Kot). He had extended Chahamana power significantly northward. After his defeat at the Second Battle of Tarain (1192), Muhammad Ghori's forces captured both these capitals.

Correct Answer: A. Ambala

The 1857 revolt in Haryana began with the sepoys at Ambala cantonment, which was one of the major military stations in the region. Ambala was an important British military and administrative center. The revolt quickly spread to other parts of Haryana including Hisar, Hansi, and the Rewari region.

Correct Answer: B. Rewari

Rao Tula Ram was from the Rewari district of present-day Haryana. He belonged to the Ahir (Yadav) clan and was a local chieftain who raised an army to fight the British in 1857. Rewari and its surrounding areas became a center of resistance during the 1857 revolt.

Correct Answer: C. Punjab

The Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute is a longstanding water-sharing dispute between Haryana and Punjab. After Punjab's reorganization in 1966, the Ravi-Beas river waters were to be shared between both states. Haryana wants its share of water delivered through the SYL canal, while Punjab has resisted its construction, leading to decades of legal and political conflict.

Correct Answer: C. Tomb of Ibrahim Lodi is in Panipat

The tomb of Ibrahim Lodi, the last Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate who was defeated and killed at the First Battle of Panipat (1526), is located in Panipat city itself. It is a simple structure that marks where he fell in battle. Panipat city has preserved this as a historical monument.

Correct Answer: A. Suba of Delhi and Agra

During the Mughal period, most of present-day Haryana was part of the Suba (province) of Delhi and portions of the Suba of Agra. The region was an integral part of the Mughal heartland and contained several important sarkar (administrative divisions). Its proximity to Delhi made it a directly administered imperial territory.

Correct Answer: B. The regent and guardian of the young Akbar who led Mughals at Second Battle of Panipat (1556)

Bairam Khan was a Turkman nobleman who served as the regent and guardian (Wakil) of the young Mughal emperor Akbar. He played a decisive role in leading the Mughal forces to victory at the Second Battle of Panipat (1556). After this victory, he served as the de facto ruler of the Mughal Empire until Akbar assumed direct control in 1560.

Correct Answer: A. Battle of Talikota

The Battle of Talikota (1565) in Karnataka led to the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire when the combined Deccan Sultanates defeated Emperor Aliya Rama Raya. This battle is significant for competitive exam context as it shows how battles at different locations (like Panipat and Talikota) shaped different regional empires in India. Both Panipat and Talikota are frequently asked together in comparative questions.