Mughal Empire — Set 7
Indian History · मुगल साम्राज्य · Questions 61–70 of 120
Which Mughal Emperor was defeated by Sher Shah Suri in the Battle of Kannauj (1540)?
Correct Answer: B. Humayun
• **Battle of Kannauj (Bilgram, 1540)** — **Sher Shah Suri** defeated **Humayun** decisively. • This defeat forced Humayun to leave India and live in **exile for 15 years** (1540–1555). • Sher Shah then established the **Sur Empire** and proved an outstanding administrator. • 💡 Jahangir/Babur/Akbar = different eras; only Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah at Kannauj and exiled.
The famous diamond 'Koh-i-Noor' was taken from India by whom?
Correct Answer: B. Nadir Shah
• **Nadir Shah** took the **Koh-i-Noor diamond** from India during his **1739 invasion** of Delhi. • He took it along with the **Peacock Throne** after defeating Muhammad Shah at Battle of Karnal. • Koh-i-Noor later passed to Afghans → Sikhs → British (after 1849); now in **British Crown Jewels**. • 💡 Ahmed Shah Abdali = later invasions (**1748**–67) but Koh-i-Noor already gone; Timur (1398) = different era; Genghis Khan = never entered India.
Who was the Mughal governor of the Deccan who later became the Nizam of Hyderabad?
Correct Answer: B. Chin Qilich Khan
• **Chin Qilich Khan** = **Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah**, Mughal governor of the Deccan. • Founded **independent Hyderabad in 1724** — beginning of the Asaf Jahi (Nizam) dynasty. • He held the title of **Nizam-ul-Mulk** (Regulator of the Kingdom) — Nizam became the dynasty's name. • 💡 Saadat Khan = Awadh; Murshid Quli Khan = Bengal; Zulfiqar Khan = Mughal noble, not Deccan founder — Chin Qilich Khan alone = Hyderabad.
The 'Dahsala' system of land revenue was developed by whom?
Correct Answer: D. Raja Todar Mal
• **'Dahsala' system** was developed by **Raja Todar Mal** (Akbar's finance minister) in **1580**. • '**Dah**' = ten; the system calculated the **average produce of 10 years** to fix annual revenue. • It ensured **fair and stable** revenue without exploiting farmers in bad harvest years. • 💡 Abul Fazl = writer/advisor; Man Singh = military general; Birbal = wit courtier — only Todar Mal handled revenue/dahsala system.
Which Mughal Emperor wrote his will dividing the empire among his sons, leading to a war of succession?
Correct Answer: C. Shah Jahan
• **Shah Jahan's illness in 1657** triggered the **war of succession** among his four sons. • Dara Shikoh, Shuja, Murad, and Aurangzeb all claimed the throne simultaneously. • Shah Jahan had openly favoured **Dara Shikoh** (eldest), fuelling resentment among younger sons. • 💡 Jahangir = had his own succession war; Humayun = Babur advised well; Akbar = no such major succession war — Shah Jahan's era had the most famous war.
Who was the mother of Shah Jahan?
Correct Answer: A. Manmati (Jagat Gosain)
• **Shah Jahan's mother** was **Manmati** (also called **Jagat Gosain**) — a Rajput princess of **Marwar (Jodhpur)**. • She was the daughter of **Mota Raja Udai Singh** of Jodhpur — a key Mughal-Rajput matrimonial alliance. • Shah Jahan's Rajput lineage (through mother) shaped his aesthetic sensitivity toward art and architecture. • 💡 Mumtaz Mahal = Shah Jahan's wife, not mother; Harka Bai (Jodha Bai) = Akbar's wife; Nur Jahan = Jahangir's wife — Manmati = Shah Jahan's mother.
The 'Charbagh' style of garden layout was introduced to India by whom?
Correct Answer: C. Babur
• **'Charbagh'** (Four Gardens) style was introduced to India by **Babur** — a Persian garden tradition. • Garden divided into **four equal parts** by flowing water channels or raised walkways (walled design). • **Aram Bagh** (Ram Bagh) in Agra is India's **oldest surviving Mughal garden** — Babur's own. • 💡 Khiljis/Tughlaqs = pre-Mughal dynasties; Lodhis = Afghan dynasty; none introduced Charbagh — it was Babur's Persian inheritance.
Who was the author of 'Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh', a critical history of Akbar's reign?
Correct Answer: D. Abdul Qadir Badauni
• **Abdul Qadir Badauni** wrote **'Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh'** — a critical, secret history of Akbar's reign. • He was a **critic of Akbar's liberal policies** and wrote in secret, publishing only after Akbar's death. • The work covers Babur to early Akbar period; it is considered a counter-narrative to Abul Fazl's version. • 💡 Gulbadan Begum = Humayun-nama; Abul Fazl = Akbarnama (pro-Akbar); Khafi Khan = later historian — Badauni = secret critical history.
Which Mughal Emperor granted the 'Diwani' of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha to the East India Company?
Correct Answer: A. Shah Alam II
• **Shah Alam II** granted the **Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha** to the EIC in **1765**. • This was through the **Treaty of Allahabad** after the **Battle of Buxar (1764)**. • **Diwani = right to collect civil revenue** — the British became the financial administrators of eastern India. • 💡 Alamgir II = killed **1759**; Akbar II = 19th century; Bahadur Shah II = last Mughal (**1837**–57) — Shah Alam II alone granted Diwani.
Who was the Rajput general who led the Mughal forces in the Battle of Haldighati?
Correct Answer: C. Man Singh I
• **Raja Man Singh I** of **Amber (Jaipur)** led Mughal forces at **Battle of Haldighati (1576)**. • He was one of Akbar's **Navratnas** and most trusted generals — symbol of Mughal-Rajput alliance. • Man Singh also served as governor of Bengal and Bihar, built temples in Vrindavan. • 💡 Rana Sanga = fought Babur at Khanwa; Jaswant Singh = Marwar, Aurangzeb's era; Jai Singh = later Mughal general — Man Singh led Haldighati.