UPSC CSE Prelims
Mughal Empire Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Mughal Empire
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Who among the following rulers of medieval Gujarat surrendered Diu to Portuguese?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Bahadur Shah
Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat surrendered Diu to the Portuguese in 1535 in exchange for Portuguese military assistance against the Mughal emperor Humayun. This strategic port city on the western coast became a significant Portuguese trading and military outpost, marking an important phase in European colonial expansion in India.
📝 Short Notes: Portuguese in Gujarat
- Bahadur Shah (1526–1537): The last significant independent Sultan of Gujarat who faced Mughal pressure from Humayun.
- Treaty of Bassein (1534): Bahadur Shah agreed to cede Bassein to the Portuguese in exchange for military support against the Mughals.
- Surrender of Diu (1535): Bahadur Shah surrendered Diu to the Portuguese to secure naval and military assistance against Humayun's expanding Mughal empire.
- Portuguese Strategy: The Portuguese aimed to control strategic ports along India's western coast to dominate maritime trade routes.
- Death of Bahadur Shah (1537): He died under mysterious circumstances during negotiations with the Portuguese, possibly assassinated aboard a Portuguese ship.
- Portuguese Control: Diu remained under Portuguese control until 1961, when it was annexed by India along with Goa and Daman.
“Yogavasistha” was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — Akbar
Nizamuddin Panipati, a Persian scholar, translated the "Yogavasistha" into Persian during the reign of Emperor Akbar (1556-1605). This translation was part of Akbar's ambitious cultural policy to promote the translation of Sanskrit classics into Persian, the administrative language of the Mughal Empire. Akbar's court witnessed the translation of numerous works including the Mahabharata (as Razmnama), Ramayana, and various other religious and philosophical texts to facilitate intellectual exchange and religious harmony.
📝 Short Notes: Translations during Akbar's Reign
- Maktab Khana (Translation Bureau): Established by Akbar to translate Sanskrit, Arabic, Greek, and other works into Persian.
- Yogavasistha: A philosophical text in the form of a dialogue between Sage Vasistha and Prince Rama, translated by Nizamuddin Panipati.
- Razmnama: Persian translation of the Mahabharata completed in 1589, with contributions from scholars like Badauni and Faizi.
- Ramayana: Translated into Persian as "Ramayana" under Akbar's patronage.
- Atharva Veda: Translated by Haji Ibrahim Sirhindi.
- Akbar's Vision: These translations reflected his policy of Sulh-i-Kul (universal peace) and intellectual syncretism.
Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Jahangir
Jahangir (reigned 1605-1627) shifted the emphasis of Mughal painting from illustrated manuscripts to albums (muraqqa) and individual portraits. He had a deep personal interest in naturalistic art and patronized master artists like Mansur (famous for flora and fauna), Abu'l Hasan, and Ustad Mansur, who specialized in portraiture and realistic studies. This marked a transition towards more refined, detailed individual portraits and compilations in album format rather than large-scale manuscript illustrations.
📝 Short Notes: Mughal Painting Traditions
| Emperor | Artistic Emphasis | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Humayun | Introduction of Persian style | Brought Persian artists Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad; laid foundation of Mughal painting |
| Akbar | Illustrated manuscripts | Patronized Hamzanama, Razmnama, Akbarnama; large-scale narrative illustrations; Hindu-Persian synthesis |
| Jahangir | Portraits & albums (muraqqa) | Emphasis on naturalism, individual portraits, flora-fauna studies; artists like Mansur, Abu'l Hasan, Bichitr |
| Shah Jahan | Formal court scenes | Refined elegance, architectural precision, formal darbar scenes; less naturalism than Jahangir |
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With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar
This statement is incorrect because the title 'Tansen' was given to him by Raja Vikramjit (also known as Vikramaditya) of Gwalior, not by Emperor Akbar. His original name was Ramtanu Pandey. Before joining Akbar's court, Tansen served as a court musician in the darbar of Raja Ramachandra of Bandhavgarh (Rewa).
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Tansen composed numerous Dhrupads dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses, demonstrating his devotion and musical mastery.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: As a court musician, Tansen composed songs in praise of his patrons, including Emperor Akbar, which was a common practice for court musicians.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Tansen is credited with creating and popularizing several Ragas in Hindustani classical music, including Raga Darbari Kanada, Miyan ki Malhar, and Miyan ki Todi.
📝 Short Notes: Mian Tansen
- Original Name: Ramtanu Pandey (later given the title 'Tansen' by Raja Vikramjit of Gwalior)
- Early Career: Court musician of Raja Ramachandra of Bandhavgarh (Rewa) before joining Akbar's court
- Navratnas: One of the nine jewels (Navratnas) in Emperor Akbar's court
- Musical Contributions: Mastered and popularized the Dhrupad style; credited with creating several Ragas including Darbari Kanada, Miyan ki Malhar, Miyan ki Todi, and Miyan ki Sarang
- Guru: Learned music from Swami Haridas of the Gwalior school
- Religious Affiliation: Born a Hindu Brahmin, later converted to Islam (though this is debated by scholars)
- Legacy: His tomb is located in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, and an annual music festival (Tansen Samaroh) is held there in his honor
Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1605–1689) was a French gem merchant and traveller who made six voyages to India between 1630 and 1668. He is particularly renowned for his elaborate descriptions of Indian diamond mines, especially the famous Golconda mines, and the diamond trade. His work Travels in India provides the most detailed account among the given travelers about diamonds and their mining in India.
Why other options are incorrect:
• Francois Bernier was primarily a physician and wrote about Mughal politics, society, and economy but not specifically about diamonds.
• Jean de Thévenot traveled to India but his accounts focused on general observations rather than detailed diamond trade descriptions.
• Abbe Barthelemy Carre was an envoy whose writings dealt with religious and diplomatic matters rather than diamonds.
📝 Short Notes: European Travellers in Medieval India
| Traveller | Period | Key Focus/Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Jean-Baptiste Tavernier | 1605–1689 | Gem merchant; detailed accounts of diamond mines (Golconda) and diamond trade |
| Francois Bernier | 1625–1688 | Physician to Aurangzeb; wrote on Mughal administration, land revenue system, and society |
| Jean de Thévenot | 1633–1667 | General observations on Indian culture, customs, and geography |
| Abbe Barthelemy Carre | Late 17th century | French envoy; focused on religious and diplomatic matters |
| Niccolao Manucci | 1653–1717 | Italian; Storia do Mogor - detailed account of Mughal court life |
Consider the following:
The arrival of Babur into India led to the:
- introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent
- introduction of the arch and dome in the region's architecture
- establishment of Timurid dynasty in the region
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Gunpowder was already known in India by the mid-14th century during the Delhi Sultanate period; Babur introduced superior field artillery technology, not gunpowder itself.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The arch and dome were introduced to India by the Turks during the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century, with examples like Alai Darwaza and Qutb Minar complex predating Babur's arrival.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Babur was a direct descendant of Timur and established the Timurid dynasty (Mughal Empire) in India after his victory at the First Battle of Panipat (1526) against Ibrahim Lodi.
Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was
Detailed Explanation:
Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) was built by Akbar in 1575 CE at Fatehpur Sikri as a hall for inter-religious discussions with scholars from Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism and other faiths.
Initially meant for Sunni theologians, Akbar opened it to all religions from 1578 CE onwards after being disillusioned with orthodox Muslim clergy; these Thursday evening debates eventually influenced his formulation of Din-i-Ilahi.