Q1: What was Din-i-Ilahi and who started it?

Ans: Din-i-Ilahi (Divine Monotheism) was an ethical and spiritual code introduced by Emperor Akbar in 1582 CE. It was not a rigid religion, but a moral philosophy synthesizing the best tenets of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism, rooted in universal peace and tolerance (Sulh-i-Kul). It had no sacred scriptures, priests, or places of worship.

Q2: Why is Shah Jahan known as an ‘Engineer King’?

Ans: Shah Jahan is celebrated as the ‘Engineer King’ (or Prince of Builders) because he planned, designed, and constructed monumental architectural wonders of extraordinary artistic refinement. His masterpieces include the world-famous Taj Mahal at Agra, the Red Fort (Lal Qila) and Jama Masjid in Delhi, Moti Masjid, and the walled capital city of Shahjahanabad.

Q3: What was the political condition of India before Babur’s invasion?

Ans: Before Babur’s invasion in 1526, India was politically fragmented and destabilized. The Delhi Sultanate under Ibrahim Lodi was weakened by disloyal Afghan nobles; Daulat Khan Lodi (Governor of Punjab) and Rana Sanga of Mewar openly opposed him and invited Babur to invade; independent regional states like Malwa, Gujarat, and Bengal fought constantly with each other, lacking any national unity.

Q4: State the main features of Jahangir’s rule.

Ans: The main features of Jahangir’s reign were:
1. Chain of Justice (Zanjir-i-Adil): Installed a golden chain with 60 bells at Agra fort for citizens to directly petition the Emperor.
2. Continuation of Akbar’s Policies: Maintained religious harmony and administrative stability.
3. Influence of Nur Jahan: His brilliant Empress actively managed administrative and diplomatic affairs.
4. Patronage to Arts: Reached the highest peak in realistic portraiture and naturalistic Mughal miniature paintings.

Q5: Briefly explain the ‘mansabdari system’.

Ans: The Mansabdari system was a civil and military grading system introduced by Akbar in 1571 CE. Every officer was assigned a rank called a Mansab determined by two designations:
• Zat: Determined personal status, seniority, and salary.
• Sawar: Specified the exact number of cavalrymen and horses the officer was required to maintain for the state.
Mansabdars were paid either in cash or through revenue assignments from designated lands called Jagirs.

Q1: Mention the difficulties faced by Humayun after coming to the throne.

Ans: Humayun ascended the Mughal throne in 1530 amidst tremendous political and economic crises:

• Empty Treasury: Babur’s continuous campaigns and generous donations had exhausted the imperial royal treasury, leaving Humayun without adequate financial resources to administer a large empire.
• Treacherous Brothers: In accordance with Babur’s dying wishes, Humayun divided his territories among his brothers (Kamran, Askari, and Hindal). Instead of cooperating, his brothers actively plotted against him, with Kamran taking control of Punjab and Kabul, cutting off military recruitment from Central Asia.
• Resurgent Afghan Threat: Powerful Afghan nobles united under Sher Shah Suri in Bihar and Bengal, determined to drive the Mughals out of India.
• Hostility from Gujarat: Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat posed an aggressive military threat to Mughal borders in Rajasthan and Malwa.
• Lack of an Organized Administrative Base: The newly established Mughal rule had not yet struck deep administrative or institutional roots in India.

Q2: Compare the religious policy of Akbar with that of Aurangzeb.

Ans: Akbar and Aurangzeb adopted diametrically opposite religious policies with radically contrasting outcomes for the stability of the empire:

Q3: Describe Shah Jahan’s Deccan policy.

Ans: Shah Jahan pursued an aggressive, calculated forward policy in the Deccan with great political success:

• Annexation of Ahmadnagar (1636): He brought the Nizam Shahi kingdom of Ahmadnagar to an end, fully integrating its territories into the Mughal Empire.
• Treaties with Bijapur and Golconda: He forced the rulers of Bijapur (Adil Shahi) and Golconda (Qutb Shahi) to accept Mughal suzerainty, agree to regular annual tributes, and cease assisting rebels.
• Creation of Deccan Subahs: He divided the conquered territories into four provinces (Khandesh, Berar, Telengana, and Daulatabad) and appointed Prince Aurangzeb as the Viceroy of the Deccan to enforce administrative vigilance.
• Revenue Reforms in Deccan: Under Murshid Quli Khan, comprehensive land revenue measurement and assessment methods were introduced across the Deccan, ensuring stability and agricultural output.

Q4: Describe the uniform system of administration established by the Mughals.

Ans: The Mughals established a highly centralized, uniform administrative hierarchy across the subcontinent:

• Central Government: The Emperor was the supreme authority in administrative, military, and judicial affairs. He was assisted by key ministers:
  • Wazir / Diwan: Minister in charge of state revenue and finance.
  • Mir Bakshi: Head of military department and paymaster of the army.
  • Mir Saman: In charge of the royal imperial household and factories (Karkhanas).
  • Chief Qazi: Supreme judicial authority responsible for civil and criminal justice.
• Provincial Administration: The empire was divided into 15 to 20 Subahs (provinces), each governed by a Subahdar (governor) who maintained law, order, and collected taxes along with a provincial Diwan.
• District Administration: Subahs were divided into Sarkars (districts) supervised by a military officer called Faujdar and a revenue collector called Amalguzar.
• Sub-district & Village Administration: Sarkars were divided into Parganas (tehsils) governed by a Shiqdar and Amil. Villages were self-governing units managed by the village headman (Muqaddam) and accountant (Patwari).

Q5: List any five factors responsible for the decline of the Mughal empire.

Ans: The decline and disintegration of the once-mighty Mughal Empire after 1707 CE was caused by the following five critical factors:

• 1. Aurangzeb’s Religious Intolerance: Aurangzeb’s orthodoxy, demolition of Hindu shrines, reimposition of Jizya, and execution of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur provoked massive, unceasing rebellions by the Rajputs, Marathas, Sikhs, and Jats, shattering the empire’s internal harmony.
• 2. The Ruinous Deccan Campaigns: Aurangzeb spent the last 25 years of his life fighting endless wars in the Deccan. This ‘Deccan Ulcer’ depleted the royal treasury, exhausted the army, and led to total administrative collapse in North India.
• 3. Incompetent Later Mughals: Successors after Aurangzeb were pleasure-seeking, weak, and puppets in the hands of rival noble factions (Irani, Turani, Hindustani groups), such as the infamous ‘Sayyid Brothers’ (Kingmakers).
• 4. Jagirdari & Agrarian Crisis: Acute shortage of fertile Jagirs and corruption in the Mansabdari system led to relentless exploitation of the peasantry, triggering peasant flight and economic instability.
• 5. Foreign Invasions & Rise of Regional Powers: Catastrophic foreign raids by Nadir Shah (1739) and Ahmad Shah Abdali looted Delhi’s fabulous treasures (including the Peacock Throne and Kohinoor diamond), exposing the military helplessness of the Mughals while autonomous states (Awadh, Bengal, Hyderabad, and Marathas) broke away.