Mughal Empire PYQs – Medieval History, SSC & Railway

Akbar's Tomb at Sikandra has a unique tiered pyramidal design built on a square base, departing from the standard hasht-bihisht plan.
Humayun's Tomb, Itimad- ud -Daulah and Safdarjung's Tomb all follow the typical eight-part square layout.
Hence Akbar's Tomb is the deviation.

Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun at the Battles of Chausa (1539) and Kannauj (1540).
He founded the Sur Empire — often called the Second Afghan Empire.
Hence the answer is Sher Shah Suri.

• Historical Architecture:
• Purana Qila (Old Fort) was built during the reign of Sher Shah Suri and Humayun (16th century).
• The double-storeyed gates (including the Bara Darwaza and Humayun Darwaza) were primarily built with red sandstone.
• Red sandstone is characteristic of Mughal and Suri architecture of this period.
• Answer: Red sandstone

Statement 1 — correct: Mughal architecture is a recognized blend of Persian, Islamic, Turkish, and Indian styles, producing the Indo-Islamic style seen in Taj Mahal, Red Fort, etc.
Statement 2 — correct: red sandstone (Fatehpur Sikri, Red Fort) and white marble (Taj Mahal) are the two signature materials.
Hence both statements are correct.

Humayun's Tomb (built 1565-72 in Delhi) was indeed the first major Mughal garden tomb in the Indian sub-continent and is widely accepted as the precursor of the Taj Mahal — so A is true.
It introduced the charbagh (four-quartered Persian garden) layout and the double-domed mausoleum style, both of which became hallmarks of later Mughal architecture culminating in the Taj Mahal — so R is also true.
R directly explains why A holds: it is the architectural elements introduced (R) that made Humayun's Tomb the inspiration (A).

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Only 1
Statement 1 (TRUE): Babur (Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur) was indeed of Timurid descent (on his father's side, from Timur/Tamerlane) and Mongol descent (on his mother's side, from Genghis Khan). He founded the Mughal Empire by defeating Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat (1526). This is historically accurate.
Statement 2 (FALSE): This contains two errors. First, Babur was NOT overthrown by Sher Shah — Babur died naturally in 1530. His son Humayun succeeded him. It was HUMAYUN (Babur's son, not Babur himself) who was defeated and overthrown by Sher Shah Suri in 1540. Second, after Sher Shah's Suri dynasty, it was HUMAYUN (not Akbar) who recaptured Delhi in 1555. Akbar (Babur's grandson) succeeded Humayun in 1556.
Only Statement 1 is correct.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Battle of Panipat (1526)
The First Battle of Panipat (1526) was fought between Babur (founder of the Mughal Empire) and Ibrahim Lodi (last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate). Babur's victory ended the Delhi Sultanate and established the Mughal Empire in India.
Option 2 (Battle of Talikota, 1565): Fought between the Deccan Sultanates and the Vijayanagara Empire; led to the decline of Vijayanagara, not the Delhi Sultanate.
Option 3 (Battle of Khanwa, 1527): Between Babur and Rana Sanga of Mewar; consolidated Mughal power after the Delhi Sultanate was already ended.
Option 4 (Battle of Tarain, 1192): Muhammad of Ghor defeated Prithviraj Chauhan; this actually ESTABLISHED the Delhi Sultanate, not ended it.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Akbar and Rana Pratap
The Battle of Haldighati (June 1576) was fought between the forces of Mughal Emperor Akbar (led by Man Singh I of Amber) and Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar. Though Akbar's forces won the battle, Rana Pratap escaped and continued guerrilla resistance. The battle took place in the Haldighati pass in present-day Rajasthan.
Option 2 (Babur and Rana Sanga): This was the Battle of Khanwa (1527).
Option 3 (Sher Shah Suri and Humayun): This was the Battle of Chausa (1539) and Battle of Kannauj (1540).
Option 4 (Jahangir and Rana Amar Singh): A series of battles occurred between 1605-1615, ending in a treaty; not Haldighati.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Ibrahim Lodi – Babur
Ibrahim Lodi (last ruler of the Lodi dynasty) was defeated by Babur at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, making Babur his immediate successor as ruler of Delhi. This marked the end of the Delhi Sultanate and the beginning of the Mughal Empire.
Option 1 (Alauddin Khalji – Muhammad Bin Tughlaq): Incorrect. Alauddin Khalji's immediate successors were his sons — Shahab- ud -din Omar and then Qutb ud -Din Mubarak Shah. Muhammad Bin Tughlaq came to the throne in 1325, much later.
Option 2 (Muhammad Bin Tughlaq – Iltutmish): Incorrect. Iltutmish ruled 1211–1236, well before Muhammad Bin Tughlaq (1325–1351). Muhammad Bin Tughlaq was succeeded by his cousin Firuz Shah Tughlaq.
Option 4 (Babur – Sher Shah Suri): Incorrect. Babur was immediately succeeded by his son Humayun (1530). Sher Shah Suri displaced Humayun later (1540), but was not Babur's immediate successor.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Babur
Babur , the founder of the Mughal Empire, introduced the Charbagh (four-garden) style from Central Asia to India. The garden is divided into four equal quadrants by intersecting water channels. Ram Bagh in Agra is considered one of the earliest Mughal gardens.
Option 2 (Akbar): Known for the architecture of Fatehpur Sikri; not associated with introducing Charbagh.
Option 3 (Jahangir): Known for his love of nature, paintings, and memoirs; did not introduce Charbagh.
Option 4 (Aurangzeb): Known for his austere reign; not associated with garden architecture.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Large domes and iwans (vaulted halls)
Mughal architecture was heavily influenced by Persian (Timurid/Safavid) styles, particularly the use of large bulbous domes and iwans (large arched vaulted entrance halls). These features are prominently seen in the Taj Mahal, Humayun's Tomb, and Jama Masjid.
Option 1 (Flat roofs and simple courtyards): More characteristic of traditional Indian and Hindu temple architecture.
Option 3 (Stepwells and pavilions): Stepwells (vav/ baoli ) are an indigenous Indian architectural tradition, not Persian.
Option 4 (Minimal ornamentation): Mughal architecture is renowned for elaborate ornamentation including pietra dura, calligraphy, and geometric patterns – not minimal ornamentation.

Correct Answer: Option 1 – Only I
Statement I (TRUE): The Mughal mansabdari system, formalized by Emperor Akbar, assigned each noble ( mansabdar ) a mansab (rank) which had two components: (a) Zat — personal rank determining salary and status in the imperial hierarchy; (b) Sawar — the number of cavalry a noble was required to maintain. The mansab thus indicated rank AND salary (higher zat = higher salary/pay). This is correct.
Statement II (FALSE): Mansabdars were NOT required to personally reside in their jagir. The Mughal system actually created a deliberate policy of transferring mansabdars from one jagir to another to prevent them from building local power bases. Mansabdars often resided at court or with the army; their jagir revenues were collected by agents. Personal residence in jagirs was neither required nor encouraged — the opposite policy of frequent transfers was implemented.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Battle of Panipat (1526)
The First Battle of Panipat was fought on April 21, 1526 between Babur (founder of the Mughal Empire) and Ibrahim Lodhi (the last sultan of the Delhi Sultanate). Babur's superior tactics — use of artillery (firearms), flanking maneuvers, and the tulughma formation — decisively defeated Ibrahim Lodhi's numerically superior army. Ibrahim Lodhi was killed in battle, ending the Lodhi dynasty and establishing Mughal rule in India.
Option 1 (Battle of Khanwa): Fought in 1527 between Babur and Rana Sanga (Rajput Confederation); after Panipat, not the battle against Ibrahim Lodhi.
Option 3 (Battle of Chausa): Fought in 1539 between Sher Shah Suri and Humayun (Babur's son); not involving Ibrahim Lodhi.
Option 4 (Battle of Ghagra): Fought in 1529 between Babur and the Afghan confederacy of Bengal and Bihar; not involving Ibrahim Lodhi.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – High domes and minarets
Mughal architecture (16th–18th century CE) is best known for its characteristic high bulbous domes (onion domes), tall slender minarets, intricate inlay work ( pietra dura), red sandstone and white marble construction, and large formal gardens. Iconic examples include the Taj Mahal (with its massive central dome and four minarets), Jama Masjid, Humayun's Tomb, and Fatehpur Sikri. The style blends Persian, Central Asian, and Indian architectural traditions.
Option 1 (Wooden beams): Associated with vernacular, tribal, or some medieval Hindu temple architecture; not a feature of Mughal architecture.
Option 3 (Flat roofs): Some Mughal structures have flat terraces (like Akbar's palace buildings), but the defining feature is the high dome, not flat roofs.
Option 4 (Simple stone walls): Mughal architecture is famous for ornate decorations, inlay work, and calligraphy — the opposite of simple stone walls.

Answer: Option 4 — Bahadur Shah
Bahadur Shah of the Muzaffarid dynasty ruled Gujarat (1526–1537).
His growing power and his shelter to Humayun's rivals led Humayun to march against him.
Humayun defeated him at Mandsaur and took Mandu and Champaner (1535).
Revision note — Humayun's reign (1530–1540, 1555–1556)
• Eldest son of Babur; succeeded in 1530; built the city Dinpanah in Delhi.
• Campaign against Bahadur Shah of Gujarat (1532–1535): Mandu and Champaner captured, but Gujarat soon lost again.
• Defeated by Sher Khan (Sher Shah Suri) at Chausa (1539) and Kannauj / Bilgram (1540); went into exile in Persia.
• Regained Delhi after the Battle of Sirhind (1555) with Persian help.
• Died in 1556 after a fall from the stairs of his library Sher Mandal in Purana Qila; Humayun's Tomb built by his widow Hamida Banu Begum.
• His sister Gulbadan Begum wrote Humayun-nama.
Do not mix these up
• Bahadur Shah of Gujarat vs Bahadur Shah Zafar — the first fought Humayun in the 1530s; Zafar was the last Mughal emperor, leader of the 1857 revolt.
Also asked from this topic: who founded the Sur Empire after defeating Humayun (Sher Shah Suri); the battles of Humayun's defeat (Chausa 1539, Kannauj 1540).