1. Arrange the following events in chronological order. (JUNE 2012)

I. Mughal occupation of Balkh.
II. Introduction of the system of month proportion.
III. Extinction of Nizam Shahi.
IV. Treaty of the Mughals with Bijapur and Golkonda.

Codes:
(1) II, III, IV, I
(2) III, II, I, IV
(3) IV, III, II, I
(4) II, IV, I, III

Answer: 1

The correct answer is (1) II, III, IV, I.

The earliest event is the introduction of the system of month proportion (II), which is associated with the administrative and revenue reforms under Akbar in the late 16th century. This system, often linked with the zabt revenue arrangement and the mansabdari system, referred to calculating salaries and obligations of mansabdars based on the number of months they actually served. It helped the Mughal administration maintain flexibility and financial control, especially in regulating the payment of troops and officials.

Next comes the extinction of the Nizam Shahi kingdom (III) of Ahmadnagar in 1636 during the reign of Shah Jahan. The Mughals had been attempting to conquer the Deccan for decades, beginning from Akbar’s time, but it was under Shah Jahan that Ahmadnagar was finally annexed. This marked a major step in Mughal expansion into the Deccan and weakened regional resistance significantly.

Following this was the treaty of the Mughals with Bijapur and Golkonda (IV), also in 1636. After defeating Ahmadnagar, Shah Jahan compelled the Deccan sultanates of Bijapur and Golkonda to accept Mughal suzerainty through treaties. These agreements required them to pay tribute and acknowledge Mughal authority, although they retained internal autonomy. This diplomatic move stabilized the Deccan temporarily and avoided prolonged warfare.

The last event is the Mughal occupation of Balkh (I), which took place between 1646 and 1647, again under Shah Jahan. Balkh, located in present-day Central Asia, was significant as it was considered the ancestral homeland of the Timurids. Shah Jahan attempted to recover these territories to enhance Mughal prestige, but the campaign proved difficult due to harsh conditions, logistical challenges, and local resistance. Ultimately, the Mughals had to withdraw, making it a short-lived occupation.

Thus, the correct chronological order is II → III → IV → I.

2. Arrange the following in chronological order. (JUNE 2012)

I. Prince Akbar’s flight to the Deccan.
II. Conquest of Golkonda by Aurangzeb.
III. Capture of Chitagong by Shaista Khan.
IV. The institution of Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh.

Codes:
(1) I, III, II, IV
(2) III, I, II, IV
(3) III, IV, III, I
(4) I, III, IV, II

Answer: 2

The correct answer is (2) III, I, II, IV.

The earliest event is the capture of Chittagong by Shaista Khan in 1666 (III), during the reign of Aurangzeb. Shaista Khan, who was the Mughal governor of Bengal, successfully drove out the Arakanese (Magh) pirates who had long dominated the coastal region. The conquest of Chittagong was significant because it strengthened Mughal control over Bengal’s southeastern frontier and boosted maritime trade and security in the Bay of Bengal.

The next event is Prince Akbar’s flight to the Deccan in 1681 (I). Prince Akbar, the rebellious son of Aurangzeb, revolted against his father with the support of some Rajput chiefs. After failing in his rebellion in North India, he fled to the Deccan, where he sought alliance with the Marathas, particularly under Sambhaji. This episode intensified the already complex political situation in the Deccan and contributed to prolonged Mughal-Maratha conflicts.

This is followed by the conquest of Golkonda by Aurangzeb in 1687 (II). The Qutb Shahi kingdom of Golkonda was one of the last major Deccan sultanates resisting Mughal expansion. Aurangzeb annexed it after a prolonged siege of its capital, Hyderabad-Golkonda. The fall of Golkonda, along with Bijapur earlier in 1686, marked the near-complete Mughal domination of the Deccan, although it also overextended imperial resources and contributed to later decline.

The final event is the institution of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 (IV). This was a turning point in Sikh history, as Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib to create a unified, militarized Sikh community committed to resisting oppression. Members of the Khalsa adopted the five Ks and a distinct identity, which played a crucial role in later resistance against Mughal authority and in the formation of a strong Sikh political tradition.

Thus, the correct chronological sequence is 1666 → 1681 → 1687 → 1699, i.e., III → I → II → IV.

3. Who amongst the following commented on the rule of the First Afghan empire in India that “there was an opportunity to establish in India the constitutional monarchy, but the dissensions amongst the Afghan nobles let the opportunity pass away”? (JUNE 2012)

(1) K.A. Nizami
(2) Peter Jackson
(3) R.P. Tripathi
(4) John F. Richards

Answer: 3

The correct answer is (3) R. P. Tripathi.

R. P. Tripathi, a noted historian of medieval India, made this observation while analyzing the nature of the Afghan polity, particularly under the Lodi dynasty, which is often referred to as the First Afghan Empire in India. The Afghan rulers like Bahlul Lodi, Sikandar Lodi, and Ibrahim Lodi governed through a system that was markedly different from the centralized autocracy of the earlier Turkish rulers of the Delhi Sultanate. Afghan political traditions emphasized tribal equality and collective decision-making, where nobles (chiefs) had significant influence and expected a share in power. This created conditions somewhat resembling a proto-constitutional arrangement, where the ruler had to consult and accommodate the nobility rather than rule in an absolute manner.

Tripathi pointed out that this structure had the potential to evolve into a form of constitutional monarchy because the power of the Sultan was not entirely unchecked and depended on the support of Afghan nobles. However, constant dissensions, factional rivalries, and lack of unity among these nobles prevented the consolidation of such a system. Instead of strengthening a balanced polity, their internal conflicts weakened the state, especially during the reign of Ibrahim Lodi, whose strained relations with nobles ultimately contributed to his defeat by Babur in 1526 at the First Battle of Panipat.

This interpretation highlights the contrast between Afghan and Turkish models of governance in medieval India. While Turkish rulers like Alauddin Khalji or Muhammad bin Tughlaq pursued strong centralization, the Afghan rulers operated within a more decentralized and consultative framework, though it lacked stability. Other historians like K. A. Nizami and John F. Richards have also discussed the nature of Afghan rule, but the specific remark about the missed opportunity for constitutional monarchy is attributed to R. P. Tripathi.