Social Classification – UGC NET History – Practice Questions

The Ruling Classes

1. The Mughal ruling class was characterized by being:
A) Multi-racial, multi-religious, and multi-regional
B) Only Turani and Persian
C) Exclusively Muslim
D) Entirely hereditary

2. The Mughal nobility consisted mainly of:
A) Priests and traders
B) Civil bureaucrats and military commanders
C) Zamindars and peasants
D) Merchants and artisans

3. Under the Mughal system, nobles generally received salaries through:
A) Trade privileges only
B) Temple grants
C) Cash payment or jagir assignments
D) Religious donations

4. Which institution, along with the Jagir system, sustained the Mughal Empire for nearly 200 years?
A) Iqta System
B) Zamindari System
C) Khalisa System
D) Mansab System

5. Assertion (A): The numerical strength of mansabdars affected the Mughal economy.
Reason (R): Mansabdars influenced politics, administration, and revenue distribution.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) A is false, but R is true.

6. The Mughal nobility theoretically remained open to:
A) All sections of society
B) Only Central Asians
C) Muslims only
D) Rajputs only

7. Most Mughal nobles were originally recruited from:
A) South India
B) Turan and neighboring regions
C) Bengal
D) Tibet

8. Which among the following regions contributed significantly to Mughal nobility?
A) Sri Lanka
B) Burma
C) Khurasan and Iran
D) Nepal

9. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
C-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
D-) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2

10. Babur attempted to ally with which group of nobles initially?
A) Rajputs
B) Marathas
C) Shaikhzadas
D) Afghan nobles

11. Why did Babur fail to retain Afghan nobles?
A) They proved restless and defected
B) They were too expensive
C) They refused jagirs
D) They joined Rajputs permanently

12. Under which Mughal emperor did more Afghans begin to be recruited into nobility?
A) Babur
B) Akbar
C) Jahangir
D) Aurangzeb

13. Indian Muslims in Mughal administration were popularly known as:
A) Sayyids
B) Rajputs
C) Shaikhzadas or Hindustanis
D) Mansabdars

14. The principle of direct command in the mansab system implied that mansabdars were subordinate to:
A) Provincial governors
B) The Mughal Emperor directly
C) Zamindars
D) Jagirdars

15. Assertion (A): Mansab served only military purposes in the Mughal Empire.
Reason (R): Mansab also determined hierarchy and salary.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) A is false, but R is true.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) Both A and R are false.

16. Which among the following was NOT a function of mansab?
A) Determining official hierarchy
B) Fixing salary
C) Religious conversion
D) Maintaining contingents

17. Each Mughal officer under the mansab system held:
A) One military title only
B) One hereditary office
C) A dual rank of zat and sawar
D) A religious title

18. The ‘zat’ rank determined:
A) Number of horses maintained
B) Military equipment
C) Personal rank and salary
D) Religious status

19. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
C-) A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
D-) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

20. The ‘sawar’ rank mainly related to:
A) Religious prestige
B) Revenue administration
C) Court protocol
D) Military contingents and cavalry

21. Which Mughal emperor began regular recruitment of Hindus into nobility?
A) Akbar
B) Babur
C) Jahangir
D) Shah Jahan

22. In 1594, Hindus constituted approximately what percentage of Mughal nobility?
A) 10%
B) 12%
C) 16%
D) 25%

23. Which Rajput clan initially dominated Mughal-Rajput relations?
A) Rathores
B) Sisodias
C) Kachhwahas
D) Chauhans

24. Raja Todar Mal gained prominence mainly in:
A) Military campaigns
B) Revenue administration
C) Religious reforms
D) Diplomacy

25. Assertion (A): Rajputs incorporated into Mughal nobility weakened its aristocratic character.
Reason (R): Most Rajputs recruited belonged to hereditary ruling families.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) A is true, but R is false.
C) Both A and R are false.
D) A is false, but R is true.

26. Raja Man Singh and Raja Birbal were especially close to:
A) Shah Jahan
B) Babur
C) Jahangir
D) Akbar

27. Which social groups often worked in Mughal administration and rose through merit?
A) Kayasthas and Khatris
B) Jats and Ahoms
C) Rajputs and Marathas only
D) Siddis and Bohras

28. Under which rulers did the Mughal nobility witness significant stability?
A) Babur and Humayun
B) Akbar and Aurangzeb
C) Jahangir and Shah Jahan
D) Humayun and Akbar

29. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
B-) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
C-) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
D-) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4

30. The Mughal nobility attracted talented immigrants mainly due to:
A) Religious restrictions
B) Weak administration
C) Lack of opportunities abroad
D) High salaries and stable political conditions

31. The migration of talented people to Mughal India due to favorable conditions is often described as:
A) Reverse brain drain
B) Forced migration
C) Diaspora movement
D) Colonial migration

32. During the reigns of Jahangir and Shah Jahan, the majority of Mughal nobles were:
A) Central Asians
B) Indian-born
C) Europeans
D) Afghans only

33. Under Jahangir and Shah Jahan, the proportion of which groups in nobility increased?
A) Europeans and Parsis
B) Jats and Ahoms
C) Afghans, Hindustanis, and Hindus
D) Tribal chiefs only

34. Jahangir described the Marathas as the:
A) Defenders of Islam
B) Guardians of trade
C) Chiefs of the north
D) “Hub of affairs” in the Deccan

35. Assertion (A): Jahangir ignored the Marathas in Deccan politics.
Reason (R): He tried to win the Marathas over to his side.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) A is false, but R is true.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) Both A and R are false.

36. Shahji, father of Shivaji, initially served under:
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb

37. Under Shah Jahan, Hindus constituted approximately what percentage of nobility?
A) 10%
B) 16%
C) 24%
D) 33%

38. During the second half of Aurangzeb’s reign, Hindus formed approximately what percentage of Mughal nobility?
A) 16%
B) 24%
C) 28%
D) 33%

39. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
C-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
D-) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3

40. During Aurangzeb’s reign, the Marathas formed more than half of:
A) Muslim nobles
B) Afghan nobles
C) Foreign nobles
D) Hindu nobles

41. Mughal nobles maintained large numbers of:
A) Servants, horses, elephants, and attendants
B) Priests only
C) Artisans only
D) Soldiers without cavalry

42. A large haram among Mughal nobles was considered:
A) Illegal
B) Un-Islamic
C) Normal for men of status
D) Rare and discouraged

43. Mughal nobles often imitated the emperors by:
A) Living in forests
B) Maintaining ostentatious lifestyles
C) Becoming monks
D) Practicing austerity

44. According to accounts, approximately how many dishes were prepared for Akbar at one meal?
A) 20
B) 30
C) 35
D) 40

45. Assertion (A): Mughal nobles spent lavishly on imported fruits and luxury items.
Reason (R): Fruits were often imported from Samarqand and Bokhara.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) A is false, but R is true.

46. Which luxury item was commonly used by privileged classes throughout the year?
A) Silk
B) Ice
C) Sandalwood
D) Horses

47. Jahangir popularized which fashion among Mughal nobles?
A) Nose rings for men
B) Turbans with feathers
C) Men wearing jewels in pierced ears
D) Sword belts of gold

48. Mughal nobles were expected to present gifts to the emperor:
A) Once every decade
B) Monthly
C) Twice a year
D) Every week

49. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
B-) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
C-) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
D-) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

50. Mughal nobles invested in orchards and mandis mainly to:
A) Display political power
B) Support temples
C) Increase military strength
D) Generate rent and commercial income

51. Many Mughal nobles participated in trade:
A) Through partnerships with merchants
B) By abolishing markets
C) Only through temples
D) Without investment

52. The Mughal nobility supported artists, poets, and scholars, thereby promoting:
A) Monocultural traditions
B) Religious exclusivism
C) Composite and multifaceted culture
D) Tribal isolation

53. Though feudal in origin, Mughal nobility increasingly acquired features of:
A) Tribal confederacy
B) Merchant guilds
C) Bureaucracy
D) Priesthood

54. Which factor negatively affected Mughal nobility under Aurangzeb and successors?
A) Decline in agriculture only
B) European invasions only
C) Religious tolerance alone
D) Crisis of the jagirdari system

55. Assertion (A): Mughal nobility obstructed India’s economic development.
Reason (R): The Mughal state became increasingly commercial and financially oriented.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) A is false, but R is true.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) Both A and R are false.

56. In Mughal India, the right to own land was mainly determined by:
A) Military conquest only
B) Succession or heredity
C) Religious position
D) Imperial grants only

57. Those who first cultivated wastelands generally became:
A) Merchants
B) Soldiers
C) Owners of the land
D) Priests

58. The hereditary right of zamindars to collect land revenue was known as:
A) Jagir
B) Mansab
C) Talluqa or zamindari
D) Khalisa

59. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
B-) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
C-) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
D-) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4

60. Zamindars generally received what proportion of land revenue for collection?
A) 10%
B) 15%
C) 20%
D) Up to 25%

61. Zamindars generally maintained armed forces mainly for:
A) Collection of land revenue and protection
B) Maritime trade
C) Temple construction
D) Foreign diplomacy

62. Zamindars usually resided in:
A) Monasteries
B) Forts or garhis
C) Ports
D) Forest settlements

63. The social authority of zamindars rested significantly on:
A) Foreign alliances
B) Religious superiority only
C) Caste, clan, or tribal ties with peasants
D) Naval strength

64. According to medieval tradition, ownership of newly cultivated land belonged to:
A) The emperor automatically
B) Religious institutions
C) Provincial governors
D) Whoever first brought it under cultivation

65. Assertion (A): Peasants in medieval India could be arbitrarily evicted from land.
Reason (R): Peasants retained hereditary rights as long as land revenue was paid.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) A is true, but R is false.
C) A is false, but R is true.
D) Both A and R are false.

66. In medieval India, cultivable wasteland was generally known as:
A) Khalisa
B) Banjar
C) Jagir
D) Sawar

67. Above ordinary zamindars in rural hierarchy stood:
A) Priests
B) Merchants
C) Rajas
D) Artisans

68. Persian writers often referred to rajas as zamindars mainly to emphasize their:
A) Equality with emperors
B) Religious importance
C) Commercial role
D) Subordinate political status

69. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
C-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
D-) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

70. According to Ain-i-Akbari, zamindars collectively possessed how many sawars during Akbar’s reign?
A) 2,84,558
B) 3,24,558
C) 3,54,558
D) 3,84,558

71. According to Ain-i-Akbari, zamindars collectively had approximately how many foot soldiers?
A) 42,77,057
B) 32,77,057
C) 22,77,057
D) 12,77,057

72. Which of the following military resources did zamindars collectively maintain according to Ain-i-Akbari?
A) Warships only
B) Elephants and cannons
C) Foreign mercenaries only
D) Airborne divisions

73. Why could zamindars never mobilize their total military strength at one place?
A) Lack of soldiers
B) Mughal prohibition
C) Their forces were dispersed geographically
D) Economic bankruptcy

74. Zamindars were known by various regional names such as:
A) Qazi and Mufti
B) Mansabdar and Jagirdar
C) Vakil and Amir
D) Deshmukh and Patil

75. Assertion (A): Central authority found it easy to ignore zamindars.
Reason (R): Zamindars formed a large and powerful local class.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) A is false, but R is true.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) Both A and R are false.

76. The income of smaller zamindars was often:
A) Comparable to emperors
B) Similar to peasants
C) Higher than nobles
D) Based on maritime trade

77. Larger zamindars often enjoyed standards of living comparable to:
A) Village artisans
B) Monks
C) Petty rajas or nobles
D) Tribal chiefs only

78. Most zamindars lived primarily in:
A) Urban capitals
B) Fortified cities only
C) Countryside as local gentry
D) Coastal ports

79. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
C-) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
D-) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3

80. Zamindars were not merely exploiters because many had:
A) Foreign armies
B) Royal blood only
C) Close caste and kinship ties with cultivators
D) Religious monopolies

81. Many zamindars contributed to agricultural expansion by:
A) Establishing villages and cultivating wastelands
B) Destroying irrigation systems
C) Restricting peasant activity
D) Opposing cultivation

82. The Mughal nobility formed a composite ruling class despite divisions based on:
A) Language only
B) Occupation only
C) Ethnicity and religion
D) Agriculture only

83. Mughal nobles encouraged a multifaceted culture by patronizing:
A) Sailors only
B) Priests only
C) Painters, musicians, poets, and scholars
D) Farmers only

84. Which characteristic increasingly defined Mughal nobility over time?
A) Tribalism
B) Isolationism
C) Religious exclusiveness
D) Commercial and financial orientation

85. Assertion (A): Mughal nobility remained entirely feudal and non-bureaucratic.
Reason (R): It gradually developed several bureaucratic features.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) A is true, but R is false.
C) A is false, but R is true.
D) Both A and R are false.

86. Under Aurangzeb, tensions among nobles intensified mainly because of:
A) Agricultural prosperity only
B) Jagirdari crisis and factional rivalries
C) European education
D) Industrial decline

87. The Mughal nobility was primarily dependent upon which source of income?
A) Trade taxes only
B) Mining
C) Land revenue
D) Religious donations

88. Which Mughal emperor paid particular attention to orderly promotions in mansabdari?
A) Babur only
B) Akbar only
C) Jahangir and Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb only

89. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
C-) A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
D-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

90. The Mughal ruling class included nobles together with:
A) Merchants
B) Priests
C) Soldiers
D) Zamindars

91. Which Mughal emperor began the regular recruitment of Hindus into the nobility?
A) Akbar
B) Babur
C) Humayun
D) Jahangir

92. The majority of Hindus recruited into Mughal nobility under Akbar belonged to:
A) Marathas
B) Rajputs
C) Jats
D) Ahoms

93. Raja Man Singh was associated with which Mughal emperor?
A) Babur
B) Shah Jahan
C) Akbar
D) Aurangzeb

94. Raja Todar Mal is best remembered for reforms in:
A) Military organization
B) Religious policy
C) Architecture
D) Revenue administration

95. Assertion (A): Mughal nobility allowed avenues for upward mobility from lower social classes.
Reason (R): Kayasthas and Khatris entered imperial service and some became nobles.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) A is false, but R is true.

96. Which Mughal emperors developed rules for orderly promotions and discipline in mansabdari?
A) Jahangir and Shah Jahan
B) Babur and Humayun
C) Akbar and Aurangzeb
D) Humayun and Jahangir

97. Mughal nobles were attracted to India primarily because of:
A) Scarcity of resources elsewhere
B) High salaries and political stability
C) Religious coercion
D) Weak central authority

98. Talented immigrants in Mughal India usually:
A) Returned permanently to their homeland
B) Remained isolated from Indian society
C) Settled permanently and assimilated
D) Became zamindars only

99. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
C-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
D-) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

100. Which Mughal ruler first recognized the Marathas as the “hub of affairs” in the Deccan?
A) Akbar
B) Shah Jahan
C) Aurangzeb
D) Jahangir

101. Shahji, father of Shivaji, initially served under:
A) Shah Jahan
B) Akbar
C) Jahangir
D) Aurangzeb

102. Under Aurangzeb, the proportion of Hindu nobles increased to around:
A) 16%
B) 24%
C) 33%
D) 40%

103. During Aurangzeb’s reign, Marathas constituted:
A) Less than 10% of Hindu nobles
B) Around one-fourth of Hindu nobles
C) More than half of Hindu nobles
D) Nearly all Muslim nobles

104. Which Mughal nobles spent heavily on fruits imported from Samarqand and Bokhara?
A) Priests only
B) Zamindars only
C) Peasants
D) Mughal nobility

105. Assertion (A): Mughal nobles generally lived austere lives.
Reason (R): They often imitated the emperor’s luxurious lifestyle.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) A is false, but R is true.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) Both A and R are false.

106. Which luxury item was widely consumed throughout the year by privileged Mughal classes?
A) Silk carpets
B) Ice
C) Spices
D) Pearls

107. Jahangir popularized the custom of:
A) Turban jewels only for women
B) Wearing anklets by nobles
C) Men piercing ears and wearing jewels
D) Carrying gem-studded swords only

108. Mughal nobles generally presented gifts to the emperor:
A) Every month
B) Once every year
C) Every week
D) Twice annually

109. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
B-) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
C-) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
D-) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2

110. Many Mughal nobles invested in orchards and markets mainly to:
A) Spread religion
B) Support wars only
C) Avoid taxation
D) Earn rent and commercial profits

111. Mughal nobles often lent money to:
A) Traders at interest
B) Priests without repayment
C) Villagers for free
D) Foreign armies only

112. Mughal nobility promoted composite culture by patronizing:
A) Farmers and soldiers only
B) Foreign kings
C) Artists, scholars, and poets
D) Religious rebels only

113. Despite feudal origins, Mughal nobility increasingly resembled a:
A) Tribal confederation
B) Merchant guild
C) Bureaucratic institution
D) Religious order

114. The crisis that weakened Mughal nobility during Aurangzeb’s later reign involved:
A) Temple decline
B) Jagirdari system malfunctioning
C) Maritime failures
D) Currency abolition

115. Assertion (A): The Mughal state hindered India’s economic development.
Reason (R): Mughal nobles increasingly participated in trade and finance.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) A is true, but R is false.
C) A is false, but R is true.
D) Both A and R are false.

116. In medieval India, land ownership was mainly determined through:
A) Military conquest only
B) Religious sanction
C) Hereditary succession
D) Merchant purchase only

117. A person who first cultivated wasteland traditionally became:
A) Tenant farmer
B) Jagirdar
C) Owner of the land
D) Imperial officer

118. Zamindars collected revenue from villages through hereditary rights called:
A) Khalisa
B) Mansab
C) Sawar
D) Zamindari or talluqa

119. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
C-) A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
D-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

120. Zamindars received up to what proportion of land revenue for collection services?
A) 10%
B) 15%
C) 20%
D) 25%

121. Zamindars generally maintained armed retainers mainly for:
A) Revenue collection and local protection
B) Maritime trade
C) Temple administration
D) Diplomatic missions

122. Zamindars usually resided in:
A) Monasteries
B) Forts or garhis
C) Caravanserais
D) Imperial palaces

123. The authority of zamindars over peasants was strengthened by:
A) Foreign alliances
B) Religious monopoly
C) Clan, caste, and tribal ties
D) European military aid

124. According to medieval custom, wasteland brought under cultivation belonged to:
A) The emperor
B) The zamindar automatically
C) Provincial officials
D) The first cultivator

125. Assertion (A): Peasants in medieval India had hereditary rights over cultivated land.
Reason (R): They could not be evicted as long as land revenue was paid.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) A is false, but R is true.

126. Which term referred to cultivable wasteland in medieval India?
A) Banjar
B) Khalisa
C) Sawar
D) Kharif

127. Above ordinary zamindars in rural hierarchy stood:
A) Merchants
B) Qazis
C) Rajas
D) Mansabdars

128. Persian writers referred to rajas as zamindars mainly to stress their:
A) Economic superiority
B) Religious importance
C) Administrative independence
D) Subordinate political position

129. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
C-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
D-) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

130. According to Ain-i-Akbari, zamindars collectively possessed approximately how many elephants?
A) 863
B) 1,263
C) 1,863
D) 2,863

131. According to Ain-i-Akbari, zamindars maintained approximately how many cannons?
A) 4,260
B) 3,260
C) 2,260
D) 5,260

132. Why could zamindars not gather their full military force at one place?
A) Mughal restrictions
B) Lack of finance
C) Forces were geographically dispersed
D) Fear of rebellion

133. Zamindars across India were known by regional names such as:
A) Mansabdar and Jagirdar
B) Mufti and Qazi
C) Deshmukh and Patil
D) Vakil and Amir

134. Any strong central authority found it difficult to ignore zamindars because they were:
A) Weak military groups
B) Merchants only
C) Religious elites only
D) A large and powerful rural class

135. Assertion (A): Smaller zamindars often lived like peasants.
Reason (R): Their income was generally limited compared to nobles.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) A is false, but R is true.

136. Larger zamindars often enjoyed lifestyles comparable to:
A) Ordinary peasants
B) Petty rajas and nobles
C) Monks
D) Traders only

137. Most zamindars generally lived in:
A) Imperial capitals
B) Coastal regions
C) Rural countryside
D) Foreign settlements

138. Zamindars were not merely exploiters because many had:
A) Foreign military alliances
B) Urban business interests only
C) Royal ancestry
D) Close kinship ties with cultivators

139. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
C-) A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
D-) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

140. Zamindars contributed to agricultural expansion mainly by:
A) Destroying forests only
B) Restricting cultivation
C) Establishing villages and improving agriculture
D) Opposing peasant migration

141. The Mughal nobility represented a composite ruling class because it included:
A) Different ethnic, regional, and religious groups
B) Only foreign Muslims
C) Only Rajputs
D) Exclusively Persians

142. Mughal nobles promoted cultural diversity through patronage of:
A) Merchants only
B) Farmers only
C) Poets, painters, musicians, and scholars
D) Military chiefs only

143. Despite being feudal, Mughal nobility increasingly developed characteristics of a:
A) Tribal republic
B) Religious order
C) Bureaucracy
D) Village council

144. Mughal nobility also became increasingly:
A) Isolationist
B) Rural and agricultural only
C) Militarily weak
D) Commercial and financially minded

145. Assertion (A): Expansion of nobility strengthened discipline under Aurangzeb.
Reason (R): Jagirdari crisis weakened proper functioning of nobility.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) A is false, but R is true.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) Both A and R are false.

146. Which of the following weakened Mughal nobility under Aurangzeb and successors?
A) Agricultural growth
B) Trade prosperity
C) Crisis of jagirdari system
D) Stable succession

147. The Mughal state did not hinder economic development because nobles:
A) Avoided commerce completely
B) Discouraged agriculture
C) Invested in trade and financial activities
D) Opposed urbanization

148. Mughal nobles frequently participated in commerce:
A) Through naval expeditions
B) By monopolizing villages only
C) In partnership with traders
D) By abolishing mandis

149. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
C-) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
D-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4

150. Which institution was one of the two pillars sustaining the Mughal Empire for nearly 200 years?
A) Iqta System
B) Khalisa System
C) Zamindari System
D) Mansab System

151. Which Mughal emperor attempted to persuade Afghan nobles to join him after his conquest?
A) Babur
B) Humayun
C) Akbar
D) Jahangir

152. Why did Afghan nobles fail to remain loyal to Babur?
A) They lacked military power
B) They proved restless and defected
C) They refused jagirs
D) They opposed mansabdari

153. The Mughal rulers generally avoided:
A) Religious patronage
B) Administrative reforms
C) Narrow racial policies
D) Rajput alliances

154. Which category of Indian Muslims also entered Mughal nobility?
A) Rajputs
B) Kayasthas
C) Shaikhzadas (Hindustanis)
D) Marathas

155. Assertion (A): Mansabdars were directly subordinate to provincial governors.
Reason (R): The mansab system followed the principle of direct command under the emperor.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) A is false, but R is true.
C) A is true, but R is false.
D) Both A and R are false.

156. Which of the following functions was performed by the ‘zat’ rank?
A) Determining cavalry contingents
B) Determining hierarchy and personal pay
C) Supervising zamindars
D) Managing jagirs only

157. The ‘sawar’ rank primarily determined:
A) Religious authority
B) Personal prestige only
C) Military obligations and contingents
D) Judicial responsibilities

158. Akbar’s policy of recruiting Rajputs into nobility mainly strengthened:
A) Sectarian divisions
B) Mughal isolation
C) Merchant dominance
D) Aristocratic integration of ruling elites

159. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
C-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
D-) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

160. Under Mughal administration, mansabdars were expected to maintain:
A) Religious institutions
B) Commercial guilds
C) Contingents of horses and equipment
D) Irrigation tanks only

161. Which Mughal emperor’s reign saw increasing recruitment of Afghans in nobility?
A) Jahangir
B) Babur
C) Humayun
D) Akbar

162. Which of the following was a major source of Mughal nobles’ expenditure?
A) Universities only
B) Servants, stables, and luxury lifestyle
C) Agricultural taxation only
D) Religious pilgrimage only

163. Mughal nobles often used jewelry partly as:
A) Religious offerings
B) Diplomatic gifts only
C) Emergency reserve wealth
D) Military decoration only

164. Which Mughal emperor paid careful attention to discipline and promotion within mansabdari?
A) Babur only
B) Akbar only
C) Aurangzeb only
D) Jahangir and Shah Jahan

165. Assertion (A): Zamindars necessarily owned all lands from which they collected revenue.
Reason (R): Zamindars often held only hereditary rights to collect revenue.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) A is true, but R is false.
C) A is false, but R is true.
D) Both A and R are false.

166. Zamindars received a share of revenue mainly in return for:
A) Religious leadership
B) Military campaigns abroad
C) Collecting land revenue
D) Conducting trade

167. Which text provides detailed figures about zamindars’ military strength during Akbar’s reign?
A) Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri
B) Akbarnama
C) Ain-i-Akbari
D) Humayun Nama

168. The Mughal nobility contributed to India’s economy indirectly through:
A) Avoiding trade entirely
B) Destroying local markets
C) Investment in orchards, mandis, and trade
D) Rejecting commercial partnerships

169. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B-) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
C-) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
D-) A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2

170. Which of the following best describes the Mughal ruling class?
A) Exclusively military and foreign
B) Purely hereditary aristocracy
C) Entirely religious in nature
D) Composite, bureaucratic-feudal, and economically influential