Mughal Rule

* The ruler of medieval Gujarat who surrendered Diu to the Portuguese was Sultan Bahadur Shah. Diu was an important port city strategically located on the western coast of India, and its surrender to the Portuguese in 1535 marked a significant event in the history of Portuguese colonial expansion in India.

* This was done to seek Portuguese military assistance against his rival Humayun, the Mughal emperor. As a result, the Portuguese established a strong foothold in Diu, turning it into a significant strategic and trading post.

The correct sequence in ascending order of size for administrative divisions in medieval India is

1. Pargana 2. Sarkar 3. Suba

Pargana: The smallest unit was the Pargana, which typically comprised a group of villages. It was the most basic level of administration. Sarkar: A group of Parganas formed a Sarkar, which can be understood as a district or province. Suba: The largest administrative division was the Suba, which encompassed several Sarkars. It was equivalent to a modern-day state or province.

The phrase that best defines the nature of the Hundi generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period is: A bill of exchange.

Hundi as a Financial Instrument: Hundis were instruments used in trade and credit transactions during the medieval period in India.

Functions of a Bill of Exchange: A bill of exchange is a written order issued by one person (drawer) to another (drawee) to pay a specified sum of money to a third party (payee) at a future date. This aligns with the functionality of a Hundi.

Merchants used Hundis to facilitate trade by

- Securing Payments: They could issue a Hundi to the seller upon receiving goods, instructing their bank or agent (drawee) at the seller's location to pay the specified amount. - Obtaining Credit: Merchants could also use Hundis to obtain credit. They could draw a Hundi against future earnings and have it discounted by a money lender for immediate cash.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Jagirdars were Mughal officers (Mansabdars) who were assigned land (Jagirs) in lieu of cash salaries for their administrative and military services. Zamindars were local landed intermediaries who held hereditary rights to collect revenue; however, they were not limited to revenue collection and were often required to perform military duties and provide 'Khidmat' (service), such as supplying troops to the state.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: Jagir assignments were generally non-hereditary and Jagirdars were frequently transferred from one region to another to prevent them from becoming too powerful locally. Conversely, the rights of Zamindars were typically hereditary and based on their historical and social standing in the rural structure.

* Tansen was the title given by Raja Vikramjit of Gwalior. Tansen was a court musician in the darbar of Raja Ramachandra of Bandhavgarh. Thus, option 'A' is not correct.

* Dhrupad Compositions: Tansen is credited with composing Dhrupad, a classical Indian vocal form, and some of these compositions might have been dedicated to Hindu deities.

* Songs for Patrons: As a court musician, it was common for Tansen to compose songs in praise of his patrons, including Emperor Akbar.

* Invention of Ragas: While the exact number of Ragas invented by Tansen is debatable, he is credited with innovating and popularising several Ragas in Hindustani classical music.

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a French traveller and gem merchant, extensively documented his travels to India in the 17th century. He wrote about various aspects of Indian society, culture, and economy, including detailed descriptions of diamond mines and the diamond trade in India. Tavernier's writings provided valuable insights into the diamond industry of India during his time.

Francois Bernier (1625–1688): A French physician and traveler who visited India during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb

Jean de Thévenot (1633–1667): A French traveler who visited India in the 17th century.

Abbe Barthelemy Carre (17th Century): A French traveler and envoy who visited India in the late 17th century.


Araghatta, also known as the 'Persian wheel' or 'Norias', was a device used in medieval India for lifting water from wells or rivers for irrigation purposes.

It typically consisted of a large wheel fitted with pots or buckets along its circumference. As the wheel rotated, the pots would fill with water from a water source and then empty into a trough, channel, or aqueduct for distribution to fields or other areas requiring irrigation.


Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally traders.

They were nomadic communities known for transporting goods like salt, grain, cattle, and other necessities across long distances using bullock caravans called tandas. They played a crucial role in facilitating trade and commerce within the Indian subcontinent.

The question refers to the historical impact of Babur's arrival in India in 1526.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Gunpowder was not introduced by Babur. It was known in India as early as the mid-14th century. It was used in warfare by the Delhi Sultanate and later by the Bahmani and Vijayanagara kingdoms in the Deccan. Babur's contribution was the introduction of superior gunpowder technology, specifically mobile artillery and the 'Rumi' method of deployment, but not the substance itself.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The arch and dome were introduced to the Indian subcontinent by the Turks during the Delhi Sultanate period (13th century), long before Babur. Examples include the Alai Darwaza and the tombs of the Lodi era. Babur's arrival influenced later Mughal architecture, but the fundamental concepts of the arch and dome were already established.

Statement 3 is correct: Babur was a direct descendant of Timur (Tamerlane) on his father's side. His victory at the First Battle of Panipat (1526) against Ibrahim Lodi led to the establishment of the Mughal Empire, which the Mughals themselves referred to as the Timurid dynasty (Gurkani).

In medieval India, the designations 'Mahattara' and 'Pattakila' were used for village headmen.

Mahattara: The superior headman of the village, responsible for administration and revenue collection.

Pattakila: The subordinate headman of the village, assisting the Mahattara in his duties.