Q. Consider the following pairs of early Later Mughal Emperors and their significant political actions/events: EmperorSignificant Action/Event
1. Bahadur Shah IReleased Shahu, the son of Shambhaji, from Mughal captivity, initiating the Maratha civil war.
2. Jahandar ShahIntroduced the detested practice of Ijarah (revenue farming) on a large scale to raise quick revenue.
3. Farrukh SiyarIssued a Farman in 1717 CE, granting the British East India Company duty-free trading privileges in Bengal.
4. Rafi-us-DarajatThe first Mughal Emperor to rule with the effective control and king-making authority of the Sayyid Brothers.
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Answer: D
Notes:
Explanation:
- Pair 1: Correct. Bahadur Shah I (1707–1712 CE) released Shahu in 1707, a pragmatic move that immediately ignited a succession struggle within the Marathas (Shahu vs. Tarabai), which diverted Maratha attention from the Mughal Empire.
- Pair 2: Correct. Jahandar Shah (1712–1713 CE), under the influence of his Wazir Zulfiqar Khan, legalized Ijarah (revenue farming) to address the immediate financial crunch, which severely damaged the long-term agrarian health of the empire.
- Pair 3: Correct. Farrukh Siyar (1713–1719 CE) issued the famous Farman that became known as the Magna Carta of the Company, providing trading concessions that undermined Bengal’s economy and contributed to the Company’s later political power.
- Pair 4: Correct. Rafi-us-Darajat (1719 CE) was one of the two short-reigning emperors elevated by the powerful Sayyid Brothers (“King Makers”).
