RAS question
The correct chronological order of the first six Mughal Emperors is:
Correct answer: (D) Babur → Humayun → Akbar → Jahangir → Shah Jahan → Aurangzeb.
The first six Mughal emperors, in chronological order, were Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.
Explanation
The sequence is fixed by the early Mughal timeline: Babur became the first Mughal emperor after defeating Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat in 1526, followed by Humayun, whose rule had a first phase from 1530 to 1540 and a brief restoration in 1555-56. Akbar then ruled from 1556 to 1605, Jahangir from 1605 to 1627, Shah Jahan from 1628 to 1658 and Aurangzeb from 1658 to 1707. This matches the standard order of the first six 'Great Mughals'. After Aurangzeb, the empire moved into the phase usually described as that of the Later Mughals, when its decline accelerated.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) This option places Shah Jahan before Jahangir, but the timeline has Jahangir's reign in 1605-27 and Shah Jahan's in 1628-58.
- (B) This option moves Jahangir ahead of Akbar, whereas Akbar ruled from 1556 to 1605 and Jahangir followed from 1605 to 1627.
- (C) This option places Akbar before Humayun, but Humayun's reign began in 1530 and Akbar's began only in 1556.
Concept
This tests basic Mughal chronology within medieval Indian history. RAS repeatedly uses such order-based questions because reign sequences anchor later topics such as administration, culture, succession and imperial decline.