Q10. In 1532, whom did Humayun defeat in the Battle of Dauraha?
[MPPSC Assistant Professor – 2022, History Paper II]
(A) Rajputs
(B) Afghans
(C) Bundelas
(D) Mohammad Khan
Answer: (B) Afghans
Explanation: Humayun defeated Afghan forces at Dauraha during the early years of his reign. The victory temporarily strengthened his authority but failed to eliminate subsequent Afghan challenges to Mughal power.
Q9. Who commissioned Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi?
[WBCS Mains 2021 – Held in May 2022, Paper IV]
(A) Akbar
(B) Jahangir
(C) Haji Begum
(D) Humayun
Answer: (C) Haji Begum
Explanation: Bega Begum, also known as Haji Begum, commissioned Humayun’s Tomb after his death. Built during Akbar’s reign, the mausoleum became a landmark of early Mughal architecture.
Q8. Which one of the following painters was NOT associated with Humayun’s court?
[UPSC CDS – 7 February 2021, General Knowledge]
(A) Mir Sayyid Ali
(B) Maulana Dost Musawir
(C) Maulana Yosuf
(D) Bihzad
Answer: (D) Bihzad
Explanation: Bihzad was a celebrated Persian miniature painter associated with the Timurid and Safavid traditions, rather than Humayun’s court. Humayun notably patronised painters such as Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad.
Q7. Who wrote the historical work ‘Humayun-Nama’?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I – 29 December 2020, Shift 2]
(A) Gulbadan Begum
(B) Babur
(C) Nur Jahan
(D) Akbar
Answer: (A) Gulbadan Begum
Explanation: Gulbadan Begum, Babur’s daughter and Humayun’s sister, wrote the Humayun-Nama in Persian. The memoir provides valuable firsthand observations of Mughal family relationships, court life and political struggles.
Q6. Which Mughal emperor shifted artistic emphasis from illustrated manuscripts towards individual portraits and albums?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2019, General Studies Paper I]
(A) Humayun
(B) Akbar
(C) Jahangir
(D) Shah Jahan
Answer: (C) Jahangir
Explanation: Humayun introduced important Persian painting influences, while Akbar encouraged large illustrated manuscripts. Jahangir subsequently placed greater emphasis on individual portraits, naturalistic studies and carefully assembled painting albums.
Q5. Hamida Banu Begum, the wife of Humayun, was the mother of which Mughal emperor?
[RRB Group D – 22 September 2018, Shift 2]
(A) Emperor Humayun
(B) Emperor Jahangir
(C) Emperor Akbar
(D) Emperor Babur
Answer: (C) Emperor Akbar
Explanation: Hamida Banu Begum married Humayun in 1541. Their son Akbar was born at Amarkot in 1542 during Humayun’s period of displacement following his defeat by Sher Shah.
Q4. Who among the following was the author of ‘Humayun-Nama’?
[UPSC NDA-I – 22 April 2018, General Ability Test]
(A) Roshanara Begum
(B) Ruqaiya Sultan Begum
(C) Gulbadan Begum
(D) Gauhara Begum
Answer: (C) Gulbadan Begum
Explanation: Gulbadan Begum composed the Humayun-Nama at Akbar’s request. Her account describes Humayun’s life, exile and family experiences, offering an important female perspective on early Mughal history.
Q3. Which Mughal emperor is credited with initiating the Mughal style of painting?
[SSC CHSL – 11 March 2018, Shift 2]
(A) Babur
(B) Humayun
(C) Akbar
(D) Jahangir
Answer: (B) Humayun
Explanation: Humayun encouraged the emerging Mughal painting tradition through Persian artists such as Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad. Their artistic methods were developed further under his successor Akbar.
Q2. Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad were court painters during the reigns of which Mughal emperors?
[RPSC Senior Teacher Grade II, Social Science – 2 July 2017]
(A) Babur and Humayun
(B) Humayun and Akbar
(C) Akbar and Jahangir
(D) Jahangir and Shah Jahan
Answer: (B) Humayun and Akbar
Explanation: Humayun patronised these Persian-trained artists after his exile. Their work continued under Akbar, helping establish the imperial Mughal painting workshop and its distinctive Indo-Persian artistic tradition.
Q1. Which of the following pairs of historical battles and their years is correctly matched?
[CGPSC Prelims – 2016, General Studies]
(A) Battle of Chausa – 1538
(B) Battle of Kannauj – 1539
(C) Battle of Haldighati – 1576
(D) Battle of Khajwa – 1657
(E) Battle of Khed – 1699
Answer: (C) Battle of Haldighati – 1576
Explanation: Haldighati occurred in 1576. Humayun’s defeats at Chausa and Kannauj occurred in 1539 and 1540 respectively. Khajwa was fought in 1659 and Khed in 1707.
