Q30. The Battle of Chausa, fought on 26 June 1539, was a military engagement between which of the following?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I – 20 June 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Humayun and Sher Shah Suri
(B) Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh
(C) Babur and Ibrahim Lodi
(D) Akbar and Hemu
Answer: (A) Humayun and Sher Shah Suri
Explanation: The Battle of Chausa took place near Buxar in 1539. Sher Shah defeated Humayun decisively, weakening Mughal authority and strengthening the Afghan leader’s position in northern India.
Q29. At which place did Sher Shah first defeat Humayun in 1539?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I – 17 June 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Gwalior
(B) Chausa
(C) Kannauj
(D) Panipat
Answer: (B) Chausa
Explanation: Sher Shah defeated Humayun at Chausa near Buxar on 26 June 1539. This victory significantly strengthened Afghan power and preceded Humayun’s final defeat at Kannauj in 1540.
Q28. The Mughal Empire during Akbar’s early teenage rule (1556–1560) was directed by which regent following Humayun’s death?
[DSSSB PRT – 10 April 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Abul Fazl
(B) Munim Khan
(C) Mirza Hakim
(D) Bairam Khan
Answer: (D) Bairam Khan
Explanation: Humayun died in 1556, leaving his son Akbar a minor. Bairam Khan acted as regent and military guardian, protecting Mughal interests during the empire’s vulnerable political transition.
Q27. Which tomb in Delhi provided refuge to Bahadur Shah Zafar and members of the Mughal royal family during the Revolt of 1857?
[DSSSB PRT – 16 February 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq’s Tomb
(B) Humayun’s Tomb
(C) Sikandar Lodi’s Tomb
(D) Safdarjung’s Tomb
Answer: (B) Humayun’s Tomb
Explanation: After British forces captured Delhi in September 1857, Bahadur Shah Zafar sought refuge at Humayun’s Tomb. British officer William Hodson arrested the last Mughal emperor there.
Q26. ‘Purana Qila’ is situated in which of the following places?
[SSC MTS 2025 – Held on 11 February 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Delhi
(B) Jharkhand
(C) Haryana
(D) Jammu and Kashmir
Answer: (A) Delhi
Explanation: Purana Qila stands in Delhi. Humayun established his Dinpanah settlement in this area, while Sher Shah Suri subsequently occupied the site and constructed important buildings within its fortifications.
Q25. Who built ‘Dinpanah’ on the mound traditionally associated with ancient Indraprastha?
[SSC MTS 2025 – Held on 6 February 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Bakhtiyar Khilji
(B) Akbar
(C) Humayun
(D) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
Answer: (C) Humayun
Explanation: Humayun began establishing Dinpanah around 1533 in Delhi. The name means Refuge of the Faith. This royal settlement became closely associated with the present-day Purana Qila complex.
Q24. Which of the following monuments is located in Delhi?
[SSC MTS 2025 – Held on 5 February 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Humayun’s Tomb
(B) Charminar
(C) Victoria Memorial
(D) Gateway of India
Answer: (A) Humayun’s Tomb
Explanation: Humayun’s Tomb is situated in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi. Commissioned by his widow Bega Begum, it represents an important early example of Mughal garden-tomb architecture.
Q23. Match the following Mughal emperors with the cities where their tombs are located: A. Babur, B. Humayun, C. Jahangir, D. Shah Jahan; 1. Agra, 2. Lahore, 3. Delhi, 4. Kabul.
[UPPSC PCS Prelims – 2025]
(A) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
(B) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
(C) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
(D) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
Answer: (A) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
Explanation: Babur’s tomb is in Kabul, Humayun’s in Delhi, Jahangir’s in Lahore and Shah Jahan’s in Agra. These burial places reflect the geographical reach of the Mughal dynasty.
Q22. Arrange the following battles chronologically: 1. Battle of Kannauj, 2. Battle of Daurah, 3. Battle of Samugarh, 4. Battle of Chausa.
[UPPSC PCS Prelims – 2025]
(A) 2, 4, 3, 1
(B) 4, 2, 1, 3
(C) 4, 2, 3, 1
(D) 2, 4, 1, 3
Answer: (D) 2, 4, 1, 3
Explanation: Daurah occurred in the early 1530s, followed by Chausa in 1539 and Kannauj in 1540. Samugarh occurred much later, in 1658, during Shah Jahan’s succession struggle.
Q21. The architectural design of the Taj Mahal was influenced by which famous monument?
[SSC CGL – 25 September 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Humayun’s Tomb
(B) Jama Masjid
(C) Victoria Memorial
(D) Qutub Minar
Answer: (A) Humayun’s Tomb
Explanation: Humayun’s Tomb established influential features of Mughal funerary architecture, including symmetrical gardens and a monumental dome. These architectural traditions were developed further in Shah Jahan’s Taj Mahal.
Q20. What position did Hindu Beg hold during Humayun’s reign?
[SSC CGL – 18 September 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Rajput chief
(B) Court scholar
(C) Provincial governor
(D) Spiritual guide
Answer: (C) Provincial governor
Explanation: Hindu Beg served Humayun in provincial administration. Provincial governors exercised authority over assigned territories, including maintaining security, supervising administrative arrangements and assisting the imperial government in territorial management.
Q19. After defeating the Mughal emperor Humayun, who declared himself ruler and established the Second Afghan Empire?
[SSC CGL – 17 September 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Humayun
(B) Sher Shah Suri
(C) Bahlul Lodi
(D) Sikandar Lodi
Answer: (B) Sher Shah Suri
Explanation: Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun at Chausa in 1539 and Kannauj in 1540. He established the Sur Empire, introducing significant administrative, currency and land-revenue reforms.
Q18. Which Mughal emperor was particularly associated with promoting Persian art and literature in India?
[SSC Stenographer – 8 August 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Humayun
(B) Shah Jahan
(C) Akbar
(D) Jahangir
Answer: (A) Humayun
Explanation: Humayun developed an appreciation for Persian culture during his exile at the Safavid court. He subsequently patronised Persian artists and scholars, influencing the emerging Mughal artistic tradition.
Q17. According to ‘Rao-Jetsi-Ro-Chhanda’, who was defeated by Rao Jaitsi, the ruler of Bikaner?
[RPSC RAS Prelims – 2 February 2025]
(A) Humayun
(B) Kamran
(C) Sher Shah
(D) Akbar
Answer: (B) Kamran
Explanation: Rao Jaitsi of Bikaner resisted Kamran Mirza, Humayun’s brother. The episode illustrates regional opposition to early Mughal expansion and the independent military power exercised by Rajput rulers.
Q16. Who ruled Gujarat when Humayun attacked the kingdom during his early reign?
[RRB JE CBT-I – 17 December 2024, Shift 3]
(A) Bahadur Shah
(B) Sikandar Shah
(C) Muzaffar Shah II
(D) Zafar Khan Muzaffar
Answer: (A) Bahadur Shah
Explanation: Bahadur Shah ruled Gujarat from 1526 to 1537. His expansion into neighbouring territories brought him into conflict with Humayun, whose Gujarat campaign intensified during the mid-1530s.
Q15. Who constructed the famous Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque within Delhi’s Purana Qila?
[SSC MTS – 16 October 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Sher Shah
(B) Alauddin Khalji
(C) Akbar
(D) Humayun
Answer: (A) Sher Shah
Explanation: Sher Shah Suri constructed the Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque around 1541 inside Purana Qila. The structure demonstrates refined Indo-Islamic architectural features developed during the Sur dynasty’s rule.
Q14. According to the Timurid tradition of sharing power, which territories were controlled by Humayun’s brother Kamran Mirza?
[SSC CGL Tier-I – 19 September 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Afghanistan and Punjab
(B) Deccan
(C) Gujarat and Rajasthan
(D) Bengal and Bihar
Answer: (A) Afghanistan and Punjab
Explanation: Kamran Mirza controlled territories around Kabul, Kandahar and Punjab. His authority over these strategically important regions complicated Humayun’s military position and contributed to rivalry among Babur’s sons.
Q13. Who succeeded Mughal emperor Babur after his death in 1530?
[SSC CGL Tier-I – 17 September 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Shah Jahan
(B) Humayun
(C) Jahangir
(D) Aurangzeb
Answer: (B) Humayun
Explanation: Humayun succeeded his father Babur in December 1530 as the second Mughal emperor. His reign faced Afghan resistance, rivalry among his brothers and temporary displacement by Sher Shah.
Q12. After Humayun’s death, the young Akbar was crowned in 1556 at Kalanaur, located in which present-day Indian state?
[SSC CGL Tier-I – 10 September 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Gujarat
(C) West Bengal
(D) Punjab
Answer: (D) Punjab
Explanation: Akbar was proclaimed emperor at Kalanaur in Punjab after Humayun’s death in 1556. Bairam Khan supervised the succession and subsequently served as regent during Akbar’s minority.
Q11. In which year did Humayun re-establish Mughal rule in India?
[OSSC TGT – 11 March 2023, Shift 3]
(A) 1560
(B) 1550
(C) 1555
(D) 1595
Answer: (C) 1555
Explanation: Humayun recovered Delhi in 1555 after defeating the forces of Sikandar Suri. His restoration ended the interruption of Mughal rule, although he died the following year.
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.