Previous Year Question

(a) Babur — Battle of Khanwa — Correctly matched.
The Battle of Khanwa was fought in 1527 CE between Babur and the Rajput power led by Rana Sanga of Mewar. Khanwa was located near Fatehpur Sikri.

After the First Battle of Panipat, Babur had acquired Delhi and Agra, but Rana Sanga remained a major challenge to his authority. At Khanwa, Babur's army effectively used artillery, firearms and tactics such as Tulughma and defeated Rana Sanga's forces. NIOS records the battle at Khanwa near Fatehpur Sikri in 1527 and Babur's victory.

(b) Humayun — Battle of Chausa — Correctly matched.
The Battle of Chausa was fought in 1539 CE between Humayun and Sher Khan, later known as Sher Shah Suri. Humayun suffered a serious defeat.

Following his victory at Chausa, Sher Khan's political position became extremely strong and he assumed the royal title Sher Shah. In the following year, 1540 CE, he again defeated Humayun at Kannauj or Bilgram, after which Humayun was forced out of India. Archaeological Survey-related historical material explicitly records Sher Khan's defeat of Humayun at Chausa in 1539.

(c) Akbar — Battle of Haldighati — Correctly matched.
The Battle of Haldighati was fought in June 1576 CE during the reign of Akbar. It was fought between Maharana Pratap of Mewar and the Mughal army. NIOS identifies Haldighati as a major battle fought during Akbar's rule in June 1576.

An important factual point is that Akbar himself was not personally present on the battlefield at Haldighati. The Mughal army was commanded by Raja Man Singh Kachhwaha. Thus, the pairing “Akbar — Haldighati” is correct in terms of his reign and the Mughal side, not because Akbar personally led the battle.

(d) Jahangir — Battle of Balkh — Not correctly matched.
The major Mughal campaign connected with Balkh occurred not during Jahangir's reign but during the reign of Shah Jahan.

Seeking to establish control over Balkh and Badakhshan in Central Asia, Shah Jahan launched the Balkh campaign in 1646 CE. The initial expedition involved Prince Murad Bakhsh and Ali Mardan Khan, and Mughal forces entered Balkh. IGNOU records Shah Jahan's decision to seize Balkh and the Mughal occupation of the city in 1646.

Subsequently, in 1647 CE, Aurangzeb was sent to command the Mughal forces in the Balkh region. The campaign proved extremely difficult, and the Mughals ultimately withdrew. Archaeological Survey-related material records Aurangzeb's Central Asian campaign to Balkh in 1647 under Shah Jahan.

Therefore, the Balkh campaign is associated with the reign of Shah Jahan and the participation of his sons Murad Bakhsh and Aurangzeb, not with Jahangir.