Previous Year Question

The Red Fort of Delhi was constructed not during Akbar's reign but during the reign of Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan established his new capital, Shahjahanabad, and constructed the Red Fort as its imperial palace-fort.

The Red Fort was constructed in the 17th century under Shah Jahan. Therefore, its construction does not belong to Akbar's reign of 1556–1605 CE.

Agra Fort was one of Akbar's major building projects. Akbar reconstructed and fortified the earlier Badalgarh fort, and from approximately 1565 CE a massive red-sandstone fortress was developed. Shah Jahan subsequently added several marble buildings inside it.

Allahabad Fort was also constructed by Akbar. It was built in 1583 CE on the bank of the Yamuna close to the Sangam. Its location was of considerable strategic and administrative importance.

Lahore Fort had existed in one form or another before Akbar, so an important historical qualification is necessary. The major Mughal reconstruction of the present fort was undertaken by Akbar around 1566 CE in burnt-brick masonry on the earlier foundations, and he expanded the complex. Therefore, in the examination context, Lahore Fort is treated as an Akbar-period construction.

Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb subsequently added numerous buildings and gateways to Lahore Fort. Its present form is therefore not exclusively Akbar-period, but its major Mughal reconstruction is associated with Akbar.