Question map
Not attempted
Correct
Incorrect
★
Bookmarked
Loading…
Q70
(IAS/1998)
History & Culture › Medieval India › Mughal expansion and wars
Answer Verified
The loss of Qandhar was a big blow to the Mughal empire from the view point of
Result
Your answer:
—
·
Correct:
D
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 4: strategic stronghold.
The loss of Qandhar in 1649 during Shah Jahan’s reign was a major geopolitical setback for the Mughal Empire for the following reasons:
- Strategic Location: Qandhar was the gateway to India. It served as a vital military outpost protecting the empire from invasions via the Persian Safavid Empire.
- Geopolitical Prestige: Controlling Qandhar allowed the Mughals to project power into Central Asia. Its loss signaled a decline in Mughal military superiority and emboldened frontier tribes.
- Defense Depth: While it acted as a buffer, its primary value was as a strategic stronghold—a fortified base for launching or repelling military campaigns.
While options like "buffer territory" are relevant, they are subsets of the larger strategic importance. Qandhar lacked significant "natural resources" compared to the Indo-Gangetic plains, and while "communication" was important, the fort's primary utility was defense and surveillance, making strategic stronghold the most comprehensive and accurate description in a UPSC context.
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option.
Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
56%
got it right
✓ Thank you! We'll review this.