UPSC Mains Daily Questions » Daily Answer Writing Challenge-7th October

Daily Answer Writing Challenge-7th October

Q1. The state of the Indian economy and foreign incursions may have contributed to the decline of  the Mughal empire. Elucidate. (250 words, 15 Marks) 

Approach: 

  • Introduction: Give a brief introduction to the beginning of the decline of the Mughal  Empire. 
  • Body:  
    • Mention the economic reasons for the decline of the Mughal Empire. 
    • Highlight the foreign incursions which led to the end of the Mughal Regime.
  • Conclusion: Conclude suitably. 

Answer: 

Strong emperors and effective leadership are essential for an empire’s strength and stability.  Following Aurangzeb’s leadership, the Mughal empire, which had peaked during the rule of Shah  Jahan, quickly started to crumble. The downfall had started in Aurangzeb’s final days.  

Economic Reasons for Decline: 

  • The Jagirdari Crisis was one of the major economic reasons for the decline of the Mughal  Empire. The Mansabdari system was introduced within military and civil organisations by Akbar,  to accommodate the aristocracy.  
    • Akbar appointed Jagirdars who were the reason for the serious shortage of “paribaqi” land  and decrease in resources.  
    • This also affected four-fifths of the “land revenue” of the Mughal Empire.  
  • Another economic reason for the decline was Shah Jahan’s construction zeal which had almost  depleted the empire.  
  • The long wars between Aurangzeb and Shah Jahan had further drained “the exchequer”.  
  • The faulty policies of Aurangzeb eventually led to the downfall of the kingdom and the incapable  future successors (War of Succession) of the empire led to the economic reason for the decline  of the Mughal Empire.  

Foreign Incursions: 

  • The Islamic ruler of Persia was Nadir Shah, who was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty,  attacked Delhi in 1739 and committed atrocities far and wide. Then the weak Mughal regime  had to hand over the whole of Afghanistan to him.   
    • In the Battle of Karnal, the Mughals suffered defeat as well.  
  • Ahmad Shah Abdali (ruler of Afghanistan) repeatedly invaded and plundered northern India  right down to Delhi and Mathura between 1748 and 1767. In 1761, Abdali defeated the Maratha  in the Third Battle of Panipat as well. 
  • An impoverished, and weakened Mughal regime then became an easy target for the British.   
    • After a crushing defeat in the war of 1857–1858 which was led by the last Mughal, Bahadur  Shah Zafar, he was deposed by the British East India Company and exiled in 1858.

The decline of the Mughal empire gave rise to the emergence of a number of independent  kingdoms in different parts of the country. Simultaneously the English East India Company steered  its dominance in India.