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REET L2 · Social Studies

Mughal-Rajput Relations — REET Notes (Social Studies)

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Mughal-Rajput relations are not just a story of wars — they are equally a story of alliance, resistance and cultural exchange: some Rajput houses formed marriage ties with the Mughals, while Mewar kept up its resistance for a long stretch of time. Alongside Akbar's policies, REET also asks fine-grained cultural terms tied to Mughal-era dress, science and art.

  • 3 questions in REET 2024
  • Class 7–8 level
  • 10 min read
Verified 17 September 2026 · Source: Wikipedia — Siege of Chittorgarh (1567–1568)

How REET asks this topic

REET 2024 asked about Akbar's 'Sulh-i-Kul' policy alongside fine cultural details such as the Mughal-era astronomy text 'Zij-i-Shah Jahani' and the names of garments prevalent in Rajasthani courts (Masru, Mir-e-Badla, Naurangshahi). In other words, this topic is not confined to political relations alone — Mughal-Rajput cultural exchange (dress, science, art) deserves just as much attention. Notably, not one of the three questions was a simple date-recall question — every question turned on correctly identifying a word or a policy, which means a solid grasp of definitions and vocabulary pays off here more than rote memorisation of dates.

Akbar's Rajput policy

Marriage alliance
In 1562, Raja Bharmal of Amer married his daughter to Akbar — this was the first major Mughal-Rajput marriage alliance.
High office
Rajput nobles such as Man Singh (Amer) and Bhagwan Das were given high mansabs and military posts at the Mughal court, and went on to lead important Mughal military campaigns.
Abolition of taxes
Akbar abolished the pilgrimage tax in 1563 and the jizya tax in 1564.
Sulh-i-Kul
A policy meaning 'universal peace' or 'tolerance for all' — based on treating all religions equally; Abul Fazl described it as the foundation of Akbar's approach to governance.
Ibadat Khana
Established in 1575 at Fatehpur Sikri, where scholars of different religions debated with one another; this in turn led Akbar to launch a new creed called 'Din-i-Ilahi' in 1582.

Mewar's resistance: why the exception?

Rana Udai Singh II
Founded the city of Udaipur in 1559; in 1567–68 Akbar laid siege to Chittor fort and conquered it.
Maharana Pratap
Udai Singh's son; took the throne of Mewar in 1572 and refused to accept Akbar's overlordship; fought the Battle of Haldighati in 1576.
Amar Singh I
Pratap's son; made peace with Jahangir in 1615 through the Mughal prince Khurram (later Shah Jahan) — this was Mewar's first formal settlement, but it too did not include a marriage alliance, which marks out Mewar's distinct position among the Rajput states.

Mughal-Rajput cultural exchange

AreaExample
DressMasru (a silk-and-cotton blended fabric), Mir-e-Badla and Naurangshahi — women's garments prevalent in Rajasthani courts
PaintingThe influence of Mughal miniature painting shaped the development of Rajput painting styles such as Mewar, Bundi and Kishangarh
ArchitectureA blend of Mughal-Persian domes, arches and garden-layouts is visible in Rajput forts and palaces
ScienceThe 'Zij-i-Shah Jahani' (a book of astronomical tables) was compiled during Shah Jahan's reign

The Jahangir-Shah Jahan era: continuity of cooperation

Through the reigns of Jahangir and Shah Jahan, the Mughal alliance with most Rajput states (Amer, Marwar, Bikaner) continued, and Rajput nobles remained in high positions within the Mughal army and administration. This period also saw science and art receive patronage at the Mughal court — for instance, astronomers under Shah Jahan compiled the 'Zij-i-Shah Jahani', a book of astronomical tables based on the calculation of planetary and stellar positions.

During this same era, Rajput courts in turn absorbed the grandeur and cultural styles of the Mughal court — a blended Mughal-Rajput style emerged in dress, music and architecture, one that can still be seen today in Rajasthan's havelis and temples.

The Aurangzeb era: renewed tension in relations

Aurangzeb reimposed the jizya tax in 1679, which fuelled discontent among the Rajput states. After Marwar's ruler Jaswant Singh died, a conflict broke out with the Mughals over the succession of his minor son, Ajit Singh, in which Durgadas Rathore played a crucial role in protecting Ajit Singh. Mewar's Rana Raj Singh also opposed Aurangzeb's policies and extended support to Marwar, and this drew out a long Mewar-Marwar-Mughal conflict (running roughly from 1679 to 1709).

This prolonged conflict deeply wounded the partnership between the Rajputs and the Mughals that had been built since Akbar's time. After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, Mughal power steadily weakened, which gave the Rajput states relatively greater autonomy — and by the 18th century, several of these states had, in practice, begun pursuing an independent policy of their own.

A summary of relations, by emperor

Akbar (1556–1605)
A policy of alliance and tolerance — marriage ties, high mansabs, Sulh-i-Kul; the exception: Mewar did not accept his overlordship.
Jahangir (1605–1627)
The policy continued; in 1615, a settlement was reached with Mewar too (though without a marriage tie).
Shah Jahan (1628–1658)
An era of cooperation and cultural patronage — art, architecture and science (the Zij-i-Shah Jahani) were all encouraged.
Aurangzeb (1658–1707)
A reversal in policy — the reinstatement of jizya, and a prolonged military conflict with Marwar and Mewar.

How to teach children

Classroom activity (Class 7–8)

Have students build a table in which they write, against each Mughal emperor (Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb), whether Rajput-Mughal relations at that time were 'friendly' or 'tense' — this makes the ups and downs across the whole period easy to see at a glance.

Teaching aid

Show a Mughal miniature painting alongside a Rajput-style painting of the same subject, and ask students to identify similarities and differences between the two styles.

Common misconception

Children often assume every Rajput state accepted Mughal overlordship — whereas Mewar kept up its resistance for a long stretch, and even the 1615 settlement did not include a marriage alliance. This exception needs to be made clear.

Assessment idea

A 'match the emperor to the policy' activity — Akbar-Sulh-i-Kul, Aurangzeb-reimposition of jizya, and so on — is a quick way to check students' understanding.

Memory trick

Picture the rise and fall of Mughal-Rajput relations as a wave: 'Akbar — rising toward friendship; Jahangir and Shah Jahan — staying steady up high; Aurangzeb — falling back down.' That is, relations climbed like a rising wave, stayed high through two emperors, then dropped sharply under Aurangzeb. Keep Mewar entirely outside this wave, always in resistance.

REET 2024 questions asked (with solutions)

Question 98

With whom were Masru, Mir-e-Badla and Naurangshahi related ?

  1. Aबर्तनों के नाम
  2. Bमहिलाओं के लिए कई प्रकार के कपड़े
  3. Cआभूषणों के प्रकार
  4. Dसंगीत रागों के प्रकार

Explanation

राजस्थान में महिलाओं के परिधान के लिए कई प्रकार के कपड़े प्रचलित थे, जिनमें मसरू, मीर-ए-बादला और नौरंगशाही भी गिने जाते हैं। मसरू रेशम और सूत के मिश्रण से बना एक प्रसिद्ध वस्त्र है। ये बर्तनों, आभूषणों या संगीत रागों के नाम नहीं हैं, इसलिए सही उत्तर (B) है।

Question 143

What was the main content of ‘Zij-e-Shahjahani’ ?

  1. Aशरीर रचना
  2. Bचित्रकला
  3. Cखगोल शास्त्र
  4. Dअंकगणित

Explanation

'जिच-ए-शाहजहानी' (ज़ीज-ए-शाहजहानी) शाहजहाँ के काल में तैयार की गई खगोलीय सारणियों (astronomical tables) की पुस्तक है। 'ज़ीज' शब्द का अर्थ ही ग्रह-नक्षत्रों की गणना वाली खगोलीय सारणी है। अतः इसकी मुख्य विषयवस्तु खगोल शास्त्र थी।

Question 92

Which Mughal emperor implemented the policy of ‘Sulh-i-Kul’ ?

  1. Aजहाँगीर
  2. Bअकबर
  3. Cशाहजहाँ
  4. Dऔरंगजेब

Explanation

‘सुलह-ए-कुल’ (सार्वभौमिक शांति/सबके साथ सहिष्णुता) की नीति मुगल बादशाह अकबर ने अपनाई थी। अबुल फज़ल ने इस विचार को अकबर की शासन-नीति का आधार बताया है, जिसमें सभी धर्मों के लोगों के साथ समान व्यवहार पर जोर था। इसी नीति के तहत अकबर ने जज़िया समाप्त किया और इबादतखाने में विभिन्न धर्मों के विद्वानों से चर्चा की। औरंगजेब की नीति इसके विपरीत कट्टर मानी जाती है।

Practice questions

Question 1

Raja Bharmal of Amber married his daughter to which Mughal emperor?

  1. Aबाबर
  2. Bहुमायूँ
  3. Cअकबर
  4. Dजहाँगीर

Explanation

In 1562, Raja Bharmal of Amer married his daughter to Akbar — considered the first major Mughal-Rajput marriage alliance.

Question 2

When did Akbar abolish the jizya tax?

  1. A1556
  2. B1564
  3. C1575
  4. D1582

Explanation

Akbar abolished the jizya tax in 1564, having already abolished the pilgrimage tax in 1563 — both stand as examples of his policy of religious tolerance (Sulh-i-Kul).

Question 3

Which fort did Akbar besiege and conquer in 1567-68?

  1. Aकुम्भलगढ़
  2. Bचित्तौड़गढ़
  3. Cमेहरानगढ़
  4. Dरणथम्भौर

Explanation

Akbar laid siege to Chittorgarh fort in 1567–68 and conquered it. A few years before this, in 1559, Rana Udai Singh II had founded the city of Udaipur, which went on to become Mewar's new capital.

Question 4

Which ruler of Mewar made peace with Jahangir in 1615 through the Mughal prince Khurram?

  1. Aमहाराणा प्रताप
  2. Bराणा उदयसिंह द्वितीय
  3. Cअमरसिंह प्रथम
  4. Dराणा राजसिंह

Explanation

Maharana Pratap's son, Amar Singh I, made a settlement with Jahangir in 1615 through the Mughal prince Khurram (later Shah Jahan) — Mewar's first formal Mughal settlement.

Question 5

Where did Akbar establish the 'Ibadat Khana'?

  1. Aआगरा
  2. Bफ़तेहपुर सीकरी
  3. Cदिल्ली
  4. Dलाहौर

Explanation

Akbar established the Ibadat Khana in 1575 at Fatehpur Sikri, where scholars of different religions came to debate religious questions.

Question 6

During Aurangzeb's reign, who played a crucial role in protecting the minor heir of Marwar, Ajit Singh?

  1. Aमानसिंह
  2. Bदुर्गादास राठौड़
  3. Cभगवानदास
  4. Dराणा राजसिंह

Explanation

After Jaswant Singh's death, conflict broke out with Aurangzeb over the succession of his minor son, Ajit Singh, in which Durgadas Rathore played a crucial role in protecting Ajit Singh. Rana Raj Singh lent his support to this struggle from Mewar's side.

Question 7

'Zij-e-Shahjahani' is a text related to which subject?

  1. Aसंगीत
  2. Bचित्रकला
  3. Cखगोल-शास्त्र
  4. Dस्थापत्य कला

Explanation

The 'Zij-i-Shah Jahani' is a book of astronomical tables (calculations of planetary and stellar positions) compiled during Shah Jahan's reign, reflecting the patronage astronomy received at the Mughal court.

Question 8

While teaching Mughal-Rajput relations in Class 8, a teacher has children write 'friendly' or 'strained' beside the name of each Mughal emperor. What is the main purpose of this activity?

  1. Aकेवल तालिका बनाना सिखाना
  2. Bपूरे कालखंड में संबंधों के उतार-चढ़ाव को स्पष्ट करना
  3. Cचित्रकला सिखाना
  4. Dसमय व्यतीत करना

Explanation

This kind of comparative-table activity helps children see that Mughal-Rajput relations were never static — they shifted with every emperor — which builds an understanding of historical cause and effect.

Question 9

What was the main intent of Akbar's policy of 'Sulh-e-Kul'?

  1. Aकेवल राजपूतों से मित्रता
  2. Bसभी धर्मों के साथ समान व्यवहार व सार्वभौमिक सहिष्णुता
  3. Cकेवल सैन्य विस्तार
  4. Dकेवल कर वसूली की नई व्यवस्था

Explanation

'Sulh-i-Kul' means universal peace and equal treatment for all religions. Abul Fazl described it as the foundation of Akbar's approach to governance, under which jizya and the pilgrimage tax were abolished.

Question 10

What are Masru, Mir-e-Badla and Naurangshahi related to?

  1. Aमुगल दरबार के संगीत राग
  2. Bमहिलाओं के लिए प्रचलित परिधान/वस्त्र
  3. Cमुगल स्थापत्य की शैलियाँ
  4. Dमुगल सिक्कों के नाम

Explanation

Masru, Mir-e-Badla and Naurangshahi are names of women's garments prevalent in Rajasthani courts, and stand as an example of Mughal-Rajput cultural exchange. Masru is a fabric woven from a blend of silk and cotton.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions come from Mughal-Rajput relations in REET?+

REET 2024 carried 3 questions on this topic, covering both Akbar's policy and fine Mughal-era cultural vocabulary.

Why did Akbar adopt a policy of alliance with the Rajputs?+

Akbar saw the Rajput states as important to military strength and administrative stability, so he pursued a policy of drawing them into the Mughal empire through marriage ties, high mansabs, and religious tolerance (Sulh-i-Kul, and the abolition of jizya and the pilgrimage tax).

Why did Mewar not accept Mughal overlordship?+

Mewar's rulers placed independence and honour above all else. Maharana Pratap never accepted Akbar's overlordship; his son Amar Singh did make a settlement with Jahangir in 1615, but even that settlement did not include a marriage alliance.

What is the Zij-i-Shah Jahani?+

The Zij-i-Shah Jahani is a book of astronomical tables (calculations of planetary and stellar positions) compiled during Shah Jahan's reign — an example of the patronage science and astronomy received at the Mughal court.

Why did Rajput-Mughal relations sour under Aurangzeb?+

Aurangzeb reimposed the jizya tax in 1679 and intervened in Marwar's succession dispute, which led both Marwar (under Durgadas Rathore's leadership) and Mewar (under Rana Raj Singh) to oppose the Mughals.

What are Masru and Mir-e-Badla?+

Masru, Mir-e-Badla and Naurangshahi are names of women's garments/fabrics that were prevalent in Rajasthan's royal courts. Masru is a fabric woven from a blend of silk and cotton, and stands as an example of Mughal-Rajput cultural exchange.

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The complete REET Level 1 and Level 2 syllabus in one place.

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All of REET 2024's solved questions, by subject.

Official Sources

  1. Wikipedia — Siege of Chittorgarh (1567–1568)
  2. Wikipedia — Rathore rebellion (1679–1707)

Change Log

  • 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked