Decline of the Mughal Empire | Complete UPSC Modern Indian History Notes

This article covers the UPSC Modern Indian History mains topic the decline of the Mughals in India.

Decline of the Mughal Empire

Table of Content

• Introduction
• Decline of the Mughal Empire
• Role of Aurangzeb in the Mughal Empire Decline
• After Aurangzeb Death
• Important Events
• Invasion of Delhi by Persian Rulers
• East India Company's role in the decline of the Mughals
• Important Terms
• UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions
• UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions
• FAQs

Introduction

The First part of the 18th century saw the decline of the Mughals in India. In the Mughal Empire, the Emperor ruled the country with a centralized administrative system. Without a powerful ruler, administering the vast empire saw major problems. According to Sidney Owen, the degeneration of the empire started with Aurangzeb and increased rapidly after his death.

Decline of the Mughal Empire

The Fall of the Mughals was based on the various factors that occurred before and after the death of Aurangzeb. 

Role of Aurangzeb in the Mughal Empire Decline

Aurangzeb was an Industrious and Disciplined person but he was also an orthodox Muslim. He was not tolerant towards other religions. This caused resentment among the Hindus. During his period Marathas had been establishing themselves in the Deccan region. To contain the Marathas, he led many campaigns in the Deccan, which depleted the treasury. According to J.N. Sarkar the Deccan ulcer ruined Aurangzeb. 

We can classify the factors that led to the beginning of the decline during Aurangzeb into

• Religious Factors

• He discontinued the celebration of Dasarah, Muharram, and also the practice of jarokhadharsan

• Removed astronomers and astrologers from service.

• Banned the construction of new temples and repair of old temples.

• Destroyed temples (e.g. many temples in Madhura and Beneras were destroyed by him)

• Reimposed jizya and pilgrims' tax.

• Intolerant of the Shia sect of Muslims.

• Executed ninth Sikh Guru Tej Bahadur.

these actions antagonized Rajputs, Sikhs, Jats, and Satanamis and increased enemies for the Mughal empire.

• Military Factors

•  Aggressive policy against Deccan (e.g. Repeated campaign in Deccan, the capture of Bijapur and Golkonda)

• He used revenues from the conquered region for Military Campaigns

• Increased struggle between Marathas and Mughals (e.g. Bijapur and Golkonda annexation reduced the distance between them)

• Administrative Factors

• Difficult to administer a vast empire through a centralized administrative system

• Shortage of Jagirs i.e. Jagirdari crisis

• Divided Nobility in the court and jealousy between them (e.g. Turanis, Iranis, Shaikhzadas or the Indian Muslims, Hindu factions of Nobility)

• Economic Factors

• Stagnation of Trade 

• Expensive Military Campaign

• Increased pressure on peasants 

• No Technological Advancement

After Aurangzeb's Death

Factors that led to the decline of the Empire after Aurangzeb's death are

• Political Factors

• Weak Successors (Sir J N Sarkar - Weak emperors and incompetent commanders were responsible.)

• Constant war of succession (e.g. Bahadhur Shah I killed his brothers)

• Support of Zamindars to nobles to form Independent Kingdoms

• Fight between Subahdars for large Jahirs 

• Self - aggrandizement

• Raise of  Independent, New and Successor states

• Military Factors

• Military inefficiency (e.g. Nadir Shah invaded Delhi and captured Muhammad Shah as a prisoner)

• Corruption in the army (e.g. required numbers of Horses and soldiers were not maintained)

• Capture of revenue-rich territories by Marathas 

• Lack of Technical development in the military (e.g. British arsenals were more advanced in speed and fire range than Mughal arms)

• External Factors

• Persian ruler's invasion (e.g. Nadir Shah, Ahmed Shah Abdali's invasion of Delhi)

• Favorable Battleground for Invaders  in Panipat 

• Expansion of British and other European presence and influence

• Economic Factors

• Stagnation of Trade

• Empty Treasury (e.g. Nadir Shah looted 70 crores and Kohinoor diamond from Delhi, Lavish Lifestyle, Aurangzeb Deccan Campaign)

• Loss of Revenue (e.g. Marathas captured many high revenue-generating territories)

• Social Factors

• Dissatisfaction with the favoritism of Muslims (e.g. Aurangzeb's policies)

• Loss of key trade routes and ports 

• High Tax Burden on Peasants

Important Events

Invasion of Delhi by Persian Rulers

• Nadir Shah 

• He conquered Lahore in 1738 - 39; defeated the Mughal army at Battel of Karnal, and in 1739 took Muhammad Shah as his Prisoner.

• He invaded Delhi, looted nearly 70 crores from the treasury, and took Kohinoor from Peacock Throne.

• He captured strategically important Kabul and made the Mughals vulnerable in the North-West.

• Effects of the Nadir Shah Invasion

• Loss of Central Authority.

• Exposed the weakness of the Military to Marathas and other foreign powers (e.g. Marathas invaded Delhi).

• Increased the Fight among the nobles for Influence.

• Ahmad Shah Abdali

• Ahmed Shah Abdali or Ahmad Shah Durrani became the successor of Nadir Shah in 1747.

• He invaded India many times during 1748-67

• The Mughals ceded Punjab to Abdali for Peace and recognized his suzerainty over Sind, Punjab, and Kashmir.

• He was married to Muhammad Shah's daughter and his son Timur Shah was wedded to Alamgir II's Daughter.

• He recognized Alamgir II as the Mughal Emperor and appointed Najib-ud-Daula (Rohilla Chief) as Mir Bakshi

• In 1751-52 the Marathas and Mughals signed the Ahmadiya Treaty, which restricted the Mughal's rule to Delhi.

• On his way to Afghanistan, he sacked the Golden Temple and killed Harmandir Sahib.

• After the return of Abdali to Afghanistan, the Marathas in 1757 under Raghunath Rao ousted Timur Shah from Delhi and gained control of Lahore, Multan, and Kashmir.

• Abdali returned and declared war on the Marathas and defeated them at the Third Battle of Panipat (1761).

• He did not extend his empire to India but returned to Afghanistan leaving a void of power which later filled by the British.

East India Company's role in the decline of the Mughals

• The East India Company manipulated the political situation in India and played the regional powers against each other. (e.g. First Anglo-Mysore War).

• Exploited the Trade privileges given to them; undermined the Indigenous Industries and Artisans.

• After the Battle of Buxar (1764) the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II was taken under East India Company Protection and resided in Allahabad.

• In 1803 due to the defeat of Daulat Rao Scindia, the Mughal emperors became Pensioners of the English.

Important Terms

1. Jizya - a fee imposed by a Muslim ruler to non-muslin subjects for protection.

2. Jarokhadharsan - a practice of addressing the public audience on the balcony at forts and palaces. It was an essential and direct way of communicating face-to-face with the public.

3. Shaikhzadas - Indian Muslims

UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions

1. The Third Battle of Panipet was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat? (2014)

2. Clarify how mid-eighteenth-century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented policy. (2017).

3. Why did the armies of the British East India Company - mostly comprising of Indian Soldiers - win consistently against the more numerous and better-equipped armies of the Indian rulers? Give Reasons. (2022)

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions

1. Who among the following was the first European to initiate the policy of taking part in the quarrels of Indian princes with the view to acquire territories? (1996)

A. Clive

B. Dupleix

C. Albuquerque

D. Warren Hastings

Ans: B

2. Consider the Following statements:

    1. In the Third Battle of Panipat, Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated Ibrahim Lodi

    2. Tipu Sultan was killed in the Third Anglo-Mysore War

    3. Mir Jafar entered in a conspiracy with the English for the defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey

which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2004)

A. 1,2 and 3

B. 3 only

C. 2 and 3

D. none

Ans: B

3. Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the battles fought in India in the 18th Century? (2005)

A. Battle of Wandiwash-Battle of Buxar-Battle of  Ambur-Battle of Plassey

B. Battle of Ambur- Battle of Plassey-Battle of Wandiwash-Battle of Buxar

C. Battle of Wandiwash- Battle of Plassey-Battle of Ambur--Battle of Buxar

D. Battle of Ambur- Battle of Buxar-Battle of Wandiwash-Battle of Plassey

Ans: B

4. What was the immediate reason for Ahmad Shah Abdali to invade India and fight the Third Battle of Panipat? (2010)

A. He wanted to avenge the expulsion by Marathas of his viceroy Timur Shah from Lahore.

B. The frustrated governor of Jalandhar Adina Beg Khan invited him to invade Punjab.

C. He wanted to punish the Mughal administration for non-payment of the revenues of the Chahar Mahals (Gujarat, Aurangabad, Sialkot, Pasrur)

D. He wanted to annex the fertile plains of Punjab up to the borders of Delhi in his Kingdom.

Ans: A

5. With reference to Indian History, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2021)

    1. The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State.

    2. The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of the Vijayanagara Empire.

    3. Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmed Shah Durrani.

A. 1 and 2

B. 2 only

C. 2 and 3

D. 3 only

Ans: B

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FAQs

What caused the decline of Mughal Empire?

The decline of Mughal Empire was a result of Weak successors, administrative failure, constant war of succession, divided nobility, military corruption, shift of zamindars allegiance etc., 

When was Mughal decline?

The decline of Mughals started in the 18th century continued over a period of century and completed with the revolt of 1857.

Did the Mughal Empire fall quickly?

The Fall of Mughal Empire stared with the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 CE and completed with the revolt of 1857 which made Bahadur Shah II the last Mughal Emperor.

Did the British cause the fall of the Mughal Empire?

The fall of Mughal Empire was not entirely caused by British. They manipulated the Political  situation to their favor and usurped the power.