Selina Concise Solutions for ICSE Class 7 History Civics Chapter 8 Akbar the Great

Important Words

• Jauhar: This was when queens and noble women of Rajput states burned themselves to death. They did this to escape capture when losing a war.
• Wazir (or Diwan): The officer who looked after the money and taxes of the kingdom.
• Mir Bakshi: The official who led the army and paid the salaries of the officers.
• Chief Sadr (or Qazi): The person who served as the main judge of the empire.
• Mir Saman: The officer who managed everything inside the king's palace.
• Vakil: The prime minister, whose power Akbar made much smaller and mostly advisory.
• Diwan-i-khas: A special private hall. Akbar used it to meet with his top ministers.
• Diwan-i-Aam: The big public hall. Here, the king heard people's complaints and helped them.
• Subas: The provinces or states into which Akbar’s empire was divided, each run by a governor.
• Mansab: A rank or office in the government given to an official.
• Todar Mal's Bandobast: The land tax system introduced by Raja Todar Mal, one of Akbar's main ministers.
• Pilgrim Tax: A tax that Hindus had to pay when visiting their holy places.
• Sulh-i-Kul: A concept meaning peace and harmony for everyone.
• Din-i-Ilahi: A new moral path created by Akbar that mixed ideas from major world religions.

Time To Learn

I. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1. _________ was the guardian of Akbar.
Answer: Bairam Khan.
In simple words: Bairam Khan was the person who looked after Akbar when he was a child.

Exam Tip: Remember this name as he was very important in Akbar's early life.

Question 2. Akbar adopted a liberal _________ policy.
Answer: religious.
In simple words: Akbar was open-minded and kind to all religions.

Exam Tip: "Liberal" here means showing respect to people of different faiths.

Question 3. In the year _________ Akbar defeated Rana Pratap in the Battle of Haldighati.
Answer: 1576.
In simple words: In 1576, Akbar's army fought and won against Rana Pratap.

Exam Tip: The year 1576 is a key date in Mughal history to memorize.

Question 4. _________ was built to celebrate Akbar’s victory over Gujarat.
Answer: Buland Darwaza.
In simple words: Buland Darwaza is a huge gateway built to remember the win in Gujarat.

Exam Tip: This structure is located in Fatehpur Sikri and is a major tourist attraction.

II. Match Column A with Column B:

Question. Match the items in Column A with the correct descriptions in Column B:

Answer:
1. Bairam Khan was the protector and guide of Akbar.
2. Abul Fazl wrote the book Akbarnama.
3. Todar Mal took care of the tax and money department.
4. Tansen was a famous singer and musician in the court.
5. Din-i-Ilahi was the new belief system created by Akbar.
In simple words: This matching helps us connect famous people from Akbar's time with their correct roles or achievements.

Exam Tip: Matchings like this often appear in exams, so make sure you connect the names with their exact titles.

III. State whether the following statements are True or False:

Question 1. State True or False: Bairam Khan was a faithful general, who served both Humayun and Akbar loyally.
Answer: True.
In simple words: Bairam Khan was very loyal and helped two kings.

Exam Tip: Bairam Khan is famous for saving the Mughal empire during Akbar's youth.

Question 2. State True or False: Raja Todar Mal was the Revenue Minister of Akbar.
Answer: True.
In simple words: Raja Todar Mal was indeed the minister who managed the land and tax money.

Exam Tip: Todar Mal is famous for his tax systems, so this statement is true.

Question 3. State True or False: Akbar allowed religious freedom to the Rajputs only.
Answer: False. Akbar gave religious freedom to all his subjects, not just the Rajputs.
In simple words: Akbar was kind to people of every religion, not just one group.

Exam Tip: Remember that Akbar had a very open and fair policy for all faiths.

Question 4. State True or False: Akbar reimposed Jazia on the non-Muslim subjects.
Answer: False. Akbar actually removed the Jazia tax to make things fair for everyone.
In simple words: Akbar stopped this special tax on non-Muslims.

Exam Tip: "Reimposed" means to put back. Since Akbar removed it, the statement is false.

IV. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1. When and between whom was the Second Battle of Panipat fought? What were its results?
Answer: In the year 1556, the Second Battle of Panipat took place between Akbar and Hemu. Hemu was defeated and lost his life in this clash. This victory was very important because it broke the strength of the Afghan forces and made the Mughal rule much stronger.
In simple words: Akbar's army fought and beat Hemu in 1556. This win helped Akbar secure his throne.

Exam Tip: Write the date (1556) and the names of both leaders to get full marks.

Question 2. Write briefly about the following : (a) Akbar’s northern conquests (b) Akbar’s southern conquests.
Answer:
(a) Northern conquests:
1. In 1561, Akbar sent a large army led by Adham Khan to take over Malwa.
2. In 1564, Mughal troops under Asaf Khan captured Garh Katanga.
3. Akbar took Chittor in 1568 after its king refused to yield. He then won over Kalinjar in 1569, and Gujarat in 1573. Most Rajput kings accepted his rule by 1570.
4. Rana Pratap kept fighting even after his father died. He lost the Battle of Haldighati in 1576, but did not give up and took back most lands except Chittor.
5. In 1576, Akbar's forces defeated and killed Daud Khan, the ruler of Bengal.
6. Akbar's army took Kabul in 1581, Kashmir in 1586, Sind in 1591, and Baluchistan in 1595 to protect the borders.
7. Akbar added Orissa to his empire in 1592.

(b) Southern conquests:
The Mughal army fought in the south from 1598 to 1601. They took Ahmadnagar in 1600 after its defender, Chand Bibi, was killed by her own soldiers. In 1601, they captured the strong fort of Asirgarh in Khandesh. Akbar added three southern regions - Berar, Ahmadnagar, and Khandesh.
1. The king took one-third of the crop value as tax, which could be given in cash or crops, though cash was better.
2. Officers had to behave kindly with farmers. Farmers in Berar, Ahmadnagar, and Khandesh received easy-to-pay loans for farming.
In simple words: Akbar expanded his land by winning battles in both the north and the south of India.

Exam Tip: Memorize the names of key regions like Gujarat, Bengal, and Ahmadnagar as they represent major expansion points.

Question 3. What was the extent of Akbar’s kingdom? How was administration carried out during Akbar’s time? Explain with reference to the Central and Provincial administration.
Answer: Akbar's kingdom reached from Bengal in the east to Afghanistan in the west, and from the northern Himalayas down to the Godavari river in the south. This vast area was split into fifteen provinces, including Kabul, Lahore, Delhi, Gujarat, Bengal, and Khandesh.

His government had two main levels:

Central Administration:
The king ruled with the help of key officers:
1. Wazir Dewan: Looked after all money and taxes.
2. Mir Bakshi: Managed the army and paid the officers.
3. Qazi: Served as the main judge.
4. Chief Sadr: Supervised palace affairs.
5. Vakil: Led the advisory council.

Provincial Administration:
The empire was split into fifteen areas called Subas, which were divided into Sarkars and further into parganas (groups of villages). A governor called a subedar ran each province with full civil and military power, helped by officers like the local Diwan, Bakshi, Qazi, and Kotwal.
In simple words: Akbar's huge empire was divided into 15 states. He had a main team of ministers in his capital, and governors in each state to maintain law and order.

Exam Tip: Remember that "Suba" means province and "Subedar" is the governor of that province.

Question 4. What were the main sources of revenue for the Mughal government? How did Akbar improve the collection of revenue?
Answer: Raja Todar Mal set up a special tax system called Todar Mal's Bandobast.
1. Lands were measured carefully using a bamboo jarib joined by iron rings, which was much more accurate than the old hemp ropes.
2. Fields were sorted into four groups based on how often crops were grown, and then graded as good, average, or poor quality.
3. Officers looked at the average harvest and market prices over the last ten years to set the taxes fairly.
4. If dry weather or floods ruined the crops, the government forgave the tax.
In simple words: Akbar's minister, Todar Mal, measured land with iron-linked bamboo poles and taxed farmers fairly based on their actual crops. If crops died, taxes were forgiven.

Exam Tip: Mentioning "Todar Mal's Bandobast" and the use of the bamboo "jarib" is key to scoring full marks.

Question 5. What do you think about Akbar’s attempts to bring about religious, cultural and social unification in his empire?
Answer: Akbar made great efforts to create a peaceful, equal society where people of all religions were treated fairly.
1. He removed the Jaziya tax on non-Muslims and stopped taxing Hindus who traveled to holy places.
2. He gave Hindus the freedom to build temples and celebrate their festivals. His Hindu wives were also free to enjoy festivals like Holi and Diwali.
3. He appointed skilled Hindus like Todar Mal, Birbal, and Raja Bhagwan Das to top positions in his government.
4. He married daughters of Rajput kings and respected their right to practice their own religion.
5. He gave land grants to people regardless of their religious beliefs.
In simple words: Akbar treated everyone equally by stopping unfair taxes on non-Muslims, letting people worship freely, and hiring talented Hindus for big jobs.

Exam Tip: Mention that he ended the "Jaziya" and "pilgrim tax" as these are the most important examples of his fair policies.

Question 6. What do you understand by the term Din-i-Ilahi? Write a brief note on it.
Answer: Din-i-Ilahi, meaning the divine faith, was a new path created by Akbar. Its main ideas were believing in one God and seeing the king as God's helper on earth. It was not a strict religion because it did not have holy books, priests, temples, or rituals. Instead, it was a set of good rules to live by. Akbar hoped this would bring Hindus, Muslims, and other groups together in peace and friendship.
In simple words: Din-i-Ilahi was a simple code of conduct created by Akbar. It focused on one God and treated all people like brothers, without any complex rituals or temples.

Exam Tip: Emphasize that Din-i-Ilahi had no priests or holy books, but was a moral guide to unite different communities.

Question 7. Do you think architecture flourished during Akbar’s reign? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: Yes, building design and construction grew greatly under Akbar. While his early structures like Humayun's Tomb looked very Persian, his later styles became deeply Indian. He was inspired by Hindu palaces and added Rajput designs to his work. His new capital, Fatehpur Sikri, is built from red sandstone and is famously called a dream in stone. It features beautiful buildings like the Diwan-i-Khas, Panch Mahal, Jodha Bai's Palace, and the majestic Buland Darwaza.
In simple words: Yes, building design flourished. Akbar mixed Persian styles with Indian and Rajput traditions to create beautiful monuments like the Buland Darwaza.

Exam Tip: Always mention "Fatehpur Sikri" and "sandstone" when discussing Akbar's architecture.

V. Give reasons why.

Question 1. Land was classified and measured before revenue was fixed.
Answer: This was done to make sure taxes were set fairly and accurately for all farmers:
1. Fields were surveyed using a bamboo jarib with iron loops, which did not stretch like old ropes.
2. Land was sorted into four groups depending on how often it was farmed, and further split into good, average, and poor grades.
3. Tax amounts were based on the average crop yields and market prices of the previous ten years. The king took one-third of this average as tax, which farmers could pay in money or crops.
In simple words: Land was measured and sorted so farmers only paid taxes based on how good their land was and what they actually grew.

Exam Tip: Note that this system was designed to prevent overtaxing of poor farmers with bad land.

Question 2. Akbar followed a liberal policy towards the Rajputs.
Answer: Akbar knew he needed the help of the brave Rajputs to build a strong, lasting kingdom. He used a friendly and respectful approach:
1. He treated Rajput leaders with dignity and as equals, which earned him their trust.
2. He entered into marriage alliances with Rajput royal families to make their bonds stronger.
3. He gave important court positions to qualified Rajputs to win their cooperation.
4. He ended unfair taxes like Jaziya and the pilgrim tax that affected Hindus.
5. He did not seize their lands. He only asked them to accept him as their leader and pay a regular fee. This turned the Rajputs into the main supporters of his empire.
In simple words: Akbar was friendly to the Rajputs because he wanted their support. He treated them well, gave them big jobs, and did not take away their kingdoms.

Exam Tip: The key term here is "matrimonial alliances" and "high administrative posts" which helped him gain Rajput trust.

Question 3. Akbar is referred to as ‘Akbar the Great’.
Answer: Akbar is called 'the Great' because of his useful changes and his fair rule over India:
1. He doubled the physical size of his kingdom through smart expansion.
2. He respected all religions and treated people of different faiths equally.
3. He introduced excellent administrative systems that were so good that even the British used them later on.
4. He was a very just and kind king.
Instead of harming the country, he worked hard for the well-being of his subjects. He stopped discrimination between different communities and removed taxes on travelers, which made him highly loved.
In simple words: Akbar is called 'the Great' because he grew his kingdom, was fair to all religions, and ruled in a way that helped his people.

Exam Tip: Point out that his administrative systems were so effective that future rulers, including the British, kept using them.

VI. Picture study:

Question 1. Name this building.
Answer: Buland Darwaza.
In simple words: The building shown in the picture is Buland Darwaza.

Exam Tip: This is the largest gateway in the world, located at Fatehpur Sikri.

Question 2. Where is it located?
Answer: Fatehpur Sikri.
In simple words: You can find this famous gate in Fatehpur Sikri.

Exam Tip: Fatehpur Sikri was built as a new capital city by Akbar.

Question 3. Why and when was it built?
Answer: This gate was constructed to celebrate Akbar's victory over the state of Gujarat.
In simple words: It was built to celebrate Akbar winning Gujarat.

Exam Tip: "Commemorate" means to celebrate or remember an important event.

Question 4. Name the emperor who got it built. Write about his religious policies.
Answer: Akbar ordered the construction of this building. His open-minded religious policies included:
1. He did away with the Jaziya tax and the pilgrim tax.
2. He permitted Hindus to construct temples and even gave them money to help build them.
3. He banned the practice of forcing people to change their religion to Islam.
4. He had Hindu holy books translated into the Persian language so more people could read them.
In simple words: Akbar built the gate. He was very kind to other religions, stopped unfair taxes, and let people build temples.

Exam Tip: Mentioning his work translating holy texts shows how deeply he cared about religious harmony.

A. Fill in the blanks:

Question 1. In the Second Battle of Panipat which took place in November 1556, the Mughal army under the leadership of Bairam Khan defeated _________.
Answer: General Hemu.
In simple words: Akbar's general, Bairam Khan, defeated the general named Hemu in 1556.

Exam Tip: The battle took place in 1556 and secured the Mughal empire.

Question 2. Akbar held regular meetings with his senior officers in the Diwan-i-Khas and he met his subjects in the _________.
Answer: Diwan-i-Aam.
In simple words: Akbar met the public in the Diwan-i-Aam to hear their problems.

Exam Tip: Diwan-i-Khas was for special ministers, and Diwan-i-Aam was for the common public.

Question 3. The Mughal empire was divided into fifteen provinces and subas which were further subdivided into districts or _________.
Answer: Sarkars.
In simple words: Provinces were divided into smaller districts called Sarkars.

Exam Tip: "Sarkars" were the administrative level just below the provinces (Subas).

Question 4. The land revenue system introduced by Akbar was known as the _________.
Answer: Todar Mal's Bandobast system.
In simple words: Akbar's tax system was named after his minister, Todar Mal.

Exam Tip: Todar Mal was one of Akbar's nine court gems.

Question 5. The minimum age of marriage was raised to fourteen years for girls and _________ years for boys.
Answer: sixteen.
In simple words: Akbar set the minimum age of marriage to 14 for girls and 16 for boys to stop child marriage.

Exam Tip: This was a very forward-thinking social reform for that time period.

Question 6. Two great poets patronized by Akbar were Faizi and _________.
Answer: Raja Birbal.
In simple words: Faizi and Birbal were two of the famous writers supported by Akbar.

Exam Tip: Both were members of Akbar's inner circle of nine gems (Navratnas).

B. Match the following:

Question. Match the names in Column A with their correct details in Column B:

Answer:
1. Abul Fazl wrote the book Akbarnama.
2. Faizi served as the main Persian poet in the court.
3. Tansen was highly skilled in Hindustani music.
4. Birbal was known as the close friend and companion of Akbar.
5. Raja Man Singh served as a key army commander for the Mughals.
In simple words: This matches the famous figures of Akbar's court with their fields of work and titles.

Exam Tip: Birbal and Tansen are extremely famous court figures; remember their roles as companion and musician.

C. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1. Akbar was _________ years old when he was proclaimed emperor.
(a) 13
(b) 15
(c) 17
(d) 19
Answer: (a) 13
In simple words: Akbar became the king when he was only 13 years old.

Exam Tip: Akbar was one of the youngest kings to take the throne in Indian history.

Question 2. Who was defeated by the Mughal forces in the Battle of Haldighati?
(a) Udai Singh
(b) Jai Mal
(c) Rana Pratap Singh
(d) none of the options
Answer: (c) Rana Pratap Singh
In simple words: Rana Pratap Singh lost the battle against Akbar's forces in Haldighati.

Exam Tip: Even though Rana Pratap lost this battle, he continued to fight for his land.

Question 3. In 1575 CE, Akbar built the Ibadat Khana in his new capital for discussions on:
(a) politics
(b) religious matters
(c) warfare
(d) trade
Answer: (b) religious matters
In simple words: The Ibadat Khana was a hall built for talking about different religions.

Exam Tip: "Ibadat Khana" literally translates to "House of Worship."

Question 4. Akbar founded a new religious order which he called:
(a) Din-i-Ilahi
(b) Mahzar
(c) Sulh-i-kul
(d) none of the options
Answer: (a) Din-i-Ilahi
In simple words: Akbar started a new moral path called Din-i-Ilahi.

Exam Tip: Be careful not to confuse Din-i-Ilahi (the belief order) with Sulh-i-kul (universal peace).

Question 5. The court language used in Akbar’s court was:
(a) Turkish
(b) Persian
(c) Sanskrit
(d) Hindi
Answer: (b) Persian
In simple words: Persian was the main language spoken and written in Akbar's palace.

Exam Tip: Although the Mughals came from Central Asia, Persian was chosen as the official language of administration.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

Question 1. State True or False: Akbar assumed absolute power and authority at the age of 21.
Answer: False. Akbar took full power of his kingdom when he was 18 years old, not 21.
In simple words: Akbar took over full control at age 18.

Exam Tip: Note the difference in ages: he was crowned at 13, but took independent power at 18.

Question 2. State True or False: Akbar held regular meetings with the senior officers in the Diwan-i-Khas.
Answer: True.
In simple words: The Diwan-i-Khas was the private room where Akbar met his top ministers.

Exam Tip: "Khas" means special or private, which helps identify this as the private assembly hall.

Question 3. State True or False: In each suba, the diwan kept records of the land revenue.
Answer: True.
In simple words: The diwan in each province was responsible for looking after tax and land records.

Exam Tip: This is correct, as the provincial diwan reported directly to the central finance department.

Question 4. State True or False: Din-i-Ilahi was adopted by all the people in Akbar’s empire.
Answer: False. Akbar did not force anyone to follow Din-i-Ilahi, so only a few people joined it.
In simple words: Only a small group of court members chose to follow this path.

Exam Tip: Din-i-Ilahi was never a mass religion; it was mostly a code of conduct for close court members.

Question 5. State True or False: Akbar was illiterate but he had a passion for books.
Answer: True.
In simple words: Even though Akbar could not read or write, he loved having books read to him.

Exam Tip: Akbar built a massive library and employed readers to read books to him daily.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1. What role did Bairam Khan play when Akbar ascended the throne?
Answer: Bairam Khan ran the government and handled all state matters for young Akbar.
In simple words: Bairam Khan looked after the kingdom because Akbar was too young.

Exam Tip: He was Akbar's regent, meaning he ruled on behalf of the young king.

Question 2. What is the significance of the Second Battle of Panipat (1556 CE)?
Answer: In this battle, the Mughal army under Bairam Khan defeated Hemu, who had taken over Delhi. This victory crushed the power of the Afghans and made Akbar's throne secure from major enemies.
In simple words: This battle saved Akbar's kingdom by defeating a major enemy general and taking back Delhi.

Exam Tip: It was fought in 1556 and marked the true beginning of Akbar's active reign.

Question 3. Why did Akbar embark on a policy of conquest and annexation?
Answer: Akbar began winning lands because he wanted to bring the whole country under a single, united rule.
In simple words: He wanted to unite all of India under his single government.

Exam Tip: His goal was political unification of the Indian subcontinent.

Question 4. Why did Akbar follow a policy of friendship with the Rajput?
Answer: Akbar knew his capitals, Delhi and Agra, were not safe without peace with the Rajputs. He also saw that their brave support would help him grow and secure his empire.
In simple words: He made friends with the Rajputs to keep his capital safe and make his army stronger.

Exam Tip: This policy of friendship is known as Akbar's Rajput policy.

Question 5. Why is the memory of Rana Pratap Singh still honoured in Rajasthan?
Answer: He is remembered because he spent his entire life fighting to keep his homeland free from Mughal control.
In simple words: People respect him because he fought bravely for his state's freedom.

Exam Tip: Rana Pratap never surrendered to Akbar, making him a symbol of pride.

Question 6. What do you understand by the term ‘mansab’?
Answer: The word mansab refers to a specific rank or office given to a government official.
In simple words: It means a person's rank or level in the government.

Exam Tip: This was part of the "Mansabdari system" introduced by Akbar.

Question 7. Who had the power to appoint and dismiss the mansabdars?
Answer: Only the king had the power to hire, promote, or remove any officer or military leader.
In simple words: The emperor himself chose who became a mansabdar.

Exam Tip: This kept all real power in the hands of the king.

Question 8. Mention any one tax abolished by Akbar as a part of his policy of religious tolerance.
Answer: Akbar did away with the pilgrim tax on Hindus and the Jaziya tax.
In simple words: He stopped the tax on non-Muslims and holy travels.

Exam Tip: Removing these taxes helped him win the trust of non-Muslim subjects.

Question 9. What power did Akbar gain through the Mahzar?
Answer: The Mahzar allowed Akbar to select the best choice when religious scholars argued over Islamic law.
In simple words: It gave the king the final say in religious laws.

Exam Tip: This made the king supreme in both political and religious matters.

Question 10. Why did Akbar encourage the study of secular subjects?
Answer: He promoted subjects like math, farming, history, and astronomy to help his people learn useful skills and live together in peace.
In simple words: He wanted people to study real-world subjects so they could be wise and cooperative.

Exam Tip: Secular subjects are those not tied to any single religion.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1. Why was Akbar’s position unstable and insecure when he ascended the throne of Delhi?
Answer: Akbar faced a dangerous situation when he became king because enemies surrounded his lands. Adil Shah, a nephew of Sher Shah, wanted to take Delhi and bring back Afghan power. At the same time, Rajput rulers were waiting for a good chance to drive the Mughals out of the country.
In simple words: When Akbar became king, he was in danger because powerful Afghan and Rajput enemies wanted to take his throne.

Exam Tip: Mention both Adil Shah (the Afghan rival) and the Rajput rulers to show the double threat he faced.

Question 2. Rana Udai Singh of Mewar rejected Akbar’s offer of friendship and refused to submit to him. In this context, discuss: (a) Subjugation of Rana Udai Singh (b) Conflict with Rana Pratap Singh
Answer:
(a) Subjugation of Rana Udai Singh:
The king of Mewar, who led the Rajput clans, refused to surrender to Akbar or agree to a marriage alliance. Akbar led his army to attack Mewar's capital, Chittor. Udai Singh fled to the mountains, leaving his general, Jai Mal, to defend the fort. The Mughals struggled for four months to take the fort. After Jai Mal was killed, the Rajput defense broke down. The royal women committed jauhar, while the soldiers died fighting bravely. After Chittor fell, Akbar easily took Ranthambore, and by 1570, most Rajput kings accepted him as their leader.

(b) Conflict with Rana Pratap Singh:
Even after losing Chittor, the people of Mewar did not give up. They gathered under Rana Pratap, the brave son of Udai Singh. Rana Pratap raised an army and fought the Mughals in the famous Battle of Haldighati in 1576. The Mughal forces were led by Raja Man Singh of Amber. Although the Rajputs fought bravely, they were outnumbered and lost the battle. Rana Pratap escaped to a mountain fort and kept fighting to win back Chittor. He recovered several lands before he died, but Chittor remained with the Mughals.
In simple words: Rana Udai Singh and his son, Rana Pratap, refused to surrender to Akbar. Though they lost major battles like Chittor and Haldighati, they kept fighting from the hills to protect their freedom.

Exam Tip: Know the difference: Udai Singh lost Chittor, while his son Rana Pratap fought the Battle of Haldighati in 1576.

Question 3. Discuss the power and position of the emperor in the central administration.
Answer:
1. The king held absolute power in his hands. Every final decision on the army, laws, court cases, and government came from him. His commands were treated as absolute law. He also led the military and served as the highest judge.
2. While he had ministers to advise him, only the king could hire, promote, or remove any officer or military leader. This meant the whole system relied heavily on how smart and active the king was in picking the right people.
In simple words: The king had total power over the army, laws, and court decisions. He chose all his ministers and ran the government directly.

Exam Tip: Use terms like "supreme authority" and "ultimate judge" to describe the emperor's vast powers.

Question 4. Who assisted the emperor in the administration of the empire? What were their responsibilities and functions?
Answer: Akbar had a main council of ministers who helped him run the government smoothly:
1. Wazir Dewan: He took charge of the entire tax and finance department.
2. Mir Bakshi: He managed the armed forces and paid salaries to the officers.
3. Qazi: He acted as the primary judge in legal disputes.
4. Chief Sadr: He ran the daily operations and expenses of the royal household.
5. Vakil: He led the advisory council that offered guidance to the king.
In simple words: The king was helped by five key ministers who looked after taxes, the army, court cases, the palace, and gave advice.

Exam Tip: Match each minister's name with their exact department (like Wazir with finance and Mir Bakshi with the army).

Question 5. Explain any five main features of the mansabdari system introduced by Akbar.
Answer: Here are five key details of the Mansabdari system:
1. Every officer received a rank called a mansab, which showed their level of importance. Ranks went from ten horsemen up to seven thousand horsemen.
2. Only the king could hire, promote, or dismiss a mansabdar.
3. Officers were paid based on their rank, often receiving land grants called jagirs instead of cash.
4. A rank was not inherited by a son. When an officer died, his land returned to the king, who could give it to someone new.
5. Officers did not rule or manage the lands given to them; they only collected tax from them as salary.
In simple words: The Mansabdari system was a grading system for officers. Their pay and duties depended on their rank, but their children could not inherit this job.

Exam Tip: Note that "jagirs" were land pieces given as salary, but officers had no ruling power over them.

Question 6. What measures did Akbar adopt to reorganize and strengthen the army?
Answer: Akbar used several methods to build a stronger and more organized army:
1. He set up the Mansabdari system where every officer's rank was based on the number of soldiers they managed.
2. He kept full control by personally hiring, promoting, and dismissing army leaders.
3. He paid officers with land grants called jagirs to cover the costs of their troops.
4. He made sure military ranks were not hereditary, so positions went only to capable leaders.
5. He used systems to brand horses and keep detailed descriptions of soldiers to prevent cheating.
6. He kept a permanent standing army with a strong cavalry, relying on officers to supply well-trained soldiers.
7. He directly managed his own loyal bodyguards, war elephants, and highly organized artillery units.
In simple words: Akbar made his army strong by using a ranking system, branding horses to stop fraud, and keeping his own elite units of bodyguards and war elephants.

Exam Tip: Mentioning "branding horses" (called Dagh) and "artillery" shows how Akbar modernized his military forces.

Question 7. Explain the important features of the land revenue system introduced by Todar Mai.
Answer: The system, known as Todar Mal's Bandobast, had these key points:
1. Fields were measured using bamboo rods connected by iron rings for accuracy.
2. Farm fields were split into four groups depending on how often they were planted, and graded from good to poor.
3. Officers worked out the average yields and prices of the last ten years. The king took a one-third share of this average, preferably in cash.
4. Tax collection officers had strict orders to treat farmers with kindness.
5. The state gave easy-to-repay loans to farmers so they could buy seeds, animals, and farming tools.
6. If dry weather or floods ruined the crops, the government forgave the tax.
In simple words: Todar Mal's system measured land carefully, set taxes based on ten-year averages, gave loans to farmers, and canceled taxes during natural disasters.

Exam Tip: Note that this land system was highly successful because it protected the farmers while ensuring steady income for the state.

Question 8. What policies did Akbar follow to transform the Islamic state into a secular one and unite the diverse races in the country into a single nation based on equality?
Answer: Akbar worked to build a secular and united nation where all communities felt valued:
1. He removed the Jaziya tax on non-Muslims and stopped taxing Hindus on pilgrimages.
2. He permitted the building of temples and gave people the freedom to celebrate festivals. His Hindu wives could openly celebrate Holi and Diwali.
3. He hired qualified Hindus like Birbal, Todar Mal, and Bhagwan Das for top administrative roles.
4. He married daughters of Rajput kings and respected their personal religious beliefs.
5. He gave land grants to people of all religions without any discrimination.
In simple words: Akbar treated everyone equally by stopping unfair taxes, letting people worship as they wished, and giving top government jobs to talented Hindus.

Exam Tip: Mentioning "secular policies" and "abolition of Jaziya" shows how Akbar won the support of the majority Hindu population.

Question 9. Briefly explain the features and objectives of the Din- i-Ilahi?
Answer: The key features and goals of Din-i-Ilahi were:
1. Belief in one God: It focused on a single creator, with the king serving as God's representative on earth.
2. No rituals or priests: It had no holy books, temples, or religious ceremonies. It was simply a moral guide for good living.
3. Unity of communities: The main goal was to create a common path that Hindus, Muslims, and others could follow.
4. Peace and brotherhood: It aimed to promote harmony and bring the entire nation together under one shared identity.
In simple words: Din-i-Ilahi was a code of conduct designed to bring Hindus and Muslims together by focusing on one God and moral living, without any priests or temples.

Exam Tip: Remember that Din-i-Ilahi aimed for peace and unity (universal brotherhood) rather than creating a strict new religion.

Question 10. Mention the important features of Akbar’s Rajput policy. Why did he adopt this policy and what were its results?
Answer: Akbar knew he could not rule a stable empire without the help of the brave Rajputs.
His policy included:
1. Treating Rajput rulers with high respect and equality.
2. Strengthening bonds through family marriage alliances.
3. Hiring Rajputs for key military and political jobs.
4. Removing unfair taxes like Jaziya and pilgrim fees.
5. Leaving Rajput rulers in charge of their lands, as long as they accepted his leadership.
Results: He won their complete loyalty. The Rajputs became a strong foundation that kept the Mughal empire safe and powerful.
In simple words: Akbar made friends with the Rajputs because they were brave warriors. By treating them with respect, he turned them into loyal supporters of his kingdom.

Exam Tip: The main result of this policy was that the Rajputs became the "backbone of the empire," helping Akbar win many battles.

Question 11. Mention any two important social reforms introduced by Akbar?
Answer: Akbar brought in important social changes to end harmful traditions:
1. He banned the practice of Sati and made it legal for widows to marry again.
2. He took steps to stop child marriage by raising the minimum marriage age to fourteen for girls and sixteen for boys.
In simple words: Akbar stopped the cruel practice of Sati, allowed widows to remarry, and made child marriages illegal by setting age limits.

Exam Tip: Focus on the specific age limits (14 for girls, 16 for boys) as they are common exam questions.

Question 12. Give an account of Akbar’s cultural achievements with reference to: (a) Literature (b) Architecture
Answer:
(a) Literature:
His court historian, Abul Fazl, wrote the famous history book Akbarnama in Persian. Hindi was also highly valued. Akbar named Birbal as the court's official Hindi poet (Kavi Raj). During this period, the famous writer Tulsidas composed the Ramacharitamanas.

(b) Architecture:
Mughal building styles shifted from Persian designs (like Humayun's Tomb) to deeply Indian and Rajput-inspired styles. His new capital city, Fatehpur Sikri, was built of red sandstone and is known as a dream in stone. It contains magnificent structures like the Diwan-i-Khas, Panch Mahal, Jodha Bai's Palace, and the Buland Darwaza.
In simple words: Under Akbar, famous books like the Akbarnama were written, and beautiful sandstone buildings like those in Fatehpur Sikri were constructed, mixing Indian and Persian styles.

Exam Tip: Mentioning "Abul Fazl" and "Fatehpur Sikri" are essential points when writing about Akbar's cultural contributions.

Picture Study - Ibadat Khana

The picture depicts a Mughal emperor holding discussions on religious matters in the Ibadat Khana.

Question 1. Identify the emperor.
Answer: Akbar.
In simple words: The king leading the discussions was Akbar.

Exam Tip: Akbar was highly curious and loved learning about different beliefs.

Question 2. Which religious communities participated in the discussions?
Answer: Scholars and leaders from many groups took part, including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christian missionaries.
In simple words: Wise people from religions like Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity sat together to talk.

Exam Tip: This wide participation shows that Akbar respected all paths of faith.

Question 3. Why did the emperor organize these assemblies?
Answer: The king set up these meetings to learn about the core ideas and values of every religion.
In simple words: He wanted to understand what different religions teach so he could find the truth in all of them.

Exam Tip: These discussions directly led to his ideas about universal peace (Sulh-i-Kul) and Din-i-Ilahi.