Arrange the following Mughal capital cities in chronological order during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
A. Fatehpur Sikri
B. Agra
C. Lahore
D. Shahjahanabad
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → B, A, C, D
(B) Agra — Babur took over the Lodi capital of Agra, and during the 1560s Akbar had the fort of Agra built of red sandstone.
(A) Fatehpur Sikri — in the 1570s Akbar decided to build a new capital, Fatehpur Sikri, on the direct road to Ajmer.
(C) Lahore — in 1585 the capital was transferred to Lahore to bring the north-west under greater control.
(D) Shahjahanabad — in 1648 Shah Jahan’s court, army and household moved from Agra to the newly completed imperial capital, Shahjahanabad.
Note 1: This question is taken from the chapter ‘Kings and Chronicles’ which was there in the pre-rationalised NCERT and has been deleted from subsequent editions of NCERT, including the NCERT book (2026-27).
Note 2: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| – | – | – | 10-06 S3 12-06 S3* | – |
* A similar question.
NCERT (Pre-rationalised): “6.1 Capital cities … The capital cities of the Mughals frequently shifted during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Babur took over the Lodi capital of Agra, though during the four years of his reign the court was frequently on the move. During the 1560s Akbar had the fort of Agra constructed with red sandstone quarried from the adjoining regions. In the 1570s he decided to build a new capital, Fatehpur Sikri.… 6.1 Capital cities … In 1585 the capital was transferred to Lahore to bring the north-west under greater control and Akbar closely watched the frontier for thirteen years.… 6.1 Capital cities … In 1648 the court, army and household moved from Agra to the newly completed imperial capital, Shahjahanabad.…” |