Match List-I with List-II
| List-I | List-II | ||
| (A) | Agha | (I) | Wives who came from royal families |
| (B) | Begum | (II) | Concubine |
| (C) | Aghacha | (III) | Slave Eunuchs |
| (D) | Khwajasara | (IV) | Other wives who were not of noble birth |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A)-(IV), (B)-(I), (C)-(II), (D)-(III)
(A) Agha — this matches (IV) Other wives who were not of noble birth. The Mughal household kept a distinction between the begams and the other wives, the aghas, who were not of noble birth.
(B) Begum — this matches (I) Wives who came from royal families. The begams came from royal families and, married after a huge dower (mahr), received a higher status than the aghas.
(C) Aghacha — this matches (II) Concubine. The concubines, aghacha or the lesser agha, occupied the lowest position among the women related to royalty.
(D) Khwajasara — this matches (III) Slave Eunuchs. Slave eunuchs, khwajasara, moved between the external and internal life of the household as guards, servants and agents for women in commerce.
Note: 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).
NCERT (Pre-rationalised): “7. The Imperial Household … In the Mughal household a distinction was maintained between wives who came from royal families (begams), and other wives (aghas) who were not of noble birth. The begams, married after receiving huge amounts of cash and valuables as dower (mahr ), naturally received a higher status and greater attention from their husbands than did aghas. The concubines (aghacha or the lesser agha) occupied the lowest position in the hierarchy of females intimately related to royalty.… 7. The Imperial Household … Apart from wives, numerous male and female slaves populated the Mughal household. The tasks they performed varied from the most mundane to those requiring skill, tact and intelligence. Slave eunuchs (khwajasara ) moved between the external and internal life of the household as guards, servants, and also as agents for women dabbling in commerce.…” |