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India on the Eve of British Conquest

External Challenges i. Nadir Shah's Invasion (1739, during Md. Shah's reign) Invaded via Punjab; defeated Mughals at Battle of Karnal.
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India on the Eve of British Conquest

🔶 1. Challenges Before the Mughals

a) External Challenges

i. Nadir Shah's Invasion (1739, during Md. Shah's reign)

  • Invaded via Punjab; defeated Mughals at Battle of Karnal.

  • Looted Delhi – took Peacock Throne and Kohinoor diamond.

  • Acquired strategic western territories including Kabul and land west of Indus.

ii. Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani Empire)

  • Successor of Nadir Shah; raided India multiple times (1748–1767).

Key Events:

  • 1751–52: Mughals ceded Punjab.

  • 1757: Captured Delhi, installed Afghan caretaker over the Mughal emperor.

    • Najib-ud-Daula (Rohilla Chief) made Mir Bakshi and Abdali’s chief agent in India.

  • 1758: Najib expelled by Maratha Raghunath Rao, Punjab captured.

  • 1759: Abdali returns.

  • 1761: Fought Third Battle of Panipat against the Marathas.

  • 1767: Last invasion of Abdali.

b) Internal Challenges – Weak Mughal Rulers After Aurangzeb

Ruler Reign Key Highlights
Bahadur Shah I 1709–1712 Released Shahu (Maratha); pacifist policy with Marathas, Rajputs, Jats.
Jahandar Shah 1712–1713 Came to power with Zulfikar Khan’s help; introduced Ijara system; abolished Jizya.
Farrukhsiyar 1713–1719 Sayyid Brothers’ puppet; granted Farmans to British; abolished Jizya & Pilgrimage Tax; killed by Sayyid Brothers.
Rafi-ud-Darajat 1719 Brief rule; installed by Sayyid Brothers.
Rafi-ud-Daula (Shah Jahan II) 1719 Another puppet of Sayyid Brothers.
Muhammad Shah (Rangeela) 1719–1748 Defeated by Nadir Shah at Karnal; promoted culture & Urdu; Sayyid Brothers eliminated with help of Nizam-ul-Mulk.
Ahmad Shah Bahadur 1748–1754 Power held by mother Udham Bai and eunuch Javid Khan.
Alamgir II 1754–1758 Reign saw Plassey (1757) and Abdali’s invasion.
Shah Jahan III 1758–1759 Short rule.
Shah Alam II 1759–1806 Faced Panipat (1761), Buxar (1764); became pensioner of EIC after Treaty of Allahabad (1765).
Akbar II 1806–1837 Gave title of ‘Raja’ to Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1830); Mughal title removed from coins in 1835.
Bahadur Shah Zafar II 1837–1857 Last emperor; led 1857 Revolt; exiled to Rangoon.

🔶 Summary Points

  • Mughals faced multiple foreign invasions, internal disunity, and weak leadership.

  • Mughal nobles were corrupt and faction-ridden.

  • Marathas, Sikhs, and European powers filled the power vacuum.

  • By mid-18th century, the British East India Company started expanding its influence.

🧠 UPSC-Style MCQs

1. Who was the Mughal ruler when Nadir Shah invaded India?
A. Bahadur Shah I
B. Muhammad Shah
C. Alamgir II
D. Farrukhsiyar
✅ Answer: B. Muhammad Shah

2. Who among the following was appointed ‘Mir Bakshi’ by Ahmad Shah Abdali?
A. Javid Khan
B. Zulfikar Khan
C. Najib-ud-Daula
D. Raghunath Rao
✅ Answer: C. Najib-ud-Daula

3. Which Mughal ruler issued Farmans granting trading rights to the British?
A. Jahandar Shah
B. Farrukhsiyar
C. Shah Alam II
D. Akbar Shah II
✅ Answer: B. Farrukhsiyar

4. Who expelled Najib-ud-Daula from Delhi in 1758?
A. Robert Clive
B. Shahu
C. Raghunath Rao
D. Balaji Vishwanath
✅ Answer: C. Raghunath Rao

5. Which Mughal emperor gave the title ‘Raja’ to Raja Ram Mohan Roy?
A. Bahadur Shah Zafar
B. Shah Alam II
C. Akbar Shah II
D. Alamgir II
✅ Answer: C. Akbar Shah II

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