Which of the following statements about Akbar are correct? 1. In 156

Which of the following statements about Akbar are correct?

  • 1. In 1560s, Akbar had the Fort of Agra constructed.
  • 2. In 1570s, Akbar decided to build a new capital at Fatehpur Sikri.
  • 3. Akbar also commissioned a white marble tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Sikri.
  • 4. In 1585, Akbar decided to shift the capital back to Agra.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 4
1, 2 and 3
2, 3 and 4
3 and 4 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2021
Statement 1 is correct: Akbar began the construction of the Agra Fort around 1565, transforming the existing fort into a major Mughal stronghold.
Statement 2 is correct: In the 1570s, specifically after the birth of his son Jahangir (in 1569) and the victory over Gujarat, Akbar decided to build a new capital city at Fatehpur Sikri, near the khanqah of Shaikh Salim Chishti. Construction was largely completed by the mid-1570s.
Statement 3 is correct: Akbar commissioned the construction of the tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Fatehpur Sikri. While the original tomb was likely sandstone, it was later encased in white marble by Akbar himself, and the entire complex is a significant part of Fatehpur Sikri.
Statement 4 is incorrect: Akbar shifted his capital from Fatehpur Sikri to Lahore in 1585 to oversee the frontier in the northwest and respond to the Yusufzai rebellion. He remained in Lahore until 1598, only returning to Agra later.
– Akbar initiated construction of Agra Fort in the 1560s.
– Fatehpur Sikri was built as a new capital in the 1570s.
– The marble tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti is located at Fatehpur Sikri and was commissioned by Akbar.
– Akbar moved his capital to Lahore in 1585, not back to Agra.
Fatehpur Sikri was the Mughal capital for about 15 years (c. 1571-1585) before it was abandoned, likely due to water scarcity or strategic reasons leading to the move to Lahore. Akbar returned to Agra in 1598 where he died in 1605.