Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Who shifted the capital from Agra to Delhi?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: C
Concept
Capital shifts in the Mughal era were massive urban planning projects. Moving from the established hub of Agra to Delhi was a move toward establishing a new, more magnificent imperial identity.Explanation
Shah Jahan shifted the capital from Agra to Delhi in 1638. He commissioned the construction of a new walled city called Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) and the iconic Red Fort to serve as the new center of the empire.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: The shift allowed Shah Jahan to escape the crowded streets of Agra and design a city that perfectly reflected his architectural and political vision.
Logic 2: While Akbar and Jahangir primarily used Agra and Lahore, it was specifically Shah Jahan who institutionalized Delhi as the primary Mughal seat for the next two centuries.