[Solved] Akbar's Marriage Reforms and Monogamy Policy

Who among the following had ordered that a man should marry only one wife and could marry another only when the first wife was barren?

[UPPCS Mains 2002]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Akbar sought to standardize social practices to improve the dignity of women and maintain social order. His laws on marriage were quite advanced for the 16th century.

Authentic Source Evidence

Akbar introduced a regulation that a man should generally have only one wife. A second marriage was only permitted if the first wife was barren. He also raised the minimum age for marriage to 14 for girls and 16 for boys to combat the issue of child marriage.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Akbar's goal was to limit polygamy and protect women's status in society, which he saw as essential for a stable empire.

Logic 2: Along with this, he legalized widow remarriage and discouraged the practice of Sati unless the widow chose it entirely of her own free will.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"How did Akbar's marriage laws affect the nobility?"

They were part of a broader push to bring the private lives of nobles under imperial regulation, promoting a more ethical court culture.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"Akbar's marriage reforms show that the Mughal state under his rule acted as a proactive moral authority rather than just a revenue collector."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Sati Practice 2 Widow Remarriage 2

Analysing authentic UPPCS Mainsprevious year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to Social Reforms in Medieval India helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Akbar Marriage Reform and Monogamy builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →