SSC Selection Post 2025 PYQ — Question 20

Correct Answer

Sikandar Lodhi

Explanation

Sikandar Lodhi, who ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1489 to 1517, founded the city of Agra in 1504 and officially shifted his capital from Delhi to Agra in 1506. The primary motivation behind this strategic relocation was to establish better administrative and military control over the rich trading routes of the Indo-Gangetic plains, Malwa, and the restless Rajputana borderlands. By establishing a forward military base in Agra, he could more effectively launch campaigns against rebellious local chieftains and secure internal trade networks.

The other rulers mentioned in the options played distinct roles within the history of the Lodhi Dynasty:

Bahlul Lodhi was the founder of the Lodhi Dynasty and the father of Sikandar Lodhi, spending most of his reign consolidating power in Delhi and conquering the neighboring Jaunpur Sultanate.

Ibrahim Lodhi was the son of Sikandar Lodhi and the final ruler of the dynasty, who retained Agra as his capital but famously lost his kingdom and life to Babur at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.

Daulat Khan Lodhi was not a sultan but the powerful governor of Lahore during Ibrahim Lodhi's reign, who famously invited the Mughal emperor Babur to invade India due to severe internal rifts with the sultan.

Key Points

Sikandar Lodhi founded Agra in 1504 as a military garrison town before formally moving the central government apparatus there two years later, marking the beginning of Agra's long history as an imperial seat of power.

The strategic geography of Agra allowed the Delhi Sultanate to keep a watchful eye on the aggressive Rajput principalities and manage the critical commerce passing through Central India.

Following this shift, Agra transformed from a small riverside settlement on the Yamuna into a magnificent center of culture, commerce, and architecture, laying the structural groundwork for the future Mughal Empire.

Additional Facts

Sikandar Lodhi was a highly capable administrator who introduced a uniform land measurement standard known as the Gazz-i-Sikandari, which remained a benchmark for land revenue assessment for decades.

Apart from his political maneuvers, he was an enthusiastic poet who wrote extensive Persian verses under the pen name Gulrukhi.

Important Questions and Answers

Question: In which specific year did Sikandar Lodhi establish the city of Agra, and when did it formally become the capital of the Delhi Sultanate?

Answer: Sikandar Lodhi established the city of Agra in 1504 and formally shifted the capital from Delhi to Agra in 1506.

Question: What major geopolitical advantage did the city of Agra offer to Sikandar Lodhi compared to the traditional seat of power in Delhi?

Answer: Agra provided a superior geographic advantage for launching military campaigns and maintaining administrative surveillance over the turbulent regions of Rajputana, Malwa, and Central Indian trade channels.