SSC Selection Post 2025 PYQ — Question 15

Correct Answer

Battle of Panipat (1526)

Explanation

The First Battle of Panipat (1526) directly caused the collapse and decline of the Delhi Sultanate. Fought between the invading forces of Babur and the Lodi Dynasty under Ibrahim Lodi, the conflict resulted in a decisive victory for Babur. Ibrahim Lodi was killed on the battlefield, bringing an end to the Lodi Dynasty—the final ruling dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate—and marking the official foundation of the Mughal Empire in India.

While the Battle of Tarain (1192) established the foundation of Islamic rule leading to the Sultanate, the Battle of Panipat (1526) brought its final end. The Battle of Khanwa (1527) and the Battle of Talikota (1565) were critical conflicts but did not mark the decline of the Delhi Sultanate.

Key Points

Babur's tactical use of field artillery and firearms, known as the Rumi system, was a revolutionary military adaptation that easily overwhelmed the traditional war elephants and massive cavalry of the Delhi Sultanate. Ibrahim Lodi remains the only Sultan of Delhi to die fighting directly on the battlefield. The victory consolidated Central Asian Mughal hegemony over North India, ending over three centuries of Delhi Sultanate rule.

Important Questions and Answers

Question: Who was the ruling Sultan of Delhi who lost his life during the First Battle of Panipat in 1526?

Answer: Ibrahim Lodi.

Question: Which military technological advancement was introduced effectively for the first time in Northern India by Babur during this battle?

Answer: Gunpowder firearms and field artillery (cannons).