What was the combined army of the Sikh 'Jathas' and 'Misls' called in the eighteenth century?
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Correct answer: D
Explanation
In the eighteenth century, the combined army of Sikh jathas and misls was called the Dal Khalsa.
The Dal Khalsa was founded in Amritsar on the occasion of Baisakhi in 1748. It was founded by Nawab Kapur Singh, who formed a unified army by uniting various smaller Sikh jathas.
After Nawab Kapur Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia became its commander-in-chief.
The Dal Khalsa was divided into two main sections—the Taruna Dal (the army of youth) and the Budha Dal (the army of elders and experienced warriors). These groups met near the Amrit Sarovar in Amritsar and made collective decisions known as the Gurumat.
Its primary objective was to defend the Sikh community against Mughal invaders and foreign invaders like Ahmad Shah Abdali and to establish autonomy in Punjab.