SSC CGL 2024 Tier-I · 24 September 2024, Shift 2 · General Awareness · Question 23 of 100

Text as printed on a candidate's response sheet for this shift; answer per SSC's tentative key as marked on that sheet. Solution last reviewed 10 September 2026.

Where this paper and its answers come from

SSC does not publish CGL question papers or a public answer key. The questions and options here are reproduced as printed on a candidate's own response sheet for this shift — the Commission's text, unchanged. Each answer is SSC's tentative key as marked on that sheet; SSC allowed challenges to it and never publishes a final key. The solutions are written by UnlockIAS.

The real name of Babur, the founder of Mughal dynasty in India was:

(a)Zahiruddin Muhammad
(b)Irfanuddin Muhammad
(c)Ruknuddin Muhammad
(d)Zainuddin Muhammad

Answer

Why

Correct — A. Babur's name was Zahiruddin Muhammad. 'Babur' is the by-name he is remembered by, the way Jahangir is remembered rather than Salim.

He was a Timurid prince of Farghana, descended from Timur on his father's side and from Chingiz Khan on his mother's. He founded Mughal rule in India by defeating Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, and the name behind that title is option (a).

Why the others are wrong

(b)
Irfanuddin Muhammad — Irfanuddin Muhammad is not a name the Mughal record carries. No ruler of the dynasty is known by it, and it is placed here only to sit plausibly beside the real name.
(c)
Ruknuddin Muhammad — Ruknuddin is a Delhi Sultanate name rather than a Mughal one — Ruknuddin Firuz, a son of Iltutmish, briefly held Delhi in 1236. Babur's Timurid line arrives almost three centuries later.
(d)
Zainuddin Muhammad — Zainuddin Muhammad differs from the keyed name by a single syllable, which is exactly what the item is built on. Read the first element, Zahir and not Zain, before marking.

Concept

Babur (1483-1530) was a Timurid prince from Farghana in Central Asia. He lost his ancestral seat of Samarkand, took Kabul instead, and turned towards India from there.

His victory over Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat in 1526 ended Lodi rule at Delhi and began the Mughal empire. He followed it with Khanwa in 1527 against Rana Sanga, Chanderi in 1528 against Medini Rai, and Ghaghra in 1529.

His memoir, the Baburnama, was written in Chagatai Turkish and was translated into Persian in Akbar's reign by Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan. Babur was succeeded by his son Humayun.

Mughal rulers appear in the sources under more than one name. Jahangir was born Salim, Shah Jahan was Khurram, and Aurangzeb ruled under the title Alamgir. A question that asks for a 'real name' is asking you to separate the given name from the title.

Key facts

Babur's name was Zahiruddin Muhammad, and Babur is the by-name he is remembered by.
He defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, which began Mughal rule in India.
He defeated Rana Sanga at the Battle of Khanwa in 1527.
His memoir, the Baburnama, was written in Chagatai Turkish, and his son Humayun succeeded him.

Study next

Babur's four Indian battles: Panipat, Khanwa, Chanderi and GhaghraThe Baburnama and what it records about IndiaMughal rulers by given name and by regnal title

Common traps

Marking Zainuddin, which differs from the keyed name by one syllable.
Confusing Babur with Timur, his ancestor, whose invasion of India came in 1398.
Dating the founding of Mughal rule to Babur's accession in Farghana rather than to Panipat in 1526.

SSC works Babur's reign from the battle side — 23 Sep 2024, 09:00, GA Q.20 asks which battle he fought against Rana Sanga in 1527, and 26 Sep 2024, 12:30, GA Q.23 asks whom Medini Rai, Hasan Khan of Mewat and Mahmud Lodi joined Rana Sanga against.

Succession is asked at 17 Sep 2024, 09:00, GA Q.10, on who followed Babur.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.