Which was the most decisive battle from the point of view of the consolidation of the Mughal Empire?
The Battle of Khanwa (1527) was the most decisive for Mughal consolidation. While Panipat established Mughal rule by defeating the Lodi Sultanate, Khanwa crushed the powerful Rajput Confederacy under Rana Sanga. This victory neutralized the strongest indigenous threat to Babur, securing his control over North India and transitioning the Mughals from a mere occupying force to a long-term ruling dynasty. Answer: (C) Battle of Khanwa
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While the First Battle of Panipat (1526) founded the Mughal Empire by defeating Ibrahim Lodi, the Battle of Khanwa (1527) was crucial for its consolidation. At Khanwa, Babur faced a formidable alliance of Rajputs led by the highly respected Rana Sanga of Mewar, who represented the strongest native opposition and a viable alternative to Mughal rule.
Babur’s victory, achieved through the strategic use of artillery and the Tulughma tactic, was a death blow to the organized resistance of the Rajputs. It not only shattered the dream of a revived Hindu empire but also cemented Babur’s presence, turning his new territory from a temporary conquest into a stable, lasting empire.