With reference to the Mughal Emperor Babur, consider the following statements: 1. He was a descendant of Emperor Timur and Genghis Khan. 2. His autobiography Baburnama contains no references to artists or painting. 3. He mentioned the Persian artist Bihzad but criticized his way of drawing faces. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Option The correct option is 1 and 3 only. Explanation Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, was a ruler with deep literary and aesthetic interests. His memoirs, the Tuzuk-i-Baburi (Baburnama), serve as a vital historical source, documenting his lineage, military campaigns, and observations on nature and art. Statement-wise Analysis - Statement 1 is Correct: Babur possessed a distinguished lineage connecting two major conquerors of Central Asia. On his father’s side, he was a descendant of Timur (a Turco-Mongol conqueror), and on his mother’s side, he descended from Genghis Khan (the Mongol ruler). Culturally, he identified as a Chaghtai Turk. - Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Baburnama contains specific references to artists and paintings. It is not merely a political or military record; it reflects Babur's keen observation of the artistic developments of his time, contradicting the claim that it lacks such references. - Statement 3 is Correct: Babur demonstrated critical appreciation for art in his memoirs. He specifically mentioned the celebrated Persian painter Bihzad (often called the "Raphael of the East"). While acknowledging Bihzad’s mastery, Babur critiqued his technique, noting that while he drew bearded faces excellently, he struggled with beardless faces, often elongating the double chin excessively. Key Takeaway: Babur introduced the Persian tradition of art appreciation to the Indian subcontinent, and his critical analysis of artists like Bihzad in the Baburnama highlights the early roots of the Mughal school of painting.

NCERT Class 12 Art & Culture — Chapter 3: The Mughal School of Miniature Painting

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With reference to the Mughal Emperor Babur, consider the following statements:

He was a descendant of Emperor Timur and Genghis Khan.
His autobiography Baburnama contains no references to artists or painting.
He mentioned the Persian artist Bihzad but criticized his way of drawing faces.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

A2 only
B1, 2 and 3
C1 and 3 only
D1 and 2 only

Did you get this right?

Solution

Correct Option

The correct option is 1 and 3 only.

Explanation

Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, was a ruler with deep literary and aesthetic interests. His memoirs, the Tuzuk-i-Baburi (Baburnama), serve as a vital historical source, documenting his lineage, military campaigns, and observations on nature and art.

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Correct: Babur possessed a distinguished lineage connecting two major conquerors of Central Asia. On his father’s side, he was a descendant of Timur (a Turco-Mongol conqueror), and on his mother’s side, he descended from Genghis Khan (the Mongol ruler). Culturally, he identified as a Chaghtai Turk.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Baburnama contains specific references to artists and paintings. It is not merely a political or military record; it reflects Babur's keen observation of the artistic developments of his time, contradicting the claim that it lacks such references.
Statement 3 is Correct: Babur demonstrated critical appreciation for art in his memoirs. He specifically mentioned the celebrated Persian painter Bihzad (often called the "Raphael of the East"). While acknowledging Bihzad’s mastery, Babur critiqued his technique, noting that while he drew bearded faces excellently, he struggled with beardless faces, often elongating the double chin excessively.

Key Takeaway: Babur introduced the Persian tradition of art appreciation to the Indian subcontinent, and his critical analysis of artists like Bihzad in the Baburnama highlights the early roots of the Mughal school of painting.

Your note

More from Chapter 3: The Mughal School of Miniature Painting

Consider the following pairs of Pigments and their Sources used in Mughal painting: 1. Vermilion : Cinnabar 2. Ultramarine : Lapis Lazuli 3. Bright Yellow : Orpiment 4. Black : Charcoal How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

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With reference to the pre-Mughal and indigenous schools of painting in India, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike the Mughal style, the indigenous style emphasized a flat perspective and bold modelling of figures. 2. The indigenous style was completely replaced by the Mughal style due to the latter's optical reality and finesse. 3. The Mughal style introduced three-dimensional figure portrayal which was absent in the parallel indigenous schools. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Consider the following statements regarding the illustrated manuscript Hamza Nama: 1. It was a project conceived and completed entirely during the reign of Emperor Babur. 2. The paintings were executed directly on cloth rather than on paper. 3. The project was completed under the supervision of the Persian masters Mir Sayyid Ali and Abd us Samad. Which of the statements given above are correct?

hard

With reference to the artistic developments under Emperor Jahangir, consider the following statements: 1. His atelier preferred mass production of manuscripts over individual high-quality artworks. 2. The practice of creating Muraqqas became popular under his patronage. 3. He employed the artist Basawan to achieve sophistication in painting. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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With reference to the painting Noah’s Ark from the Diwan-i Hafiz, consider the following statements: 1. It is ascribed to the artist Daswant. 2. It depicts the sons of Noah throwing Iblis out of the ark. 3. It is characterized by a vertical perspective that infuses the painting with dramatic energy. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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Correct Option

The correct option is 1 and 3 only.

Explanation

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Correct: Babur possessed a distinguished lineage connecting two major conquerors of Central Asia. On his father’s side, he was a descendant of Timur (a Turco-Mongol conqueror), and on his mother’s side, he descended from Genghis Khan (the Mongol ruler). Culturally, he identified as a Chaghtai Turk.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Baburnama contains specific references to artists and paintings. It is not merely a political or military record; it reflects Babur's keen observation of the artistic developments of his time, contradicting the claim that it lacks such references.
Statement 3 is Correct: Babur demonstrated critical appreciation for art in his memoirs. He specifically mentioned the celebrated Persian painter Bihzad (often called the "Raphael of the East"). While acknowledging Bihzad’s mastery, Babur critiqued his technique, noting that while he drew bearded faces excellently, he struggled with beardless faces, often elongating the double chin excessively.