THE 3 BATTLES OF PANIPAT
There have been three Battles of Panipat:
The First Battle of Panipat (1526)
Fought between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi.
The Second Battle of Panipat (1556)
At which Akbar defeated Hemu.
The Third Battle of Panipat (1761)
At which Afghani forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali defeated the Maratha Empire.
The First Battle of Panipat
Fought on: 21 April 1526
Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi
Major points
Babur won the war.
This victory marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India.
It was one of the earliest battles involving gunpowder firearms and field artillery in the Indian subcontinent.
The Second Battle of Panipat
Fought on: 5 November 1556
Hemu vs Akbar
Major points
The forces of Emperor Akbar won the battle.
This marked the beginning of Akbar’s rule across India.
His reign lasted for almost 50 years, strengthening Mughal rule in India.
The Third Battle of Panipat
Fought on: 13 January 1761
Afghans vs Maratha
Major points
The Afghans emerged victorious.
It is considered one of the largest and most eventful battles of the 18th century.
It possibly had the highest number of fatalities in a single day in a classical formation battle.
The battle lasted for several days and involved over 125,000 troops.
Battles of Panipat – GK Questions & Answers
Q1. How many Battles of Panipat were fought in Indian history?
Ans: Three Battles of Panipat were fought.
Q2. When was the First Battle of Panipat fought?
Ans: The First Battle of Panipat was fought on 21 April 1526.
Q3. Who fought in the First Battle of Panipat?
Ans: The First Battle of Panipat was fought between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi.
Q4. Who won the First Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Babur won the First Battle of Panipat.
Q5. What was the historical importance of the First Battle of Panipat?
Ans: It marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India.
Q6. Which battle marked the early use of gunpowder and artillery in India?
Ans: The First Battle of Panipat (1526).
Q7. When was the Second Battle of Panipat fought?
Ans: The Second Battle of Panipat was fought on 5 November 1556.
Q8. Who fought in the Second Battle of Panipat?
Ans: The Second Battle of Panipat was fought between Hemu and Akbar.
Q9. Who won the Second Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Emperor Akbar won the Second Battle of Panipat.
Q10. What was the result of the Second Battle of Panipat?
Ans: It established Akbar’s rule across India.
Q11. When was the Third Battle of Panipat fought?
Ans: The Third Battle of Panipat was fought on 13 January 1761.
Q12. Who fought in the Third Battle of Panipat?
Ans: The battle was fought between the Afghans and the Marathas.
Q13. Who won the Third Battle of Panipat?
Ans: The Afghans, led by Ahmad Shah Abdali, emerged victorious.
Q14. Why is the Third Battle of Panipat historically important?
Ans: It is considered one of the largest and most decisive battles of the 18th century.
Q15. Approximately how many troops were involved in the Third Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Over 125,000 troops were involved.
Q16. In which present-day state is Panipat located?
Ans: Panipat is located in Haryana.
Q17. Which ruler founded the Mughal Empire in India?
Ans: Babur founded the Mughal Empire.
Q18. Which dynasty was defeated in the First Battle of Panipat?
Ans: The Lodi Dynasty was defeated.
Q19. Who was the last ruler of the Lodi Dynasty?
Ans: Ibrahim Lodi.
Q20. Which weapon gave Babur a strategic advantage in 1526?
Ans: Gunpowder firearms and artillery.
Q21. Who was Hemu also known as?
Ans: Hem Chandra Vikramaditya.
Q22. The Second Battle of Panipat was fought between which empires?
Ans: The Mughal forces and Hemu’s army.
Q23. Who was Akbar’s guardian during the Second Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Bairam Khan.
Q24. Which battle confirmed Mughal dominance in India?
Ans: The Second Battle of Panipat (1556).
Q25. Who led the Afghan forces in the Third Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Ahmad Shah Abdali (Ahmad Shah Durrani).
Q26. Which Maratha leader commanded the army in the Third Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Sadashivrao Bhau.
Q27. Which battle weakened the Maratha power severely?
Ans: The Third Battle of Panipat.
Q28. Which century did the Third Battle of Panipat take place in?
Ans: The 18th century.
Q29. How many days did the Third Battle of Panipat last?
Ans: It lasted for several days.
Q30. Which battle is considered one of the bloodiest battles in Indian history?
Ans: The Third Battle of Panipat (1761).
Q31. Why is Panipat called the “Land of Historic Battles”?
Ans: Because three major decisive battles were fought there.
Q32. Which empire declined after the Third Battle of Panipat?
Ans: The Maratha Empire.
Q33. Which battle introduced modern warfare techniques in India?
Ans: The First Battle of Panipat.
Q34. Which Mughal emperor had the longest reign after Panipat victories?
Ans: Akbar, who ruled for nearly 50 years.
Q35. Panipat battles were mainly fought to control which region?
Ans: Northern India.
Q36. Which battle ended the Delhi Sultanate rule?
Ans: The First Battle of Panipat (1526).
Q37. Which ruler introduced the use of cannons in Indian warfare?
Ans: Babur.
Q38. Who was the Mughal emperor during the Second Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Akbar.
Q39. How old was Akbar during the Second Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Akbar was 13 years old.
Q40. Who actually led the Mughal army in the Second Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Bairam Khan.
Q41. Which Afghan ruler is also known as Ahmad Shah Durrani?
Ans: Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Q42. Which Maratha leader died in the Third Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Sadashivrao Bhau.
Q43. Which Maratha leader was captured and later killed after the Third Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Vishwasrao, the son of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao.
Q44. Which empire benefited indirectly after the Third Battle of Panipat?
Ans: The British East India Company.
Q45. Which battle is associated with massive cavalry warfare?
Ans: The Third Battle of Panipat.
Q46. Which battle marked the rise of the Mughal dynasty in India?
Ans: The First Battle of Panipat.
Q47. Which battle secured Mughal supremacy for nearly 200 years?
Ans: The Second Battle of Panipat.
Q48. Which battle caused a temporary halt to Maratha expansion in North India?
Ans: The Third Battle of Panipat.
Q49. Which year saw two major powers clash at Panipat for the last time?
Ans: 1761.
Q50. Panipat is situated near which important Indian city?
Ans: Delhi.
Q51. Which Panipat battle is included frequently in UPSC and SSC exams?
Ans: All three Battles of Panipat, especially the First and Third.
Q52. Which battle proved the importance of military strategy over numbers?
Ans: The First Battle of Panipat.
Q53. Which empire was at its peak before the Third Battle of Panipat?
Ans: The Maratha Empire.
Q54. Which battle is considered a turning point in medieval Indian history?
Ans: The First Battle of Panipat.
Q55. Which place witnessed the clash of Central Asian, Afghan, and Indian powers?
Ans: Panipat.