Consider the following statements: The arrival of Babur into the Indian subcontinent led to the 1. introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent 2. introduction of the arch and dome in the region's architecture 3. establishment of a Timurid dynasty in the region Which of these statements is/are correct?

The arrival of Babur in 1526 marked the establishment of the Timurid dynasty in India, as Babur was a direct descendant of Timur [1]. While Babur is credited with the first effective use of field artillery and matchlocks in an open battlefield at Panipat, gunpowder and firearms had already reached various parts of the Indian subcontinent via trade routes from China, the Middle East, and Europe before his arrival [3]. Therefore, statement 1 is incorrect. Regarding architecture, the 'true' arch and dome were introduced much earlier by the Delhi Sultanate during the 13th century (e.g., Alai Darwaza), not by Babur. Mughal architecture later refined these elements into bulbous domes and elaborate designs, but they were not the originators of the style in the region [2]. Thus, only statement 3 is historically accurate.

Sources

1. [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > The Mughals > p. 36
2. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Architecture > p. 217
3. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > Timeline > p. 221