The court language of the Mughal Empire in India for administration and high culture was which of the following languages?

Introduction / Context:

This question is about the official or court language used by the Mughal rulers in India. Language policy is an important feature of any empire because it affects administration, literature, and culture. Knowing which language served as the primary medium of courtly communication under the Mughals is a basic part of medieval Indian history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is specific to the Mughal court.
• It asks which language functioned as the court language.
• Options include several major languages of the region.
• We assume awareness that spoken vernaculars and official court languages can be different.

Concept / Approach:

The key concept is that Persian was the principal court and administrative language of the Mughals. Imperial orders, chronicles, and many literary works were written in Persian. Although local languages flourished simultaneously, Persian dominated formal court culture. The approach is to recall this historical fact and avoid confusing it with later linguistic developments such as the rise of Urdu.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative Check:

A useful cross check is to recall famous Mughal chronicles such as Akbarnama and Shahjahanama, which were composed in Persian. Many farmans and official decisions were also recorded in Persian and later translated into local languages. While Urdu developed as a composite language in north India and became important in later periods, it did not replace Persian as the main court language during most of the Mughal era.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A, Hindi, was widely spoken among the people but did not serve as the primary court language for formal matters in the Mughal period.

Option B, Arabic, was respected as a sacred language for Islamic texts but was not the main administrative language at the Mughal court.

Option D, Urdu, emerged as a literary and spoken language in north India but became prominent as an official language under later regimes, not as the central court language of the classical Mughal Empire.

Option E, Sanskrit, was used for Hindu religious and scholarly works, not for Mughal court administration.

Common Pitfalls:

Students sometimes choose Urdu because they associate it strongly with north Indian Muslim culture. Others may mistakenly think Arabic must be the language of an Islamic dynasty. However, in the specific historical context of the Mughals, Persian occupied the central position in court and administration. Remembering this Persian connection helps avoid confusion.

Final Answer:

The court language of the Mughals in India was Persian.