The Red Fort in Delhi was built by which Mughal ruler?

Introduction / Context:
The Red Fort in Delhi is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a national symbol of India. It is also an important topic in medieval Indian history and architecture sections of exams. This question tests whether you know which Mughal ruler commissioned and built this iconic fort.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The monument mentioned is the Red Fort in Delhi.
• The options include Mughal rulers and a generic British authority option.
• You must identify the ruler associated with the construction of the fort.

Concept / Approach:
Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, is renowned for major architectural works, the most famous being the Taj Mahal. He also shifted the capital from Agra to a new city called Shahjahanabad in Delhi and built the Red Fort as its main palace complex. Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire, Aurangzeb was a later ruler, and British authorities only used the fort after the decline of Mughal power. Recognising Shah Jahan role in Mughal architecture leads to the correct answer.

Step by Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Shah Jahan is associated with several grand monuments including the Taj Mahal and the Jama Masjid in Delhi. Step 2: Remember that he planned a new capital city, Shahjahanabad, on the banks of the Yamuna. Step 3: The Red Fort was built as the main fort and palace complex of this new capital. Step 4: Babur and Aurangzeb were important emperors but are not credited with constructing the Red Fort. Step 5: The British used the fort as a symbol of their authority but did not build it, so that option is clearly wrong.

Verification / Alternative check:
Tourism literature, history textbooks, and government documents all attribute the construction of the Red Fort to Shah Jahan. Independence Day celebrations in modern India, held at the Red Fort, often mention the Mughal heritage of the site. No credible source claims that any other ruler built the fort, which confirms this as a straightforward fact based question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Babur: Although he founded the Mughal Empire, he did not build the Red Fort in Delhi.
The British authorities: They later occupied and modified the fort but did not construct it originally.
Aurangzeb: He added some structures in various cities but the main construction of the Red Fort is credited to Shah Jahan.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse the contributions of different Mughal rulers to Delhi architecture. A helpful memory aid is to associate Shah Jahan with white marble and grand palace complexes, including both the Taj Mahal at Agra and the Red Fort at Delhi. Remembering this pairing makes such questions very easy.

Final Answer:
The Red Fort in Delhi was built by Shah Jahan.