Shah Jahan, famous for building the Taj Mahal, was the how manyth Mughal ruler in the main imperial line beginning from Babur?

Introduction / Context:
Questions about the sequence of Mughal emperors are common in competitive exams because they help test chronological understanding of medieval Indian history. Shah Jahan is one of the most famous Mughal rulers, mainly because of his architectural achievements. This question asks where he falls in the line of succession starting from Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire.

Given Data / Assumptions:
We are asked to determine whether Shah Jahan was the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or another numbered ruler in the main Mughal line. The options provide several numbers. We assume the learner is familiar with the basic hereditary sequence Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb, at least up to the major emperors. Our task is to assign the correct ordinal position to Shah Jahan within this sequence.

Concept / Approach:
The Mughal imperial line in North India is usually counted starting from Babur as the first emperor. After him came his son Humayun, then Akbar, then Jahangir, followed by Shah Jahan. If we number them in this order, Shah Jahan is the fifth ruler. Later rulers like Aurangzeb and the weak successors come after him. Therefore, by counting carefully from the beginning, we can identify the correct ordinal position for Shah Jahan.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: List the Mughal emperors in order: Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb. Step 2: Assign numbers to each ruler. Babur is first, Humayun is second, Akbar is third, Jahangir is fourth. Step 3: Observe that Shah Jahan comes next after Jahangir, making him the fifth ruler. Step 4: Confirm that Aurangzeb would be sixth, which matches many textbook timelines. Step 5: Select fifth as the correct option.

Verification / Alternative check:
Chronological charts of Mughal rulers in history books usually list these names and their reign periods. They show Babur from 1526 to 1530, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, and then Shah Jahan ruling from 1628 to 1658. When counted sequentially, this clearly places Shah Jahan as the fifth major Mughal emperor. No standard reference lists a different count when starting from Babur, which confirms the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Fourth is wrong because that position belongs to Jahangir. Third is incorrect since Akbar is the third emperor. Sixth does not fit Shah Jahan because Aurangzeb is usually counted as the sixth major ruler. Second is obviously incorrect because that position belongs to Humayun. Any choice other than fifth misplaces Shah Jahan in the basic imperial sequence.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may sometimes forget to include one ruler when mentally listing the sequence, especially Humayun, whose reign was interrupted by Sher Shah Suri. This can lead them to miscount and mark Shah Jahan as fourth. To avoid this, it is useful to recite the full list including Humayun, even though his reign involved exile and restoration. Writing down the names in order during practice also helps build a strong memory of the sequence.

Final Answer:
Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal ruler in the main imperial line beginning from Babur.