Causes for the decline of the Mughal Empire are as follows:
- Aurangzeb’s intolerant religious policy, estranged relations with Jats, Marathas and Rajputs and the suspicious nature of Aurangzeb led to the fall of empire.
- Worthless and negligent later Mughal emperors.
- Absence of a definite law of succession, leading to the instability of the government and growth of partisanship at the cost of patriotism. A heterogeneous and non-hereditary nobility.
- Degeneration of the nobility with factious quarrels and intrigues.
- Vast expansion of the empire making it difficult for the weak rulers to control it, after Aurangzeb’s death.
- Deterioration of the army revolts of Rajputs, Sikhs, Jats and Marathas due to Aurangzeb’s religious policy. Failure of Aurangzeb’s Deccan Policy.
- Invasions of Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah Abdali.