1542 in India

In 1542, India was characterized by a complex tapestry of regional kingdoms, cultural flourishes, and emerging foreign influences. The Mughal Empire, under the leadership of Emperor Humayun, was in a period of reconstruction following his temporary exile from India due to the military campaigns of Sher Shah Suri. The South saw the rise of the Vijayanagara Empire, which continued to thrive economically and culturally. Meanwhile, the arrival of Portuguese explorers, notably through the voyages of Afonso de Albuquerque, facilitated early European colonial interests in the region. This year also marked significant developments in trade and the spread of various religious ideas, further shaping the subcontinent's historical trajectory.