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2. Briefly describe the administrative system of the Mughals.

Ans: The Mughal administrative system took its form during the reign of Akbar as babur and Humayun were
mostly busy in warfare. Akbar had introduced an excellent system of administration to strengthen the nascent
Mughal Empire for which he has rightly been called as the true founder of Mughal rule in India.

As the Mughal emperors did not accept the Khalifa as their nominal head, so they were free from the
nominal authority of any foreign power. The King or the emperor was the head of the state. He was the chief
executive, law-maker, the commander-in-chief and the final dispenser of justice. Akbar himself claimed to be
“the shadow of God” or the “God’s representative on Earth”.

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION:

Emperor: Emperor was the hub of whole administration. He enjoyed the sole authority of making and
enforcing law to meet out justice, to maintain peace and declare a war.

Council of Ministers: A king had constituted a council of Ministers for his assistance whose main function
was to advise the king on important issues. However it was different from its modern counterpart.

Vakil or Prime Minister: Prime-Minister was known as the Vakil. Finance and supervision of the other
ministers were his main functions. He was also called `”Vakil-e-Aala” and he enjoyed the confidence of the
emperor.

Diwal-e-Ala or Finance Minister: The finance minister maintained the account of state income and its
expenditure. Finance was wholly under the charge of “Diwan”, who appointed and supervised the working of
the provincial Diwans.

Mir Bakshi: “Mir Bakshi” used to be a prominent Central Minister, who recruited, trained and prepared the
nominal rolls of the soldiers. In the absence of the emperor, he led military expeditions as well.

Sadr-us-Sadur: Akbar's council of Ministers had a high official known as Chief Sadr who was called “Sadrus-
Sadur” as well. He managed the Government Grants given to Saints, Fakirs, religious places, educational
centres and scholars.

Khan-i-Saman: Khan-i-Saman held an important position in the Council of Ministers. He was also called
“Mir-i-Saman” (Lord High Steward). He was a special confidant of the emperors whose main functions were to
manage the affairs the Emperor's department of manufactures.

Cheif Qazi: Chief-Qazi assisted the emperor in judicial matters. He decided the suits as per the tenets of Quran
and Islamic traditions. The various courts in the various parts of the country functioned under his supervision.
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Some other functionaries: Besides the above mentioned central Ministers, there were some other functionaries
such as “Mir-e-Adil”, “Mir-e-Tozak” and “Mir-e-Manzil”, Akbar had appointed several detectives and
“Waquianavis”.

PROVINCIAL ADMNISTRATION:

The Mughal empire was divided into provinces known as “Suba” headed by
“Subedar”/”Sipahsalar”/”Nazim”. The provincial administration followed the pattern of central administration.
Usually, the king used to appoint his son or some close relative or his confident on this post of “Subedar” who
was to look after law and order of the province. There was a “Diwan” who was to determine and collect the
land revenue of the province. “Bakshi” was to supervise the military affairs, to inspect the army, branding of
the horses and to prepare the descriptive roll of the soldiers. Apart from these the officials appointed in the
provinces were- “Sadr” (Rerligiouys matter), “Qazi” (Judiciary), “Waqianavis” (Record keeper) etc.

DISTRICT AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATION:

For the purpose of the administration, the provinces were divided into “sarkars” which were divided into
“paraganas”. Each “Sarkar” was administered by the officials like “fauzdar”/”Shiqdar-i-Shiqdaran” (law and
order), “Amalguzar” (Assesment and collection of revenue), “bitikchi” (record keeper), “Khazandar” (treasury
officer) etc.

On the other hand each “pargana” administered by”Shiqdar” ( law and order),” Amil” (assessment and
collection of land revenue) etc. notable that paraganas constituted within its jurisdiction a number of villages
and these were headed by “Lambardar”.

CITY ADMINISTRATION:

Big cities were under the care of “Kotwals” whose main functions were to maintain peace, make proper
arrangement for cleanliness, keep a check over the traders, to keep a strict vigil over prostitutes and drunkards
and to look after the foreigners in the town.

JUDICIAL SYSTEM:

The Mughal emperors were just rulers. Jehangir had hung a gold chain outside his palace for the
appellants. Akbar had endeavoured to establish a fair judiciary. The Supreme Court of the empire was the court
of the emperor himself. Chief Qazi and Sardar in the centre delivered justice according to the Islamic law. In
the provinces, Subedars settled criminal suits while Diwans decided Civil suits. The Civil suits were decided by
the provincial Qazis.
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LAND REVENUE:

Land revenue was the backbone of the Mughal economy. During Akbar’s reign Todarmal, his finance
minister, introduced three types of land revenue- “Zabti”, “Gallabaksh” and “Nask” system. For the purpose of
measuring land “Gaj-e-illahi” was introduces as the standard unit. It is noteworthy that one third of the
produced was fixed as the land revenue, though it depended upon the ruler.

Apart from land revenue there were a number sources of the government income such as “najrana”,
economic compensation, “khams” or looted treasure(1/5), annual tax paid hy the nobles, and the taxes imposed
on market, feri, forest, artisans, salt, Indigo etc.

Administrative machinery of the Mughals was given a definite shape by Akbar.it borrowed many
elements from Persian and Arabian administrative system, which possessed a militaristic character. Although
the Mughal emperor had despotic power, still during the reign of Akbar, Jahangir and Shahjahan, peace and
prosperity prevailed in the entire kingdom.