THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF MUGHALS

INTRODUCTION :-
The Mughal Era in India, spanning from 1526 to 1857, Late Medieval & Early
Modern Periods, represents one of the most significant periods in Indian history. Founded
by Babur in 1526, a Central Asian ruler descended from both Timur & Genghis Khan,
the Empire expanded to encompass vast swathes of the Indian subcontinent, leaving an
indelible mark on its Political, Economic, Social, & Cultural Landscape. The Mughal
Empire formally ended in 1857 with the exile of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah
II (Bahadur Shah Zafar), by the British Raj after the Indian Rebellion. Despite its decline,
the Mughal legacy in India remains profound, particularly in its Architectural Marvels,
Administrative Systems & the Rich Cultural Synthesis it fostered.

The Mughal Government was one of the most advanced & centralized in pre-
modern India. It combined Islamic Administration Traditions with Hindu & Regional
Norms. After Emperor Akbar established a Bureaucracy, Tax System & Military
Framework, the Mughals could rule a wide & diversified empire. Emperor Akbar
established & improved the Mughal bureaucracy. It Combined & Persian, Timurid &
Indian Governmental Styles. The Emperor had Absolute Political, Military & Judicial
Power. Below him, the High-ranking Ministers managed numerous key divisions of the
Central Administration. The Mughal Emperor ruled a highly organized administration. The
Council of Ministers, important Departments, as well as a strong Military Enforced Central
Authority. The system prioritized efficiency & order, with officials supervising several
government areas. Subahs (or Subas) were Provinces in the Mughal Empire, which were
further split into Sarkars, Parganas & Villages. The Mughal Provincial Administration
was modelled after the Central Government, with Emperor-appointed Subedars to run
Provinces (Subas). A Diwan (Revenue Administration), Bakhshi or Buxi (Military
Administration), Kotwal, Qazi & Sadr were key authorities in each province. The Village
was the Lowest Level of Mughal Local Administration, followed by the Pargana & Sarkar,
all under the Provincial Administration. This institution helped collect taxes, keep order &
run the Empire at the grassroots level. The complicated Mughal Military Administration
was based on the Mansabdari System, a distinctive bureaucratic trait. Emperor Akbar
divided officers into Ranks (Mansabs) based on their status, salary & duty to maintain a
certain number of Troops, Horses & Equipment. Mughal growth & control relied on the
Army, which included Mansabdars, Dakhili, & Ahadis. Emperor Akbar developed the
Mansabdari System in 1571, a unique Administrative & Military Grading System that
underpinned the Mughal Administration. A single service included both the Civil &
Military Authorities. The Mansabdari System relied on the Jagirdari System for Revenue
Assignment. Instead of monetary compensation, Mansabdars received the right to collect
Land Revenue from a specified piece of Land (Jagir).

Basically, the Mughal Administration was a complex, hierarchical as well as highly

centralized system that combined elements of Traditional Indian Governance with the
Persian & Central Asian Administrative Practices. Its efficiency, particularly under
Emperor Akbar, played a crucial role in the stability, expansion & prosperity of the Mughal
 Empire. The Mansabdari & Zabt Systems were its cornerstones, contributing
significantly to its long-lasting impact on Indian history.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE MUGHAL EMPIRE :-

The Mughals brought many features of the Administrative System from the Delhi
Sultanate & Sher Shah Suri. The Mughal Empire was divided into different Subas or
Provinces & all these Provinces were divided into Sarkars & these Sarkars were also
divided into a number of Parganas & these Parganas were also divided into numbers
Villages. The Institutions of Jagir System & Mansab System were also introduced by the
Mughals. Therefore, the Changes & Continuity both marked the Mughal Administrative
Structure, which brought about a high degree of centralization in the Administration. The
Mughal Administration was mostly divided into 3 parts, such as-
1) Central Administration
2) Provincial Administration
3) Local Administration.

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
The Central Administration of the Mughal Empire was a highly organized &
efficient system, designed to govern a vast as well as diverse territory under the absolute
authority of the Emperor. It was a blend of Indo-Islamic traditions, heavily influenced by
Persian Administrative Practices & refined by Emperors, like- Akbar.

➢ THE EMPEROR (Badshah/Padshah)

The Emperor was the Absolute or Supreme Head of the State, holding the
ultimate authority in all matters, like- Political, Military, Judicial & Religious. His word
was Law. The Central Administration of the Mughal Empire was a highly organized &
centralized system, largely shaped & perfected under Emperor Akbar. It was designed
to maintain control over a vast & diverse empire, ensure efficient Revenue Collection,
& provide for a strong Military. The Emperor was the Supreme Authority, but he was
supported by a Council of Ministers and a detailed bureaucracy. All officers in the
Mughal Administration derived their authority and status directly from the Emperor. He
had the power to appoint, promote, transfer & dismiss any official at his pleasure. While
absolute, the Mughal Emperors, particularly Akbar, often exercised their power with a
sense of responsibility & aimed for the welfare of their subjects, a concept sometimes
referred to as benevolent despotism. The Emperor was also the highest court of appeal
as well as dispensed justice personally on certain days (Jharokha Darshan). He was
the supreme commander of the armed forces. With this, for the smooth functioning of
the Empire, few Departments were also created by the Emperor, such as-
1. Wazir or Vakil (The Prime Minister)
2. Diwan-i-Kul (Pay Master)
3. Mir Bakshi
4. Sadr-us-Sudur
5. Mir Saman. (Etc.)
 All officials in the Mughal Administration helped the Emperor to rule the
Empire smoothly & he had the authority to appoint, promote & remove the officials as
per his own choice & at his pleasure.

➢ WAZIR or VAKIL
The institution of Wizarat was present starting from the Delhi Sultanate Period.
The position of Wazir was so prominent under the Mughals, serving as the Emperor’s
Chief Advisor & holding overall charge of all Departments. They acted as a de facto
regent during the early years of an Emperor’s reign. During the reign of Emperor Babur
& Humayun, the Wazir enjoyed great power & authority. But, during the reign of
Emperor Akbar, the power & functions of Wazir declined. All the Financial Power took
away from the Wazir & rested to the Diwan-i-Kul.

➢ DIWAN-I-KUL
The Diwan-i-Kul was the Chief Diwan during the Mughal Empire. He was
responsible for the Revenues & Finances. Emperor Akbar had strengthened the
power to collect the Revenues. The Diwan used to inspect all kinds of Transactions &
Payments in all departments & supervised the Provincial Diwans. The collections &
expenditures of the Empire was under his charge. The Diwans reported about the State
Finance to the Mughal Emperor on a daily basis.

➢ MIR BAKSHI
The Mir Bakshi looked after all matters relating to the Military Administration.
The Head of the Military Department, though not the Commander-in-Chief in the
field. The orders of appointments of the Mansabdars & their salary endowed by him.
He kept a strict watch over proper maintenance of sanction size of the Arm Contingent
by the Mansabdars. The new entrance seeking service was presented to the Emperor by
Mir Bakshi. The responsibility of Mir Bakshi was to gather Intelligence & make
recommendations regarding Military Appointments & Promotions. Mir Bakshi was
himself appointed by the Mughal Emperor directly. He also served as the Head of the
Imperial Intelligence Agency, collating news reports from the provincial news-writers
(Waqa-i-Navis) & presenting them to the Emperor. He also played a significant role in
court ceremonies, presenting Officials & Foreign Ambassadors to the Emperor.

➢ SADR-US-SUDUR
He was the Chief or Head of the Religious Administrative Department. His chief
duty was to protect the Islamic Shariat Law (Persian) as well as managing The
Religious Endowments & Charities. The office of the Sadr-us-Sadur used to distribute
Allowances & Stephens the eligible persons & religious institutions. The office was
more active during the reign period of Emperor Babur & Humayun, but Akbar
declined the power & functions of the department who introduced a new Religious
Belief ‘Din-i-Ilahi’ in about 1582. This office also regulated the matter of Revenue
Free Grants, which were given for the Religious & Charitable purposes. With this, the
Mohtasib were appointed to ensure the general observance of the rules of the Morality.
 Initially, he also had a role in the appointment of Qazis (Judges) & Muftis (interpreters
of Islamic Law), though his judicial powers were often separated or curtailed later. He
was also known as the Imperial Almoner, distributing state funds for Religious &
Charitable Purposes.

➢ MIR SAMAN
Mir Saman was the officer in charge of the Royal Karkhanas (Royal
Factories). He was responsible for all kinds of purchases & storages for the Royal
Household & also to supervise the manufacturing of the various kinds of Articles &
Goods for the Royal Household. Controlling the personal Servants & Guards of the
Emperor as well as managing the daily expenditures related to the Royal Kitchen,
Stores & Tents.

The Central Administration was designed to be highly centralized, with all major
appointments & policy decisions emanating from the Emperor. The system of checks &
balances, such as- the separation of powers between the Subadar & the provincial Diwan,
was intended to prevent any single official from accumulating excessive power as well as
to maintain the Emperor’s ultimate authority.

PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION
The Mughal Empire, due to its vast size & diverse population, implemented a highly
organized & centralized Provincial Administration. This system was largely refined &
solidified during the reign of Emperor Akbar as well as continued with modifications under
his successors. The Provincial Administration was essentially a miniature replica of the
Central Government, with similar departmental heads & responsibilities, all ultimately
accountable to the Emperor. For efficient Governance & Revenue Collection, Akbar
divided the Empire into provinces, called- Subas. The number of Subas varied over time,
increasing to 15 under Akbar & 21 under his Great-Grandson Aurangzeb.

➢ SUBEDAR
The Mughal Empire was mostly divided into 12 to 15 Provinces or Subas &
each Subas was placed under the Subedar, who was directly appointed by the Mughal
Emperor. He was the Head of both Civil & Military Administration in the Province.
The Subedar was the chief of the Province & also was responsible for maintenance of
Laws & Orders. He was bound to encourage the Trade, Commerce, Agriculture & take
steps to the enhancement of the Revenue of the states & was also responsible to
suppress the Rebellions & provide Armies for the expeditions.

➢ DIWAN
The Head of the Revenue Department in the Suba was known as- Diwan. He
was directly appointed by the Emperor as an independent official. He was to supervise
the Revenue Collection in the Suba & maintained an account of all kinds of
expenditures & also expected to increase the area of cultivation. In many cases, the
Advance Loans were given to the Peasants through his office. They supervised the
Revenue Collection, maintained Accounts & reported directly to the central Diwan.
➢ BAKSHI or BUXI
The Bakshi in the Province, performed the same duty as- Mir Bakshi, the Chief
of the Central Military Administration. Bakshi was appointed by the Imperial Court by
the recommendation of Mir Bakshi. He was responsible for checking & inspecting
Horses & Soldiers maintained by the Mansabdars in the Province as well as issued the
Salaries & Pay Bills of both the Mansabdars & the Soldiers.

➢ SADR
The representative of the Central Official Sadr-us-Sadur was in the Provincial
Level known as- Sadr. He was responsible for the well engaging in Religious Activities
& Learning. He also looked after the Judicial Department & supervised the work of
Qazi (The Judicial Chief).

With these officials, there were some other officers also, who appointed at the
Provincial Level, such as- Darogha-i-Dak Chauki, Waqa-i-Navis & Waqa-i-Nagars.
➢ The Darogha-i-Dak Chauki was responsible for the well management & maintenance
of Communication. He was the Postmaster General & Head of Intelligence, managed
the Imperial Postal System & Intelligence Network.
➢ The Waqa-i-Navis & Waqa-i-Nagars were also directly appointed by the Mughal
Emperor. In the Mughal administration, Waqa-i-Navis and Waqa-i-Nagars were
crucial officials responsible for the vital task of gathering & transmitting news as well
as information from various parts of the Empire to the Central Government, particularly
the Emperor.

LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
The Mughal Empire, known for its highly Centralized Provincial Administration,
also had a robust system of Local Governance that extended down to the village level. This
local administration was crucial for maintaining Law & Order, collecting Revenue, as well
as ensuring the smooth functioning of the Empire at the grassroots. The Local
Administration of the Mughal Empire was mostly categorized or divided into 3 parts or
sub-administrations, such as-
1. Sarkars
2. Parganas
3. Villages.

The Village was the smallest & lowest unit of the Mughal Administration. In the
Local Administration, at the level of Sarkars, the important 3 officials were, such as-

➢ FAUJDAR
The Faujdar was appointed by the Imperial Court of Order. He was the Head
& Chief official of the Sarkar (District) Level. In a Sarkar, more than one Faujdar was
also appointed by the Empire. Sometimes, there were 2 Faujdars also appointed by the
Administration. The Faujdari was the Administrative Division & Sarkar was the
Territorial & Revenue Division. The Primary duty of the Faujdar was to save the Life
& Property of the Residents of the area/territory under his jurisdiction.
 ➢ AMALGUZAR
The Amalguzar or Amil was the Revenue Collector. He was the Chief official
of the Revenue & Finance Department at the Sarkar Level in the Local Administration.
His duty was to access & supervise the Revenue Collection. He was accepted to Land
under Cultivation & motivated the Peasants to pay the revenue intime. He used to
maintain all accounts, sent daily receives & exposition to the Provincial Diwan.

➢ THANEDAR
The Thana was a place where the army was stationed for the preservation of
Law & Order. They were to arrange provisions for the army as well. These Thanas were
established specifically in disturbed areas & around the Cities. Its head was designated
as Thanedar. He was appointed at the recommendation of the Subedar & Diwan. He
was generally placed under the Faujdar of the area.

The Parganas were the administrative units below the Sarkars. The Shiqdar was
the Executive Officer of the Pargana & assisted the Amils in Revenue Collection. The
Amils looked after the Revenue Collection at the Pargana Level also. His duties were
similar to those of the Amalguzar at the Sarkar Level. The Qanoongo kept all the records
pertaining to the land in his area & was to take note of different crops in the Parganas. The
village was the Smallest & Lowest Administrative unit. The Muqaddam (Sarpanch) was
the Village Headman, while the Patwari (Patadar) took care of the Village Revenue
Records. Under the Mughals, the pattern of Village Administration remained almost on the
same lines as it was under Sher Shah Suri. For Urban Centres, the Imperial Court
appointed Kotwals, whose primary duty was to Safeguard the Life & Property of
Townsmen. He may be compared to the present-day Police Officer in the Towns & Cities.
The Kotwal was also to maintain a register for keeping records of people coming & going
out of the Town. Every outsider had to take a Permit from him before entering or leaving
the Town. He was to ensure that no illicit liquor was manufactured in his area. He also acted
as Superintendent of Weights & ensures used by the Merchants & Shopkeepers.

PORT ADMINISTRATION DURING THE MUGHAL EMPIRE

The Mughals were aware of the economic importance of the Sea-ports as these were
the centres of brisk commercial activities. The Port Administration was independent of the
Provincial Authority. The Governor of the ports was called as- Mutsaddi, who directly
appointed by the Emperor. Sometimes the Office of the Mutsaddi was auctioned & given
to the highest bidder. The Mutsaddi collected Taxes on Merchandise & maintained a
custom-house. He also supervised the Mint Howe at the port. The Shah-Bandar was his
subordinate who was mainly concerned with the custom-house.

MANSABDARI SYSTEM :-
The Mansabdari System was a Grading System used by the Mughal Rulers to fix
the rank & salary of Mansabdars. They were the Nobles, who occupied various positions
in the Administration of the Mughal Empire. They were appointed & dismissed by the
Mughal Emperors. The Mughal Emperors maintained a large & efficient Army till the reign
of Emperor Aurangzeb.
 The credit of organizing the Mughal Nobility & Army systematically goes to
Emperor Akbar, which introduced in about 1567. The steel frame of Akbar’s Military Policy
was the Mansabdari System. It was half Civil & half Military in nature. The term
‘Mansab’ is an Arabic word, which means- PLACE or POSITION. The Mansabs awarded
to an individual fixed both his status in official hierarchy & also his salary & fixed the
number of Cavalry was to be maintained by the Mansabdars (the Mansab Holders). The
system was formulated to streamline rank of the Nobles, fix their salaries & specify the
number of Cavalry to be maintained by them. Under the Mansabdari System, ranks were
expressed in numerical terms.

According to the Emperor Akbar’s Court Poet, Abul Fazl, Akbar had established
66 Grades of Mansabdars ranging from 10 Horsemen to 10 thousand Horsemen.
Although, only 33 Grades have been mentioned by Abul Fazl in his description. Initially,
a single number represented the Rank, Salary & size of the contingent of Mansabdars. In
the later period, the Rank Mansabdars came to be denoted in 2 numbers, such as-
1. Zat Rank
2. Sawar Rank

The Zat Rank indicated the Administrative Rank as well as the Salary of the
Mansabdars. The Sawar Rank represented the Cavalry Rank. It denoted the number of
Horses & Cavalrymen maintained by Sawar. The Zat denoted the personal rank of an
official & the Sawar indicated the size of the contingent maintained by Mansabdars &
Officials. Therefore, even if the Sawar Rank was higher, the Mansabdars position in the
official hierarchy couldn’t be affected. Sometimes, the Sawar Rank was increased for a
temporary period to meet emergency situations.

The son & successor of Emperor Akbar, Jahangir introduced a new provision in
the Sawar Rank of Mansabdars System. According to it, a part of Sawar Rank was
termed/awarded ‘Du-Aspah Sih-Aspah’ in case of selection of Mansabdars (selected
Mansabdars), which implied that a Mansabdars had to maintain & paid for double the quota
of troopers indicated by his Sawar Rank. For this part, the additional payment at the same
rate of 8000 Dams per Sawar was sanctioned. Therefore, the Mansabdar was to maintain
double numbers of Sawars for the Du-Aspah Sih-Aspah category & payment for it.
Emperor Jahangir probably introduced the provision to promote the confidence of Nobles
& strengthen themselves militarily. The system was popular as Du-Aspah (a trooper with
2 Horses) or Sih-Aspah (a trooper with 3 Horses) system.

Emperor Shah Jahan introduced the Month Scale in the Mansabdari System &
compiled the gap of Jama (estimated income) & Haseel (actual collection). The
Mansabdars generally were paid through Revenue Assignment of Jagirs.

Emperor AURANGZEB continued with all these changes & created an additional
rank Mashrut (Conditional Rank). This was an attempt to temporarily increase the Sawar
Rank of Mansabdars.
JAGIRDARI SYSTEM :-
The Jagirdari System was introduced by the Delhi Sultanate & continued during
the Mughal Empire, but with some modifications. In the Mughal times, the Jagirdars
collected taxes which paid his salary & the rest went to the Mughal Treasury, while the
Administration & Military Authority was given to a separate Mughal appointee. The
Jagirdari System was adapted by the Mughal Empire from the Delhi Sultanate & Suri
Dynasty. The assignment system of Revenue of a particular territory to the Nobles for their
services to the State or Empire continued in the Mughals also. Under the Mughals, the
assigning area of territory was called as- Jagir & the Holders or Assignees of the territories
were known as- Jagirdars (Landlords).

The Jagirdari System was an integral part of the Mansabdari System, which
developed under the Mughal Emperor Akbar & underwent (went through) certain changes
or modifications during the reign of his successors also. During the reign period of Emperor
Akbar, all the territories were broadly divided into 2 parts, such as-
1. Khalisa Land
2. Jagir.
The revenue collected from the Khalisa Land went to the Royal Treasury & from
that Jagir was assigned to the Jagirdars in exchange/lieu of their salary. The Salary
entitlement calculated by the Jagirdars were on the basis of Zat Rank. The salary was paid
in case or assigned through the Jagirs. In case payment was made through the assignment
of Jagirs, the office of the Central Diwan would identify the Jagirs. The sum total of which
Jama was equal to the salary of Mansabdars. In case payment, the recorded Jama was
required to deposit the balance to the Central Treasury. If it was less than the salary claims,
then the shortfall (deficiency) was paid from the Royal/Imperial Treasury.

However, the non above the assignments were permanent & hereditary. The
Emperor could shift the part or entire Jagir from the entire Royal Territory to another. The
ratio between Jagir & Khalisa Land kept fluctuating in the Empire during the reign period
of various Mughal Emperors. During the reign of Akbar, the sum total of Revenue
Collection from Khalisa Land was only 5%, under Jahangir it was only 10% & under Shah
Jahan it was fluctuating between 9-15% of total Revenue Collection of the Empire. Later,
during the reign of Aurangzeb, the Khalisa Land came into pressure. The Jagirdars were
also transferred from one territory to another. The transfer system changed the Jagirdars
from developing local rulers. At the same time, it’s advancement or advantage was that, it
discouraged the Jagirdars from taking long-term measures for the development of Jagirs.

TYPES OF JAGIRDARI SYSTEM

There were various kinds of Jagirdari System privileged during the Mughal Empire
Period, such as-
1. Tankha Jagir
2. Mashrut Jagir
3. Watan Jagir
4. Al-Tamgha Jagir. (Etc.)
 ➢ The Tankha Jagirs were given to the Jagir Holders (Jagirdars) in lieu/exchange of their
salaries. The Tankha Jagirs were typically transferable. The Jagirdars were often
moved from one jagir to another every few years (commonly every 3-4 years). This
practice was intended to prevent the Jagirdars from developing strong local roots &
potentially challenging imperial authority.
➢ The Mashrut Jagirs were assigned to the Jagirdars on certain conditions or we can say
that, the these Jagirs were given to the Jagir Holders within some conditional
approaches. Unlike Tankha Jagirs, which were primarily granted in lieu of salary,
Mashrut Jagirs were given to individuals based on the fulfilment of specific duties or
services.
➢ The Watan Jagirs were hereditary & non-transferable in nature. These were
assigned to the Zamindars or Rujus in the local dominions.
➢ The Al-Tamgha Jagirs were given to the Muslim Nobles in the approach of Family
Town or Birth Place. These Jagirs introduced primarily by Emperor Jahangir. They
were primarily granted to the Muslim Nobles, often in their native towns or places of
birth. The aim was to foster strong loyalty & commitment from these prominent Nobles
by giving them a secure, permanent stake in their ancestral lands. It was a means of
ensuring their long-term allegiance to the Mughal throne.

During the Mughal Period, the Jagirdars were allowed to collect the Revenues from
the subjects or people in accordance with their imperial regulations. The Jagirdars also
employed their own officials like- Amin, Diwan, Faujdar etc. The Imperial Office came
to watch as the Suba was supposed to prevent the oppression of the Peasants by the
Jagirdars. The Faujdars used to help the Jagirdars if there were any difficulties in the
collection of revenues. The Amins were posted in such Suba to see if Jagirdars were
following the imperial regulations properly or not.

Overall, the Jagirdari system was a complex & dynamic administrative tool that
initially provided the Mughal Empire with strength & stability by linking the imperial
service to Land Revenue Assignments. However, its inherent contradictions & the
increasing pressures of a growing empire ultimately led to its crisis, becoming a significant
factor in the eventual fragmentation & decline of Mughal power

ZABTI SYSTEM :-
The Zabti System was introduced by the finance minister Raja Todar Mal. during
the reign of Emperor Akbar in about 1580-82. It represented a sophisticated and
standardized approach to assessing and collecting land revenue, aiming for greater fairness
and efficiency compared to previous methods. It represented a sophisticated & standardized
approach to assessing & collecting Land Revenue, aiming for greater fairness & efficiency
compared to previous methods.

The term ‘Zabti’ comes from the Arabic word ‘Zabt’ meaning Measurement or
Assessment. The Zabti System was otherwise known as- Dahsala System (Ain-i-
Dahsala). In order to check on problems that were arising due to fixing prices each year &
revenue settlement of the last year. Under this System, there was no 10 years settlement on
 the Crops. In fact, the settlement was based on the Average Prices & Production during the
last 10 years. So, one-third (⅓) share of the Average Crop Production was deposited to the
State. The System was basically in practice during the reign of Sher Shah Suri of Suri
Dynasty, but was developed perfectly during the reign of Emperor Akbar. The System
mostly prevailed from Allahabad to Lahore & in the Provinces of Gujarat & Malwa. It
is to be noted that, the System of Land Revenue became very popular & continued for a
very long period of time. In this System, the Crops Yielded & the Prices for a continuous
period of 10 years was comprehended & analysed properly. In this system, the Agricultural
Lands were classified into 4 different categories, such as-
1. Banjar
2. Chhachhar
3. Parauti
4. Polaj

➢ The Banjar Land was Agricultural Land that had been left uncultivated for 5 years
or more. It was considered the least productive or waste land.
➢ The Chhachhar Land was Agricultural Land that had been left fallow for 3-4 years
to allow it to recover its fertility. This Land was left uncultivated for a period to restore
nutrients in the soil, preventing exhaustion & ensuring future productivity. This was a
common practice in traditional agriculture.
➢ The Parauti Land was Agricultural Land that was left fallow for a short period,
typically 1-2 years, to allow it to recover its strength & fertility. This Land represented
high-quality Agricultural Land that was managed strategically through short fallow
periods to maintain its long-term productivity within the Mughal revenue framework.
➢ The Polaj Land was considered the most ideal 7 most fertile category of Agricultural
Land within this system. This Land was that which was annually cultivated for every
crop in succession & never allowed to lie fallow. This indicated its consistent high
productivity & inherent fertility.
This Zabti System or Dahsala System was associated with Raja Todar Mal. So, it
is also known as- Todarmal’s Bandobast or Todarmal’s Settlement/System. The Zabti
system was a landmark achievement in Mughal Administration. It provided a relatively
stable & efficient source of income for the empire for a considerable period & stands as a
testament to the administrative genius of Emperor Akbar & Raja Todar Mal.

MADAD-I-MAASH :-
The Madad-i-Maash was a significant category of Land Grants during the Mughal
Empire, distinct from the revenue-generating Jagirs. Unlike the Jagirs, which were assigned
for service or salary, Madad-i-Maash grants were essentially Charitable or Subsistence
Grants given primarily to individuals considered deserving by the state. The Mughal
Emperors introduced the Madad-i-Maash System of Grants to their Subjects both Hindus
& Muslims. The Madad-i-Maash assigning Grants to Individuals for their own Livelihoods,
or for the maintenance of Religious Institutions, like- Madrasas, Khankhanas, Temples
etc. Such Grants were also given for the maintenance of Faqirs, Sadhus, conducting Urs,
or helping the Needy & Poors. These Grants were also given as- Inams or Milkiyats to the
Officials as also in lieu (exchange) of their Loyalties & Services. The beneficiaries of these
Grants were both Hindus & Muslims & they represented different Sects & Stratas of
Society. Both the Hindus & Muslim Grantees can be divided into 4 Categories each. The
Muslims were divided such as- Muslim Males, Muslim Females, Faqirs & Officials. As
like Muslims, the Hindus were, such as- Sadhus, Hindu Astrologers, Brahmins & Royal
Officials.

These Grants were much more fruitful for the Hindu Community rather than the
Muslims. Because, these Grants must have brought a Social Transformation by creating a
new class of Landowners, who not only enjoyed the fruits of the soil, but also attained a
superior position in the Society. Even during the days when the Empire was facing many
big Financial Hardships & the Economy of the Empire was on the verge of Collapse, yet
this Tradition was kept alive. The continuance of the practice of granting Madad-i-Maash
bears ample testimony of the benevolence (kindness) of the later Mughal Emperors, who
proves that they were alive towards the Socio-Cultural activities of the Society.

In essence, the Madad-i-Maash grants were a significant aspect of Mughal

Administration, demonstrating the state’s responsibility not only for Governance &
Revenue Collection but also for Patronage, Welfare & the integration of Religious &
Intellectual Elites into its broader Socio-Political Framework.
CONCLUSION :-
The Mughal Era in India, from 1526 to 1857, was a significant period in Indian
history, combining Islamic Administration Traditions with Hindu & Regional norms.
Emperor Akbar established a highly organized & centralized system, combining the
Persian, Timurid & Indian Governmental Styles. The Mughal Empire was divided into
numbers of Subahs, Sarkars, Parganas & Villages, with the Mansabdari System
underpinning the administration. The Emperor held the ultimate authority in all matters,
including Political, Military, Judicial & Religious Matters. The Empire was divided into
several departments, including the Prime Minister, the Diwan-i-Kul, the Mir Bakshi, the
Sadr-us-Sadur & the Royal Karkhanas. The Emperor was the highest court of appeal &
dispensed justice personally on certain days.

The Mughal Empire implemented a highly organized & centralized Provincial

Administration, which was refined & solidified during Emperor Akbar’s reign & continued
with modifications under his successors. The Local Governance was crucial for
maintaining Law & Order, collecting Revenue as well as ensuring the smooth functioning
of the Empire at the grassroots. The Imperial Court appointed Kotwals to safeguard the life
& property of townsmen & manage sea-ports independently of the Provincial Authority.
The Mansabdari System was a Grading System introduced by Mughal Emperor Akbar
in 1567 to determine the rank & salary of nobles in the administration. It was a combination
of civil & military measures, requiring the Mansabdars to maintain & pay for double the
trooper quota.

The Jagirdari System, introduced by the Delhi Sultanate, involved assigning

territories to Nobles for their services to the State or Empire. The Jagirdars collected taxes,
paid salaries & administered the Empire. There were various types of Jagirdari System,
such as- Tankha Jagir, Mashrut Jagir, Watan Jagir & Al-Tamgha Jagir. However, the
system’s inherent contradictions & increasing pressures led to its crisis, contributing to the
fragmentation & decline of the Mughal power. The Zabti System, introduced by finance
minister Raja Todar Mal, was a standardized approach to assessing & collecting the Land
Revenue. The Madad-i-Maash system was a significant category of land grants, primarily
charitable or subsistence grants given to individuals considered deserving by the state.

The Mughal Era in India, combined the Islamic & Hindu administration traditions,
with Emperor Akbar establishing a Centralized System & Local Governance for law &
order.