Mughal emperor Akbar instituted the Mansabdari System as new administrative machinery and a revenue system. The Mansabdari system was a grading system used by Mughal rulers to determine a Mansabdar's rank and salary. They were nobles who held various positions in the Mughal Empire's administration. The Mughal Emperor appointed and dismissed them. In this article, we will discuss the Mansabdari System of the Mughal Empire of Akbar which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Mansabdari System - Origin

• The Mansabdari system can be traced back to Changez Khan.
• Changez Khan organised his army on a decimal basis, with the lowest unit being ten and the highest ten thousand (toman) whose commander was known as 'Khan.' Babur was the first to introduce it to North India.
• However, it was Akbar who institutionalised it in Mughal military and civil administration after reforming and introducing two new concepts, namely 'Zat' and 'Sawar.'

Mansabdari System of Akbar - Background

• Mansabdari was a unique system that was formally introduced by mughal emperor Akbar in 1571 AD. Mansab is an Arabic term that means rank or position.
• As a result, Mansabdar means a rank holder or an officer. The Mansabdari system came from Central Asia. There were 66 Mansabdar categories in total, but there were only 33 in practise.
• The appointment of Mansabdars was based on a decimal system; within this system, Akbar attempted to integrate the three major functionaries, namely the nobility, the armed forces, and the bureaucracy, into a common pool of administration.
• Mansab was ranked between 10 and 10,000. However, during Akbar's reign, the maximum was 5000, and Akbar granted the mansab of 7000 only to a few distinguished nobles of the time, namely Mirza Ajij Koka and Raja Maan Singh, the former being Akbar's foster brother and the latter related to him by matrimonial ties.
• Although the word mansabdar was a generic term, only those with ranks up to 500 were called mansabdars, those with ranks 500-2500 were called Amirs, and those with ranks 2500 and above were known as Amir Umda or Amir-i-azam.
• Because it was a single service, a person was supposed to start at the bottom and work their way up.
• However, the king could and frequently did appoint distinguished people to higher positions.

Mansabdari System - Nature

• The mansabdars were the imperial structure's ruling section. Mansabdars were said to be the pillars of Mughal administration; in fact, the entire nobility belonged to mansabs; among them, one or more held a mansab.
• The Mansabdari system was nothing more than a noble or mansabdar system in which a mansabdar or noble was granted the rights to hold a jaguar, which meant revenue assignments (not the land itself) for services rendered.
• The authority bestowed upon them was not unbridled, but with direct control of these nobles in the hands of the king.

Mansabdari System - Structure

• The mansab or rank was denoted by two representations: personal rank (called zat) and cavalry rank (called sawar).
• Every mansabdar was given the rank of both zat and sawar, and he was paid two rupees per horse.
• A mansabdar was given a thousand rupees extra allowance if he received the rank of five hundred sawars.
• Furthermore, a mansabdar's duties were not in accordance with the mansab or position he held. Higher rank did not always imply a higher post for a mansabdar.
• For example, even though Raja Man Singh was not a minister, he held a higher rank than Abul Fazal, who was a minister in the Emperor's court.
• The emperor was the sole authority who conferred, decreased, increased, and resumed the mansab. He also promoted those who excelled in military service.
• In exchange for military service, the officers were given territorial commands. They had to bring a fixed number of men-at-arms, horses, and elephants to the field and were rated based on the numbers, which were known as Zats.
• As a result, they were referred to as Mansabdars of 10, 20, 100, and 1000, and so on.

Zat and Sawar Rank

• By 1591 AD, the mansab member was adopted in the form of a pair. The first value of the pair was Zat, and the second value was Sawar.
• The Sawar ranked the actual number of horsemen he was expected to entertain, while Zat indicated the personal pay and noble status.
• Abul Fazl classified mansabdars into three types:
  • If the Zat and Sawar mansab were equal, he belonged to the first category of mansabdar.
  • If the Sawar mansab was half of the Zat mansab, the mansabdar belonged to the second category.
  • If the Sawar mansab was less than half of the Zat mansab, it fell into the third category.
• Only in exceptional circumstances, such as war or foreign aggression, would the number of Sawar mansab exceed that of Zat mansab. This additional increase in Sawar was known as Mashrut mansab, and the system was abolished once the necessity was met.
• Mansabdars were only appointed by the ruler. However, the mansabdar were appointed only on the recommendation of MirBakshi.
• However, if the mansabdar was promoted, he was promoted based on the number of Zat, which increased his salary. The principle of demotion for poor performance existed, but it was rarely used.
• Each Mansabdar was given dual responsibility for both civil and military obligations. Akbar established the rule of Dahbisti.
• The general rule was that for every ten sawars, there should be twenty horses (i.e, each mansabdar should appointed to him).
• This was done to ensure the nobility of the cavalry, which was the main fighting force of the mughals. If the mount became tired, injured, or died, a backup horse was required.

Changes introduced by Jahangir and Shah Jahan

The Mansabdari system was established by Akbar, but it was modified by Jahangir and Shah Jahan:

Changes made by Jahangir

• Jahangir made changes to the Mansabdari system shortly after Akbar's death, reducing the system of two Aspas to one.
• This meant that the number of soldiers was increased unofficially if required by the mansabdar, but the number of sawar was not to be entered in the sawar numerically granted to them.
• The benefit of this was that he could keep more soldiers without incurring financial costs.

Changes made by Shah Jahan

• Another reform in the Mansabdari system occurred during the reign of Shah Jahan. The number of Mansabdars increased, but there was a land shortage due to the Jagirdari crisis.
• During Shah Jahan's reign, an order was issued to reduce the number of sawar under a specific Mansabdar.
• Mansabdar were now to be paid on a monthly basis. If a mansabdar did not receive the total salary for the year, he could reduce the number of sawars under him. He was now unable to pay Mansabdar's entire salary.
• If a mansabdar did not receive his six-month salary, he was allowed to reduce the number of sawars, but their rank and classification did not change.

Mansabdari System under Mughals

• It kept changing from Akbar to Aurangzeb. During Akbar's reign, there were nearly 1800 mansabdars, but by the end of Aurangzeb's reign, their number had risen to nearly 14,500.
• The jagirs were given to Mansabdar in such a way that they could not be transferred to another's name.
• Thus, the post of Mansabdar was not hereditary in any way, and after his death or dismissal, the emperor confiscated his personal estate, deducting what he (Mansabdar) owed to the state and returning the balance to his heir. This law or rule was known as zabti.
• If the son of a mansabdar was granted a mansab, he had to restart his tenure as mansabdar according to the rules and regulations imposed by the emperor.
• This measure was incorporated into the system so that the mansabdar could not abuse his position and exploit the masses.

Mansabdari System - Merits

• The Mansabdari system was a unique and distinct system that formed the backbone of the mughal administration. It is said that the mughal state functioned well until the system broke down.
• It introduced the concept of uniformity in administration, which led to political unification.
• It also weakened the caste and feudal system which were the two major flaws of the era.
• As a result, it became mandatory for mansabdars to appoint soldiers from all castes and religions.
• As a result, Shiva Ji and Sher Shah used this system. There was no discrimination based on caste or religion, and they were now placed on an equal footing. As a result, the ruler was able to gain the loyalty of all his subjects.
• The Mansabdari system was successful in limiting the power of the feudal and nobility classes. They were no longer considered nobility, but rather an administrative class, with fixed service conditions imposed on them.
• This Mansabdari system increased the ruler's power and further consolidated and crystallised the polity of the monarchial form of governance, and from the time of Akbar, the mughal state moved towards an intense form of administration.

Mansabdari System - Demerits

• However, the system was inherently flawed, as contemporary writers, particularly Badayuni, have illustrated during Akbar's first half-reign.
• Mansabdars defrauded the government by bringing men from the streets dressed in military uniforms and passing them off as soldiers.
• It was not uncommon for troops to substitute poor horses for good ones provided by military departments. It took Akbar many years to eradicate corruption.
• But this was only possible because of Akbar's exceptional ability as a leader and administrator, as well as his vigilance and discipline.
• The lack of strong successors in the mughal empire gave Mansabdar immense power, and they attempted to enter political affairs and play the role of nobility.
• Because the Mansabdari system was highly centralised, it could only function under a strong ruler.
• As a result, a lot depended on the personality of the ruler, and this weakness emerged right after the death of Aurangzeb as the mughal empire witnessed a series of weak and incompetent rulers, which led to factionalism in the administration of the empire.
• Each mansabdar wanted to work on their own interests, making it difficult to maintain a balanced and uniform system of administration.
• The Mansabdari system lacked an organic centre and lacked the cohesive force that must always be present in a national army.
• The mansabdars received their pay from the emperor and paid their troops themselves. This made the troops more loyal to the mansabdars than to the king.

Conclusion

Despite its flaws, the mansabdari system had a significant impact on the medieval military establishment. However, it could only function under capable leadership, which was only possible until the reign of Aurangzeb. Later, the Mansabdari system proved to be weak, leading to the empire's fragmentation. However, it also combined with several advantages, such as certain Rajput Mansabdars being diplomatically used against other Rajput chiefs with whom they were at odds. This system ensured the mansabdars' steadfast loyalty to the emperor.

FAQs

Question: What was the Mansabdari system?

Question: What was the significance of the Zat and Sawar ranks in the Mansabdari system?

Question: How were Mansabdars paid for their services?

Question: What role did Mansabdars play in the Mughal Empire?

Question: How did the Mansabdari system help Akbar in centralizing power?

MCQs

1. What was the primary function of the Mansabdari system?

A. Religious administration

B. Military and civil administration

C. Trade and commerce management

D. Taxation management

2. What was the significance of the Zat rank in the Mansabdari system?

A. It determined the number of troops to be maintained

B. It represented personal rank and salary

C. It was related to tax collection

D. It denoted the religious authority of the Mansabdar

3. What was a Jagir in the Mansabdari system?

A. A military weapon

B. A religious title

C. A land grant used to pay Mansabdars

D. A unit of currency

4. How did the Mansabdari system contribute to Akbar’s control over the empire?

A. By decentralizing power to local leaders

B. By centralizing control and making all ranks subject to the emperor’s discretion

C. By creating a confederation of regional leaders

D. By assigning religious duties to Mansabdars

5. What was the Sawar rank responsible for?

A. Collecting taxes

B. Managing religious affairs

C. Maintaining a specified number of cavalrymen

D. Governing a province

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the administrative significance of the Mansabdari system in the Mughal Empire under Akbar.

Answer: The Mansabdari system introduced by Akbar was a critical administrative tool that allowed the Mughal Empire to maintain a strong centralized bureaucracy. By assigning mansabs (ranks) to officials, Akbar ensured that power was distributed in a structured and hierarchical manner. Mansabdars served as both military commanders and civil administrators, responsible for maintaining troops and governing assigned territories. The system also allowed for efficient tax collection and ensured loyalty to the emperor, as ranks were subject to imperial discretion. It played a significant role in consolidating Akbar’s power and expanding the Mughal Empire.

Q2: Analyze the role of the Mansabdari system in strengthening the Mughal military under Akbar.

Answer: The Mansabdari system played a vital role in strengthening the Mughal military under Akbar. By assigning Sawar ranks, the emperor ensured that Mansabdars maintained a specified number of cavalrymen, making the army highly organized and disciplined. The system allowed Akbar to maintain a standing army that was loyal to him, as the Mansabdars' positions and salaries were directly linked to the emperor. This helped in expanding the empire and securing control over newly conquered territories. Additionally, the system created a sense of accountability, as Mansabdars were responsible for the readiness and upkeep of their troops.

Q3: Evaluate the economic implications of the Mansabdari system and its link to the Jagir system in the Mughal Empire.

Answer: The Mansabdari system had significant economic implications for the Mughal Empire, as it was closely linked to the Jagir system. Mansabdars were often paid through jagirs, which were land grants from which they could collect revenue. This system ensured a steady flow of income for Mansabdars and allowed the Mughal state to mobilize resources for administration and military purposes. However, the exploitation of jagirs sometimes led to over-taxation and mismanagement of resources, which affected the local peasantry. The system also fostered regional economic imbalances as jagirs were rotated, preventing Mansabdars from developing long-term economic strategies for their territories.

Previous Year Questions on Mansabdari System 

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019

Question: What was the main purpose of the Mansabdari system under Akbar?

A. Religious administration

B. Military organization and administrative governance

C. Control of trade routes

D. Expansion of the Mughal navy

Answer: B

Explanation: The Mansabdari system under Akbar was primarily a military and administrative system that allowed the emperor to efficiently manage the army and govern the vast territories of the empire.