Who introduced Mansabdari system into the administration under the Mughals?
Akbar
Understanding the Mughal Mansabdari System
The Mansabdari system was a unique administrative and military system introduced in the Mughal Empire. It was a grading system used by the Mughals to fix rank, salary, and military responsibilities of officers.
A person holding a mansab was called a mansabdar. The term 'mansab' literally means a position or rank. This system integrated military and civil officials into a single hierarchy, ensuring their accountability directly to the emperor.
Introduction of the Mansabdari System in Mughal Administration
The historical records indicate that the Mansabdari system was introduced by Emperor Akbar. He implemented this system around the 11th year of his reign (around 1567 AD). The system evolved over time, with modifications made by subsequent emperors, but its foundation was laid by Akbar.
Key Features of the Mansabdari System
The Mansabdari system had several defining characteristics:
- Ranking: Every Mansabdar was assigned a rank or mansab. This rank determined their status in the official hierarchy and their salary.
- Dual Ranks: The mansab comprised two numerical designations:
- Zat: This indicated the Mansabdar's personal status and salary.
- Sawar: This indicated the number of cavalry troopers (horsemen) the Mansabdar was required to maintain and bring into service for the state.
- Military Responsibility: Mansabdars were obligated to maintain their contingent of horses, equipment, and soldiers according to their Sawar rank. They were required to present their contingent for review regularly.
- Salary Payment: Mansabdars were paid either in cash (Naqd) or through assignments of revenue from a territory (Jagir). A jagir was not a permanent grant of land but an assignment of revenue.
- Hereditary Nature: The mansabdari rank was not hereditary. After the Mansabdar's death, the jagir (if held) reverted to the state. The emperor decided whether to appoint the deceased Mansabdar's son or any other person to a mansab, and if so, at what rank.
- Uniformity: The system aimed at bringing uniformity to the administration and military organization across the vast Mughal Empire.
Under the Mansabdari system introduced by Akbar, the ranks varied from 10 to 5000 initially, though higher ranks were later introduced for princes and important nobles. The distinction between Zat and Sawar ranks became more defined during Akbar's reign, especially to address issues of maintaining the required contingent.
Understanding Zat and Sawar Ranks
The relationship between the Zat and Sawar ranks was crucial:
- If Zat = Sawar: The Mansabdar was expected to maintain a contingent equal to their Sawar rank (e.g., a Mansabdar of 1000 Zat, 1000 Sawar).
- If Zat > Sawar: This could indicate various situations, perhaps involving appointments to specific administrative posts where military command was secondary, but personal status was high. The contingent maintained would be less than the Zat rank but equal to the Sawar rank (e.g., 1000 Zat, 500 Sawar - maintain 500 horsemen).
- If Zat < Sawar: This was generally not permitted in Akbar's time. It was later modified by his successors.
The Mansabdari system was a cornerstone of Mughal governance, enabling the emperor to centralize control and maintain a large and effective army.
Revision Table: Key Figures and Systems
| System/Contribution | Introduced By | Period (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Mansabdari System | Akbar | Late 16th Century |
| Dahsala System (Land Revenue) | Akbar (by Todar Mal) | 1580 |
| Branding of Horses (Dagh) & Descriptive Rolls (Chehra) | Alauddin Khalji (reinforced by Mughals) | Early 14th Century (Mughals: Akbar) |
Additional Information on Mughal Administration
Apart from the Mansabdari system, the Mughal administration under Akbar and his successors was characterized by several other important features:
- Central Administration: Headed by the Emperor, assisted by ministers like the Diwan (Finance Minister), Mir Bakhshi (Head of Military Department and Mansabdars), Mir Saman (Head of Imperial Household), and Sadr us Sudur (Minister for Religious Affairs and Charities).
- Provincial Administration (Subas): The empire was divided into provinces (Subas), each headed by a Subahdar (Governor). Other officials included the Diwan (finance), Bakhshi (military/mansabdars), Sadr (religious matters), etc.
- Land Revenue System: Various systems existed, with the Dahsala system (Ten years' average) introduced by Todar Mal under Akbar being significant. Revenue was fixed based on the productivity of the land.
- Judicial System: The Emperor was the highest judicial authority. Qazis administered justice based on Islamic law, while Hindu law was applied in cases involving Hindus.
- Military Organization: The army was primarily composed of the contingents supplied by the Mansabdars, supplemented by the Emperor's own troops (Ahadis and the imperial bodyguard). The Mansabdari system formed the backbone of the military.
The Mansabdari system played a critical role in maintaining control over a vast and diverse empire, ensuring military readiness, and structuring the nobility and officialdom under the direct authority of the Mughal Emperor.
Important Questions from Policies under Delhi Sultanate and Mughals
"For ensuring safety on the roads and for extending comforts to the travellers, he built sarais on the highway at a distance of two Kosh. The travellers could get beds and cooked food. There also was provision for uncooked food supplies. He built some 1700 such sarais. "Who is this ruler?
Although taken aback by the beauty of Kashmir and its gardens, which of the following emperors decreed in his 6 th regnal year that no king should visit there unless on military or administrative business, as he believed that the pursuit of pleasure was the inadequate reason for going to Kashmir ?
Aurangzeb spent nearly 25 years in Deccan, because
Who established Sera-i-Adl, an exclusive market in Delhi for manufactured and exported goods to be sold at prices fixed by administration?
- Consider the following statements about iqta:
(a) Iqta-i tamlik were hereditary in which the iqta was almost considered the private property of the grantee.
(b) Iqta-i mustaghall were not hereditary and were initially both administrative and military in nature.
(c) Iqta-i wajahi were personal grants in which neither the administrative nor military aspect was emphasised.
Select the correct answer from the code given below :
