Discuss the working of the mansab and the jagir systems under the Mughals.

 Akbar was the architect of the mansab system, an institution of political and economic significance that played a critical role in the consolidation and disintegration of the Mughal Empire. We also notice an evolution in the beginning and the growth of this institution. The word Mansab means a place, a position, an honour and a rank, which happened to be an integral part of the elaborate Mughal bureaucracy.

The Mansabdars were appointed to all civil and military posts except that of judiciary, and the positions like wazir, bakshi, faujdar and Subedar were held by the Mansabdars. The Mansabdar appears to be a central Asian institution. There is a view that this institution came to India with Babur. During Babur’s time, instead of the term of Mansabdar, the term Wajahdar was used. There is a definite difference between these two terms of Mansabdari and Wajahdari system.

Under the regime of Akbar, the Mansabdari system became the basis of military and civil administration. It is also believed that Akbar followed the principles of Changiz Khan in fixing up the grades of Mansabdars. Abul Fazl states that Akbar provided 66 grades of Mansabdars ranging from commanders of 10 horsemen to 10,000 horsemen but he gives a list of 33 grades of Mansabdars. Thus, the term “Mansab’ decided the status of the holder in the graded official hierarchy, it also fixed the pay of the holder or the Mansabdar and it also made it obligatory to maintain a specified number of contingent with horses and necessary equipment.

In the beginning and up to 1595-96, personal pay and the size of the contingent was represented by single rank of jat but from 1595-96, both the Jat and sawar ranks began to decide the position and status of the Mansabdar.  While Jat decided the Mansabdar’s personal pay or Talabkhasa and his rank in the official hierarchy and sawar fixed the horses and horsemen to be maintained by the Mansabdar and the amount he received to maintain his contingent.

Jagir System:

Assignment of a piece of land to an individual for the purpose of collection of revenue in lieu of cash salary is an age-old practice in India. In the Delhi Sultanate period such assignments were called Iqtas and the holders Iqtadars. The Mughal emperors also implemented this system and the areas assigned were called Jagirs and their holders, Jagirdars. It is to be remembered in this connection that it is not land that was assigned but the right to collect revenue or income from the piece of land. The framework of the Mughal Jagirdari system began during the reign of Akbar and in course of time it underwent modifications. 

Babur and Humayun continued the collection of revenue from the assigned territories through Wajahdars by fixing ‘wajah’. In the time of Akbar, the territory was broadly divided as Khalisa and Jagir. Dam is a small copper coin. Generally, the jama included land revenue, in-land transit duties, port customs and other taxes too. This is also known as ‘sair jihat’ and ‘hasil’ or the amount of revenue actually collected. There were various types of Jagirs or revenue assignments.

They are:

(1) Jagirs, which were given in lieu of pay known as Jagir Tankha.

(2) Jagirs given to an individual on certain conditions called Mashrut Jagirs.

(3) Jagirs with no involvement of obligations of service and were independent of rank known as Inam Jagirs.

(4) Jagirs, assigned to Zamindars in their home lands called Watan Jagirs.

Subcribe on Youtube - IGNOU SERVICE

For PDF copy of Solved Assignment

WhatsApp Us - 9113311883(Paid)