Akbar had both the time and inclination to look at the administrative problems of the Empire. In this context describe birefly.
Akbar had both the time and inclination to look at the administrative problems of the Empire.
In this context describe birefly.
(a) His Mansabdari System
(b) His Land Revenue System
1 Answers
(a) Mansabdari System: Akbar introduced the mansabdari system to organise his armed forces more effectively. All imperial officers except the qazis and sadars, were enrolled as members of mansabdari system and were reuined to maintain some troops proportionate, to their ranks. The Mansabdari held their appointments directly from the emperor. They got their remuneration in cash not in the form of land grants. In addition to meeting their personal expenses, the Mansabdar had to maintain out of his salary a required quota of horses, elephants mules and carts. The Mughal Mansabdari were required to serve in whatever place or capacity the Emperor desired. They acted both as military commanders and civil administrators. By giving them handsome salaries and high status, Akbar was able to recruit men of remarkable capabilities to the service of the empire. Mansabdari status was not hereditary. The Mansabdars could be promoted or dismissed by the Emperor.
(b) His Land Revenue System: No efforts were made to improve the land system prevailing in the country in the early part of Akbar’s reign. It was only after, when Todar Mai became the Diwan-i-Ashraf (head of the land revenue department.) Todar mal devised a system based on
1. A survey and measurement of land,
2. classification of land according to its productive capacity, and
3. fixation of rates payable in cash or kind by the cultivators.
Another important change that Akbar made was the introduction of the dahsala system. Under this system the average produce of different kinds of lands as well the prices of the last ten (dah) years were collected from the government records. The land revenue was fixed at one- third of the average produce. The benefit of the system was that there was now no necessity of settling the land revenue every year. The work of revenue collection was therefore expedited. In brief, Todar Mal started a system that enriched the state treasury without impoverishing the cultivators. The state advanced loans 10 the needy farmers. As a result, agriculture flourished that boosted trade and industry also.