Indian History
General Knowledge

Mughal Administration



Mughal Administration

» Mughal empire was divided into Subas which were further sub dvided into Sarkar, Pargana and Gram
» However, it also had other territorial units as Khalisa (royal land), Jagirs (autonomous rajyas) and Inams (gifted lands, mainly waste lands).
» There were 15 Subas (provinces) during Akbar's reign, which later increased to 20 under Aurangzeb's reign.
» Akbar introduced Mansabdari system. The term Mansab indicates the rank of its holder. Mansab dari was both civil and military. Almost the whole nobility, bureaucracy and military hold Mansabs.
» The Mughal Mansab was dual i.e. Zat (personal rank and pay status) and Sawar (number of horsemen to maintain).
» Mansabadar were of 3 categories: Mansabadars, Amirs and Amir-i-umda.
» According to pay mode they were of 2 types: Naqdi (paid through cash ) and Jagirdar ( paid through Jagirs).
» Jahangir added Duaspah Sih-aspah system i.e. one's sawar rank can be raised without raising his zat rank.
» Shahjahan added Jama-Dami or Mahana Zagir (Monthly Scale) system.
» It ultimately caused Jagirdari and agrarian crisis, which was a major cause of decline of Mughals.
» There were several methods of revenue collection in practice viz. Kankut (estimate), Rai(yield per unit area) and ZabtiQbased on the yields of crops).
» Dahsala Bandobast or Zabti: A standard method of collection based cm rates of crops determined after 10 years assessment. Todar Mall pioneered it.
» Jagirdari system was the assignment of land in proportion to a Jagirdar's salary. Hence, every Mansabdar was entitled to a jagir if he was not paid in cash.
» Madad-i-maash or Suyur ghal or Inam were land grants to people of fovour / religious assignment.

Mughal Culture

» Babur built two mosques, one at Kabulibagh in Panipat and the other at Sambhal in Rohilakhand.
» Humayun's tombwas built by his widow Haji Begum.
» An unusual building at Fatehpur Sikri is Panch Mahal Panch Mahal has the plan of Buddhist vihara.
» The Mariam s palace, Dhvan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-khasat Sikri are Indian in their plan.
» Buland Darnaja (built after Gujarat victory), formed the main entrance to Fatehpur Sikri.
» Salim Chisti’s tomb( redone in Marble by Jahangir) is the first Mughal building in pure marble). Palace of Birbal Palace of Tartsen are also inside the Fatehpur Sikri.
» Akbar also began to build his own tomb at Sikandara which was later completed by Jahangir.
» The architecture of Fatehpur Sikri is known as Epic in red sand stone.
» Nurjahan built Itimad-ud-daula / Mirza Ghiyas Beg's marble tomb at Agra, which is noticeable for the first use of pietra dura ( floral designs made up of semiprecious stones) technique.
» Jahangir introduced vigorous use of marble instead of red sand stone and use of pietra dura for decorative purpose.
» Jahangir built Moti Masjid in Lahore and his mausoleum at Shahdara(Lahore).
» Mosque building activity reached its climax in Taj Mahal Shahjahan also built the Jama Masjid.
» Some of the important buildings built by Shahajahan at Agra are Moti Masjid (only Mosque of marble). Khaas Mahal, Mussmman Burz (Jasmine Palace where he spent his last year in captivity) etc.
» He laid the foundations of Shahjahanabad in 1637 where he built the Red Fort and Takht-i-Taus (Peacock throne).
» Only building by Aurangzeb in the Red Fort is Moti Masjid
» Only monument associated with Aurangzeb is Bibi ka Makbara which is the tomb of his wife Rabbia-ud-daurain Aurangabad.
» Aurangzab also built the Badshahi Masjid in Lohore.
» Humayun had takan into his service two master painter Mir Syed Ali and Abdus Samad
» Daswant and Basawanwere two famous painters of Akbar's court.
» Abdul Hassan, Ustad Mansur and Dishandas were three famous painters of Jahangir's court.
» Jahangir claims that he could distinguish the work of each artist in a picture.