CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
Position of Emperor The Mughal emperors were powerful in administration. They accepted two primary duties for themselves, Jahanbani (protection of the state) and Jahangiri (extension of the empire).
Emperor He was the head of the state. He was the law maker, the chief executive, the commander-in-chief of the army and final dispenser of justice.
Ministers Akbar abolished the post of all-powerful Waqil. He became the head of the revenue department also known as Diwan-i-risalat.
Diwan or Wazir Responsible for all income and expenditure and had control over khalisa and jagir land.
Mir Bakshi Headed military department, nobility, information and intelligence agencies.
Mir Saman Incharge of imperial household and Karkhanas.
Diwan-i-Bayutat Maintained roads, government. buildings etc and worked under Mir Saman.
Sadr-us-Sadur Incharge of charitable and religious funding.
Qazi-ul-Quzat Headed the Judiciary Department.
Muhtasib Censor of Public Morals.
PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION
Mughal Empire was divided into subas, which were further sub-divided into sarkar, parganas and villages. However, the suba also had other territorial units as Khalisa, (royal land), Jagirs (autonomous rajas) and Inams (gifted lands, mainly waste lands). There were 15 territorial units (subas) during Akbar’s reign, which later increased to 20 under Aurangzeb’s reign.
PROVINCE (SUBA)
Suba was the largest unit equivalent to province. The head was known as Nazim or Subedar. The Subedar was the Governor of the province appointed by the emperor for overall supervision in all matters.
A provincial Diwan was appointed to look after revenue and civil justice and supervision of the sadr. Village affairs were looked after by the panchayat. Lambardar was the head of the panchayat. Other officials to help the governor were as follow
- Sadr incharge of religious interests.
- Qazi for Judicial matters.
- Mirbakshi to act as a link between the Centre and the Province in regard to army matters.
- Kotwal for municipal matters.
- Mir bahr admiral.
- Waqia Navis News reporters/writers.
- Peshkar Personal Assistant.
- Munsif clerk.
- Tavildar treasurer.
DISTRICT (SARAKAR)
The next level of administration was district (sarakar). Following were the important officials
- Fauzdar Administrative Head.
- Amal/Amalguzar Revenue collection.
- Kotwal Maintenance of law and order, trial of criminal cases and price regulation.
- Shiddar Administrative head combined in himself the duties of fauzdar and hotwal.
- Amin, Qanungo were revenue officials. Village Administration Several villages made up .
- Pargana.
VILLAGE (PARGANA)
The village during the Mughal period was recognised as a self-governing unit with rights and responsibilities. It had its council that is the Panchayat, which settled disputes, performed relief work and collected revenue. Important officials at Pargana level
MANSABDARI SYSTEM
Akbar was the architect of the Mansabdari system, an institution of political and economic significance, that played a critical role in the consolidation as well as disintegration of Mughal empire.
The term mansab (i.e. office position or rank) in the Mughal Administration indicated the rank of its holder (mansabdar) in the hierarchy. Mansabdari system had the following features
- Mansabdari system was introduced in 1595-96, showing a noble’s civil and military capacity. Twin ranks Zat and Sawar were allotted. The former indicated a noble’s personal status, while the latter, the number of troops he had to maintain. The Mansabdars were divided into Zat and Sawar, Second class Zat half or more than half of Sawar and Third class Zat less than half of Sawar.
- It had a three scale gradation as follows 1. Mansabdar (500 Zot and below) 2. Amir (between 500-2500 Zat) 3. Amir-i-Azam or Amir-i-Umda (2500 Zat and above)
- During Jahangir’s reign, a du-aspa- sih-aspa system was introduced through which, a noble’s Sawar rank could be increased without affecting his Zat.
Under Shahjahan, new regulations prescribing the size of the contigent under which various Sawar ranks were introduced. The increase of number of Mansabdars during the reign of Aurangzeb led to the Jagirdari and agrarian crisis.
Mansab was not a hereditary system. Mansabdars were paid through revenue assignments (jagirs) and some paid in cash (naqdi). The salary was fixed on month-scale system.
THE JAGIR SYSTEM
Assignment of a piece of land to an individual for the purpose of collection of revenue in bill of cash salary is an old age practice in India. In the Delhi Sultanate period, such assignments were called Iqtas and the holders as Iqtadars.
The Mughal emperors also implemented this system and the areas assigned were called Jagirs and their holders, Jagirdars. It was assigned to Mansabdars in bill of salary. The maximum area of the territory was assigned to Mansabdars on the basis of their rank. The estimated revenue from the territory was called ‘Jama or Jamadari’. It was calculated in ‘Dam’. There were various types of Jagirs
Jagir Tankha Jagirs which were given in lieu of pay.
Mashaut Jagirs Jagirs given to an individual on certain conditions.
Inam Jagirs Jagirs with no involvement of obligations of service and were independent of rank.
Watan Jagirs Jagirs assigned to Zamindars in their homelands.
Of these, Tanka Jagirs were transferable for every 3 or 4 years. Watan Jagirs were hereditary and non-transferable. The Jagirdar collected the revenue through his own officials like Karkun and Amin, Amil, Potdar.