Question

. Which of the following is/are not correct about the Mughal Jagirdari System?

1. All Mansabdars were Jagirdars.
2. Mansabdar was assigned a Jägir that was officially estimated to yield an equivalent amount of revenue.
3. A small portion of Jägir were also given to the Baluch and Ghakkar chiefs
4. After few years of revenue collection rights a Jagirdar was given hereditary rights in his assignment.

• A. 2, 3
• B. 4 only
• C. 1, 4
• D. 3, 4

Answer 1

Answer:

B. 4 only

• The Jagirdari System was a land revenue assignment system prevalent in the Mughal Empire.

• Under this system, the right to collect land revenue from a specific area, rather than the ownership of the land itself, was granted to a Mansabdar (an official in the Mughal military and civil administration) as a form of salary.

• This system was an evolution of the earlier Iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate.

Analysis of the Statements:

• Statement 1: "All Mansabdars were Jagirdars."

  • This statement is incorrect. Not every Mansabdar was a Jagirdar.

  • Mansabdars were paid in two primary ways: by revenue assignment (as Jagirdars) or in cash (as Naqdis).

  • While the majority were Jagirdars, a significant number, especially those serving in the central administration or commanding specific military units, received direct cash salaries from the imperial treasury.

• Statement 2: "Mansabdar was assigned a Jagir that was officially estimated to yield an equivalent amount of revenue."

  • This statement is correct in principle.

  • The estimated revenue of a Jagir was known as 'jama' or 'jamadami', which was supposed to correspond to the Mansabdar's salary claim (talab).

  • However, there was often a significant difference between the 'jama' and the 'hasil' (actual revenue collected), which led to administrative challenges and contributed to the later Jagirdari Crisis.

• Statement 3: "A small portion of Jagir were also given to the Baluch and Ghakkar chiefs."

  • This statement is correct.

  • The Mughal emperors strategically granted Jagirs to various local chiefs, zamindars, and tribal leaders, including the Baluch and Ghakkar chiefs, particularly in frontier or strategically important regions.

  • This was done to ensure their loyalty, maintain regional stability, and integrate them into the imperial administrative and military framework.

• Statement 4: "After few years of revenue collection rights a Jagirdar was given hereditary rights in his assignment."

  • This statement is incorrect and is the key point for understanding the system.

  • Mughal Jagirs were fundamentally non-hereditary and transferable (paibaqi).

  • Jagirdars were frequently transferred from one Jagir to another, typically every 3-4 years, to prevent them from establishing local roots, accumulating excessive power, or becoming independent of the central imperial authority.

  • This policy was crucial for maintaining the centralized nature of the Mughal administration and preventing the emergence of a powerful, independent landed aristocracy.

Additional Important Facts for Competitive Exams:

• Types of Jagirs:

  • Tankha Jagir: The most common type, assigned in lieu of salary.

  • Mashrut Jagir: Conditional Jagir, granted for specific services or on certain conditions.

  • Inam Jagir: Assigned without any service obligation, usually to religious figures or institutions as a grant.

  • Watan Jagir: A significant exception, these were hereditary Jagirs granted to Rajput rulers and other local chiefs in their ancestral domains, recognizing their traditional authority while integrating them into the Mughal system.

• Dah-Biswi System: Introduced during Aurangzeb's reign, this system adjusted the Jagir assignment by specifying a fraction of the estimated revenue (e.g., '8-month' or '4-month' Jagir) to address the shortage of readily available Jagirs and the growing number of Mansabdars.

• Jagirdari Crisis: A severe administrative and economic crisis that emerged during the later Mughal period, especially under Aurangzeb. Key factors included: a shortage of assignable lands (paibaqi), the increasing number of Mansabdars, the wide disparity between estimated and actual revenue (jama and hasil), and the resulting over-exploitation of peasants by Jagirdars, leading to widespread agrarian unrest.