Question

Mansabdari system

Answer 1

Akbar introduced the mansabdari system in the Mughal military administration. Apart from Irani and Turani nobles, he recruited diverse groups of people like Indian Muslims, Afghans, Rajputs and Marathas and they were known as mansabdars. This system was followed in the civil and military administration. Officers had the following ranks:

• Zat rank: It was a personal rank that determined the status and pay.
• Sawar rank: It was a military rank that determined the force maintained by a mansabdar.

A mansabdar was paid either in cash or in the form of a jagir whose revenue he was entitled to as a salary.