Question

What measures did Todar Mal, the Revenue Minister of Akbar, take for upgrading the land revenue system and with what effect?

Answer 1

Instructions:

1. Give a brief explanation of the zabt system.
2. Give an account of the areas to where this system was extended.

Solution: Todar Mal, the Revenue Minister of Akbar, surveyed the lands, and their crop yields, and then fixed the taxes on each crop in cash. This was the zabt system. Furthermore, the empire was divided into revenue circles, each of which had its own revenue rate schedule to follow for individual crops.

This revenue system was applicable to those areas where the land could be surveyed. However, there were some other areas such as Gujarat and Bengal, where such a survey was not possible.