Administration of Akbar
Akbar possessed a system and centralized system of administration. He introduced the Mansabdari system. In the Mansabdar system, the nobles, civil and military officials combined into one single service with each other and received the title of Mansabdar.
The Mansabdar rank was divided into Zat and Sawar. The Zat determined the number of soldiers each Mansabdar received that ranges from 10 to 10,000.
The Sawar determined the number of horses under a Mansabdar. Every officer could rise from the lowest to the highest ranks.
The promotions and demotion were done by the addition or reduction of Mansabs. The Mansabdari system of Akbar has a diversified ethnic base. Before the introduction of the Mansabdari system, Central Asians or Persians were exclusively Nobles.
But after the introduction of the Mansabdari system, the nobles were also Rajputs and Indian Muslims called Shaikhzadas. The Mansabdar salary was fixed in cash but was paid by assigning him a Jagir. Jagir is money from an estate assigned to the Mansabdar, where he gets money from those estates as salary.
This was subjected to regular transfer. The rank of Mansabdar was not hereditary and returned to the state after his death.
FAQ
Mansabdari System
It is a military unit within the administrative system of the empire. This system was introduced by Akbar. The system is the rank and status of the empire’s official and military generals. The Mughals administrative system had at its apex.
Mansabdari System is a system that is military combined with bureaucratic apparatus that was responsible for looking after the civil and military affairs of the state. Some of the Mansabdars were paid in cash called Naqdi. But most of them were paid in Jagirs. They were also transferred periodically.
All the holders of government offices held ranks called Mansabs. It comprises two numerical designations. One is Zat, which was an indicator of position, in the imperial hierarchy.
The salary of the official or Mansabdar, and Sawar, indicated the number of horsemen he was required to maintain in service.
And during 17th century, Mansabdars of 1000 Jats or above were ranked as Nobles such as Umara
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