RAS question
Akbar's Mansabdari system was primarily a system of:
Correct answer: (A) Military and civil ranking with dual designation (Zat and Sawar).
Akbar's Mansabdari system was primarily a combined military and civil ranking system in which a mansabdar's zat fixed personal rank, status and salary, while sawar fixed the cavalry obligation.
Explanation
Mansabdari was a service-ranking system, not a single revenue device. The NCERT chapter explains that people who joined Mughal service were enrolled as mansabdars, a term tied to mansab, meaning position or rank. A mansabdar's zat was the numerical rank that determined his court status and salary; a higher zat meant a more prestigious place and a larger salary. The military side came through sawar: the mansabdar had to maintain a specified number of cavalrymen, bring them for review, get them registered and have their horses branded before receiving money to pay them. Mansabs were non-hereditary and helped the emperor control the nobility.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Land revenue mattered because mansabdars could be paid through jagir revenue assignments, but the system itself ranked officials and fixed military service obligations rather than collecting revenue only.
- (C) The system enrolled imperial servants as mansabdars and connected rank, salary and cavalry responsibility; it did not classify people by religious authority.
- (D) Mansabs were non-hereditary, and NCERT describes jagirs as revenue assignments rather than resident, hereditary feudal grants administered by the mansabdar.
Concept
This tests the Mughal administrative-military structure, especially the link between mansabdars, zat, sawar and jagirs. It recurs in RAS because the system explains how Akbar organised nobles, pay and military service under imperial control.