Revenue system during Mughals: UPSC Note on History Class 6: Revenue system during Mughals

The Mughal Empire system was established by Babur in 1526 CE after the first battle of Panipat and re-established by Akbar after the second battle of Panipat in 1556 CE. The revenue system during the Mughals was first introduced as the land revenue system by Sher Shah. Then, Akbar established the land revenue system Zabt or Bandobast system with some modifications. Raja Todarmal improved the system further, named it the Dahsala system, and followed that in 1580 CE. Apart from the land revenue system, there were two other revenue systems called the Mansabdar system and Jagirdar system.

Land Revenue System 

While Akbar established the land revenue system, Raja Todarmal provided a uniform system to land revenue as land measurement. The revenue was fixed based on the past ten years’ average yield of land assessment. One-third part of the average produce was state share. Generally, the payments were made in cash.  

Kinds of Land Revenue System

The land revenue system during the Mughals was divided into three types: 

1. Zabt System 
2. Batai System 
3. Nasq or Kankut System 

Zabt System 

The Zabt system was incorporated after 10 years of experimenting from 1570 CE to 1580 CE. Akbar started the Zabt system with the help of Mujjafar Khan and Todarmal. This is why the Zabt system is also known as Todarmal’s Zabt system. It was a vast system involving measurement and classification of land. 

Measurement of Land:  

Akbar measured the land first with 33 inches of gaz and 1 bigha land was 3,600 square gaz. Akbar used to use an instrument with an iron razor at both sides to measure the land. So that no farmer will get exploited. 

Classification of land:  

After the measurement of land, the land was classified based on its fertility. The four classifications of land were as follows:

There were concessional rates for the Chachar and Banjar assessments. 

Land Revenue or State Share 

It involved the first two categories of land i.e., Polaj and Parauti. The revenue system in this category was ⅓. In India, Mughals always collected ⅓ Lagaan. So it was nothing new for the farmers. However, what was new was that the Lagaan was collected from the Chhachhar and Banjar lands based on their fertility capacities. 

Commutation of Land Revenue into Cash 

In this format, the farmers had the option to pay Lagaan in terms of cash or as grains. A guideline was prepared based on the past ten years’ pricing of grains for farmers who wanted to pay in cash. 

Patta and Kabuliyat 

During the Mughal empire, the farmers had no idea on what basis the Lagaan was collected. That is where the Patta and Kabuliyat systems came into effect. Patta was a written document in which the size, category, fertility of the land and revenue to be paid were added. Similarly, Kabuliyat was a copy of Patta with a farmer’s signature or thumb impression. Patta was for farmers, and Kabuliyat was for the Government. This helped in stopping farmer exploitation so that no Zamindar could collect more than the amount to be paid. 

Collection of Land Revenue 

Zamindars used to collect land revenue. 

The Zabt system was a vast system and could not be implemented in all areas. Thus, there were some other systems as well. 

2. Bataidari or Gallabaksh System 

The Bataidari System was implemented in Sindh, Kashmir and Kabul. In this system, farmers used to go to the Zamindars once their crop was ready. Then, they would divide the crop into three parts, one for the Zamindars and two for the farmers. 

3. Nasq or Kankut System 

This system was implemented in Bengal and Orissa. In this system, the land revenue was estimated and later the revenue was collected. 

The Mansabdar System 

An administrative setup system was required to manage the Mughal Empire. As the Mughal Empire was expanded, more people were required to govern the empire. Therefore, from a small nucleus of Turkish Nobles, they expanded to include Iranians, Indian Muslims, Afghans, Rajputs, Marathas and other groups. Akbar recruited and appointed people for Mughal Services. Those who joined Mughal services were enrolled as Mansabdars. 

Mansabdars were people who held a position or rank. According to the rank of a Mansabdar, their salary and military responsibilities were fixed. Akbar assigned a rank to every Mansabdar that was known as Mansab. In this system, 5000 was the highest rank, and 10 was the lowest rank. If a prince came from a royal family, he held a higher rank. Even if the highest rank was 5000, there were two nobles Mirza Aziz Koka and Raja Man Singh who were honored with the Mansab of 7000 each. 

Initially, there was only one Mansab, but later the rank was divided into two categories: 

• Zat Rank: Zat rank was decided based on an individual’s status and salary. 
• Sawar Rank: Sawar rank indicated the number of sawars (cavalrymen) a person needed to maintain. 

 The Jagirdar System

Mansabdars were paid in the form of revenue assignments known as Jagirs, which were similar to Iqtas. It was, however, distinct from the Iqtadari system. Unlike Muqtis and Iqtadars, the majority of Mansabdars did not live in or administer their jagirs. They merely held rights to the income generated by their assignments, which was collected by servants on their behalf. 

Classification of Jagirs: 

Conclusion:

In the end, we can conclude stating that the Mughal revenue system was based on the partition of the empire into subas or governorships, sarkars or districts, and parganas, which were made up of a number of villages known as mahals. And during British administration, they were superseded by the considerably larger tehsils or talukas.