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The Mansabdari system established by Akbar was designed to strengthen Mughal military and administrative efficiency.
It introduced ranks, salaries, and contingents to unify diverse groups under Mughal rule.
- (i) Akbar created the mansabdari system to consolidate power.
- (ii) Mansabdars received Rs 240 annually per sawar, with 5% retained for expenses.
- (iii) Mixed contingents of Turani, Irani, Afghans, and Rajputs promoted unity.
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Jahangir adjusted the system to address military costs and troop management.
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Salary Reductions and New Allowances
- (i) Reduction of sawar payment from Rs 240 to Rs 200 annually.
- (ii) Introduction of du-aspah sih-aspah allowing nobles to keep extra troopers.
- (iii) Adjustments in zat salaries and troop quotas to maintain balance.
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Ethnic Contingents and Challenges
- (a) Special permissions for ethnic/tribal contingents.
- (b) Attempts to integrate diverse groups under the Mughal army.
- (c) Persistent challenges in maintaining unity among groups.
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Shah Jahan refined the system to cope with fiscal strain and bureaucratic needs.
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- (i) Implementation of a month-scale payment system.
- (ii) Growing reliance on jagirs instead of cash payments.
- (iii) Strategic reforms ensured loyalty of the nobility.
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Bureaucratization of Nobility
- (a) Introduction of meticulous rules and gradations.
- (b) Efforts to transform feudal nobility into state administrators.
- (c) Struggles against feudal attachments to land and prestige.
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Impact on Military Efficiency: Evaluating the Mansabdari System
The system’s military role evolved with reforms, influencing Mughal strength and weaknesses.
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Military Effectiveness
- (i) Enabled maintenance of a formidable military force.
- (ii) Expanded numbers through du-aspah sih-aspah.
- (iii) Mixed contingents reduced ethnic exclusiveness.
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Financial and Administrative Impact
- (a) Reforms influenced troop maintenance and readiness.
- (b) Fiscal strain reduced long-term sustainability.
- (c) Military achievements fluctuated under different rulers.
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Administrative Challenges: Jagirs, Revenue, and Fiscal Strain
The system faced fiscal and administrative obstacles due to revenue limitations and jagir management.
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Jagir Management and Revenue Allocation
- (i) Jagirs sustained the nobility but created inefficiencies.
- (ii) Maintaining jama-dami records was difficult.
- (iii) Fiscal pressures strained state resources.
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- (a) Balancing fiscal policy with administrative demands.
- (b) Introducing reforms to enhance governance stability.
- (c) Coping with growing mismatch between revenue and expenditure.
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Legacy and Historical Significance of the Mansabdari System
The system left a lasting imprint on Mughal governance, blending military and administrative frameworks that shaped imperial stability and decline.
- (i) Shah Jahan’s reforms stabilized military efficiency.
- (ii) Despite challenges, it remained central to Mughal defense and administration.
- (iii) Legacy revealed complexities of managing feudal nobility.
- (iv) Influenced later Mughal rulers and contributed to the empire’s decline.
- (v) Offers comparisons with other imperial systems in history.
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Summary of the Mansabdari System in Mughal India
The mansabdari system, founded by Akbar and refined by Jahangir and Shah Jahan, was the backbone of Mughal administration and military organization. Its blend of fiscal reforms, rank structures, and military innovations ensured imperial strength but also led to fiscal strain and administrative challenges. For students, it is a crucial topic to understand the evolution, efficiency, and decline of Mughal governance.
