Question

How did Murshid Quli Khan become powerful in Bengal?

Answer 1

Hint: Murshid Quli Khan handled the revenue administration system of the state and transferred all Mughal Jagirdars to Orissa and ordered a major reassessment of the revenues of Bengal.

Complete answer: During the decline of Mughal empire, Bengal was formed as an autonomous state when the empire became powerless and the credit for founding the state goes to Murshid Quli Khan. He served as post of nawab governor from 1717 till 1727. He was appointed as a deputy governor in 1713 and as a governor in 1717.
During the time of Aurangzeb, he worked in the revenue department and after seeing his proficiency in the field, he earned the recognition of Emperor. Aurangzeb followed the policy of expansion in which he fought with the Marathas and resulted in a financial crisis. When Murshid Quli Khan remits the revenue amount from the provinces he was governing, the emperor praised him and gave him the reward with the title Murshid Quli Khan.
In 1703, he was raised to the position of the post of governor in Orissa and in 1704 to the post of Dewan in Bihar. He defeated all the rebellious zamindars and introduced new land policies. He tried to reorganize the finances of Bengal by transferring a large part of Jagir lands to Khalisa lands. He also introduced the system of Ijara which means farming of revenue.

Note: Murshid Quli Khan was the first Nawab of Bengal who won a series of battles and controlled the large area. He also introduced the system of Ijara which means farming of revenue.