Question

What was the relationship between mansabdar and jagirs?

Answer 1

Hint: The Mansabdari system was a new administrative and revenue system that was introduced by emperor Akbar. They were the pillars of the Mughal system. The responsibility of the maintenance of the financial system in the area was given to the jagirdars.

Complete answer:
The meaning of the word Mansab is rank or position. This system was used to determine the ranks of generals and military and other government officials.The ranks decided their salaries and allowances. The military commanders, high civil officers and provincial governors belonged to the class of mansabdars. The salaries which were received by the mansabdars were called jagirs. The mansabdars were given remuneration either in cash or in areas of assignments of land which were called jagirs. The mansabdari system was an elite within an elite.

With the rule of Akbar there were two new concepts which were introduced: the ‘zat’ and ‘sawar’. The Mansabdari system functioned under the following mechanisms. The mansabs had dual representation. The ‘zat’ was his personal rank and ‘sawar’ was his professional rank. The higher the ‘zat’ was, the higher was the salary of the mansab. The emperor was the sole person who could confer the roles of the mansabs. The Jagirdari system was the division of land into small divisions and the person who was in charge of the land and maintenance of the financial system was called jagirdars. The main responsibility of the jagirdars was to collect the revenue as fixed, and submit it to the central empire.

Note: The mansabdari system was divided into three categories. Those who held rank below 500 zats were called mansabdars, those who held below 2500 zats fell in the category of Amirs and those who held below 2500 were called amir-i-umda. While answering the question do not get confused between the jagirdari system and the zamindari system.