Question

The term ‘Iqta’ means__________.
A. Assignment of land as reward of pension
B. Revenue assignment of a particular area in lieu of cash salary
C. An administrative grant or relief
D. A unit of local government

Answer 1

Hint:The Iqtadari was a unique type of land distribution and administrative system evolved during the sultanate of Iltutmish.

Complete answer:
Option A: A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its use privileges – made by a government or other authority as an incentive, means of enabling works, or as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service.It is not called Iqta.Therefore,Option A is not the correct answer.

Option B: Iqta refers to revenue assignment of territories to the officials instead of cash.Under this system the entire empire was very evenly divided into several large and small tracts of land,called as iqtas.The Iqtas were transferable, i.e., the holders of Iqtas-Iqtadars-were transferred from one region to another every three to four years.The holders of small Iqtas were individual troopers. They had no administrative responsibilities.Therefore,Option B is the correct answer.

Option C: An administrative grant or relief does not mean iqta.Therefore,Option C is not the correct answer.

Option D: A municipality is a unit of local government. that is incorporated by the state and that has. a large degree of self-government.Therefore,Option D is not the correct answer.

Hence the correct answer is option B.

Note:Muhammad of Ghur in 1206 A.D. The able king was the first to introduce the Iqta system in India, but it was Iltutmish who gave it an institutional form. The Iqtadari system witnessed numerous changes during the Sultanate period. Initially, Iqta was a revenue-yielding piece of land which was assigned in lieu of salary.