Question

What was Abwab?
a. Toll tax
b. Religion tax such as Zakat
c. Tax on merchandise and custom duties
d. Miscellaneous kinds of taxes like the house tax, irrigation tax, etc.

Answer 1

Hint: One of the important sources of the Mughal Empire was the collection of various kinds of taxes from its subjects. A structure was in place to carry out the same and various kinds of taxes were implemented on the people. The Abwab was a tax that was temporary and circumstantial.

Complete answer: Let us look at each option one by one.
Option a: The toll tax was rather a fixed kind of tax, and not at all temporary or circumstantial. Thus, it is not the correct answer.
Option b: Religion tax was by all means a fixed one, and it could not have been the Abwab.
Option c: Tax on merchandise and custom duties were the ones levied on trade, and was fixed and permanent. Hence, this is not the correct option.
Option d: All the irregular taxes like the house tax, irrigation tax, etc were placed under the ambit of the Abwab. Hence, this is the right option.

Hence, the correct answer is option d.

Note: One can note that the Abwab could vary as per the authorities’ wishes. This was to ensure that in unforeseen circumstances, the financial needs could be looked after through these taxes.