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Q1 (IAS/2019) History & Culture › Medieval India › Mughal administrative system Official Key

With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar? 1. Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection. 2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is option D (Neither 1 nor 2) because both statements in the question contain inaccuracies about the Mughal administrative system.

Statement 1 is incorrect because Mansabdars were generally paid by being assigned land (jagirs) and were therefore also known as jagirdars[1], and the majority of them were paid through assignments of revenue (jagirs) in different regions of the empire[2]. The jagir assignments were primarily for revenue collection as payment for military-administrative services, not specifically for judicial and police duties. Additionally, while Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation[3], zamindars actually did have law and order responsibilities - zamindars were expected to maintain the staff including thanedars for law and order duties and for maintaining peace, as well as dealing with crime and criminals[4].

Statement 2 is also incorrect because They were transferred periodically[2], indicating jagir assignments were not hereditary. Meanwhile, zamindars' positions could be hereditary in nature. Therefore, neither statement is fully accurate.

Sources
  1. [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > The Mughal administrative framework > p. 54
  2. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > The mansabdari system > p. 214
  3. [3] https://upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/csp-p1.pdf
  4. [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Evolution of Police System in Modern India > p. 517
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Q. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar? 1. Jagirdars were holders of land …
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 7.5/10
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This is a classic 'Conceptual Clarity' question derived directly from NCERT Themes in Indian History Part II (Chapter 8). It tests the fundamental distinction between state-appointed officials (Jagirdars) and local landed elites (Zamindars). The difficulty lies not in obscurity, but in the precision required regarding 'hereditary rights' and 'police duties'.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In Mughal India, were Jagirdars granted land assignments in return for performing judicial and police duties?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > The Mughal administrative framework > p. 54
Presence: 5/5
“Akbar also instituted the mansabdari system. As Abul Fazl recorded in his Ain-i-Akbari, which describes Akbar's administration, mansabdars (officers) according to their mansab (rank) were expected to maintain a precise number of elephants, horses, camels as well as troops for the state. This made it possible to assemble an army at a short notice without having to maintain a permanent centralised army. Regular inspections were carried out to ensure compliance. Mansabdars were generally paid by being assigned land (jagirs) and were therefore also known as jagirdars. Despite Akbar's growing tolerance for different faiths, non-Muslims were kept in a minority in the higher echelons of the administration; for instance, the total percentage of nonadministration rarely exceeded one-third of the total and was often much less.”
Why this source?
  • Identifies mansabdars as officers who were generally paid by assignment of land (jagirs) and were therefore known as jagirdars.
  • Links jagir payment directly to the administrative/military rank (mansab), establishing land-as-compensation for service.
THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > The mansabdari system > p. 214
Presence: 4/5
“The Mughal administrative system had at its apex a militarycum-bureaucratic apparatus (mansabdari) which was responsible for looking after the civil and military affairs of the state. Some mansabdars were paid in cash (naqdi), while the majority of them were paid through assignments of revenue (jagirs) in different regions of the empire. They were transferred periodically. See also Chapter 9.”
Why this source?
  • Defines the mansabdari system as responsible for civil and military affairs and notes that most mansabdars were paid through jagir assignments.
  • Connects the duties (civil/military) of officeholders to the jagir form of remuneration, implying administrative (including policing/judicial) responsibilities in return for land.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Evolution of Police System in Modern India > p. 517
Presence: 3/5
“In pre-colonial India, the governments, under the Mughals and other native states, were autocratic in nature, and lacked a separate or formal police system. However, there have been watch guards since time immemorial protecting villages at night. Later, under the Mughal rule there were the faujdars who helped in maintaining law and order, and amils who were basically revenue collectors but had to contend with rebels, if any. The kotwal was responsible for maintenance of law and order in the cities. Even during the dual rule in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa between 1765 and 1772 the zamindars were expected to maintain the staff including thanedars for law and order duties and for maintaining peace, as well as dealing with crime and criminals.”
Why this source?
  • Shows that various local officials and landholders (kotwal, faujdars, zamindars) were expected to maintain law and order and staff such as thanedars.
  • Demonstrates that holders of land or local authority were tasked with policing duties, supporting the claim that land assignments carried law-and-order responsibilities.
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