Mansabdari System

Mansabdari System

The military administration was organized through the Mansabdari system. Mansab means ‘rank’ in Arabic, and officers with ranks were called mansabdars. There were thirty-three categories of Mansab in the Mughal period ranging from 10 to 10,000 ranks. Mansabdar over 5,000 were reserved for princes and members of the royal family. This post was not hereditary, and the Mansabdars were paid in cash or given large tracts of land called jagirs....

Who was Mansabdars?

Mansabdars refer to the officers present in the administration of the Mughals. The nobles who joined the service of the Mughals were enrolled as the mansabdars. Mansabdar refers to the individual who holds a rank or mansab. Mansabdars came to be appointed in the posts of both civil as well as military positions. Mansabdars were often more liable for transfer from one branch of administration to the other....

Origins of the Mansabdari System

The origins of the mansabdari system are in Central Asia and there is a view that the system came to India with Babur, and the term Wajahdar has been used instead of mansabdar. Mughal emperor Akbar 1571 implemented the mansabdari system in the administrative system and came to both institutionalized as well as reform it on the basis of military as well as civil forms of administration. The officers under this system came to be known as mansabdars. The mansabdars were transferred from one place to another, like from civil to military and so forth....

Mansabdar’s Ranking/ Hierarchy of Administrative Officers

“Mansab” is a word that originates from the Arabic language and the meaning of which is position or rank. Certain hierarchy is followed by mansabdars, as mentioned below:...

Mansabdars Salary in Cash and Land

The salary of mansabdars would be commensurate with their ranks. Mansabdars who received payment by land are known as jagirdars and jagirdars had the right to collect revenue from a piece of land. Mansabdars receiving payment by cash was known as Naqdi. The mansabdari position was not hereditary....

Advantages of Mansabdari System

The new Mansabdari System introduced by Akbar proved to be a great success for his subject, as it employed many needy people. Here are some of the advantages of the Mansabdari system:...

Disadvantages of the Mansabdari System

As everything has its pros and cons as well, in some ways the Mansabdari system proved to be fatal for the empire. Such as:...

Fall of Mansabdari System

In the Mughal Empire, the Mansabdari system was used to rank civil and military officials. The Mansabdari system, which was created under the leadership of Akbar, strengthened its foundation throughout Akbar’s brief rule. Akbar kept 1,803 Mansabdars; at the conclusion of Aurangzeb’s rule, that number had risen to 14,4991. The fall of the mansabdari system was the culmination of the following:...

Conclusion

The mansabdari system essentially functioned as a grading system to rate the officers according to their pay and rank. It included all facets of empire-wide administration, including civil, military, and financial affairs. There were official suggestions to enlist the mansabdars. Both the civil and military departments were equally important....

FAQs on Mansabdari System

Q 1. What is mansabdari system?...