The Mughal administration was centralized, with the emperor holding absolute power. Key elements included councils of ministers, provincial administration divided into districts and villages, and a military system based on mansabdars who received ranks determining the number of troops they commanded. Revenue was a major focus, with land surveys and classification systems implemented. The justice system incorporated Islamic law but treated Hindus unequally. Overall, the Mughals established an extensive and sophisticated bureaucracy to govern their large empire.

1. First BA History
Subject: History
Title of the Paper: History of India(From 900 AD to 1707 AD)
Second Semester
Fifth Unit- MUGHAL ADMINISTRATION
Dr.T.Kaliappan
Associate Professor of History
Vivekanada College
Tiruvedakam West, 625234
25-04-2020

2. MUGHAL ADMINISTRATION
Akbar was the first Mughal ruler who laid the foundation
of government and administration in India.

3. Main elements and structure of Mughal
administration

6. The King
 The Mughal emperors being despots concentrated the
entire powers in their own hands. The emperor was not
only the head of the State but also the law-maker, the
head of Justice, the Chief executive and the Chief
Commander of the imperial forces.
 The power of Ulemas was eliminated during the reign of
Akbar
 The Mughal Kings were Benevolent despot. The ministers
were appointed by the emperor and they were assisted
the Kind in day to day affairs

7. Council of Ministers
Wazir or Vakil: (The Prime Minister) was the most dignified
and powerful of the Ministers and had the right of
appointment and dismissal of other ministers.
 He was not only in charge of Finance and Revenue
departments but also acted as Chief adviser and most
confidant of the emperor.
 He acted as mediator between the emperor and the
officers
Imperial Diwan: Finance Minister – He had complete
control over the royal treasury.

8. Mir Bakhshi or Pay Master:
 He was the minister in charge of the military
department.
 His chief duty was the recruitment of soldiers,
maintenance of service records of the government officers,
branding of horses and he looked after the training and
payment of salaries of royal officers and officials.
 Mir Bakshi being a prominent officer for payments of the
Mansabdars.

9. Sadr-us-Sadur (Chief Sadr):
 Sadr-us-Sadur was the fourth prominent minister of the
central administration who was the in charge of religious
department.
 He was the guardian of Islamic law.
 He also used to collect religious taxes Jaziya and Jakat from
Hindus and Muslims respectively.
Khan-i-Saman was the head of the Imperial household.
Generally this post was given to the most confident person
of the emperor.
Qazi-ul-Quzat He was the head of the Justice department.

10. Muhtasib:
 He was an officer who looked after the moral development
of the people.
 This officer generally walked in the town along with police
or army men in order to destroy the centers of liquor and
gambling.
 He also used to control markets and checked the weights
and measures.

11. Other ministers:
 Daroga-i-Dak Chauki – Head of the spy department
 Daroga-i-Topkhana – was in charge of royal artillery
 Mir-i-Bahr – was in charge of the forests
 Daroga-i-Taksal- in charge of Mint

12. Provincial Administration:
 The country divided in to number of provinces
 Akbar divided his empire in to fifteen provinces
 The number of provinces reached 21 during the regime of
Aurangazeb
 The Subedar was in charge of provincial administration.
 The provinces were divided in to Sarkars (districts),
Parganas (Tahsils) and villages

13. Officers in a province:
 Diwan – was in charge of revenue administration
 Bakshi – in charge of the army of the province
 The waqa-i-Newis – He recorded all the events of the
province
 Qazi – Justice
 Kotwal – Police officer

14. Farijdar – Military head of the Sarkar (district) Sarkars were
further divided in to parganas.
Administration of Pargana
 Shiqdar – Military officer
 Amil - Finance officer
 Fotadar – The treasurer
 Qanugo – Head of the Village

15. Main source of in come of the empire
 Khams (booty), trade tax, Mint, Salt tax, unclaimed
property, income from various industries and presents
from nobles.
 Zakat from Muslims
 Jaziya-poll tax from Hindus
 Land tax

16. Revenue administration
Raja Todar Mal was a successful Diwan and made some
significant changes in revenue system.
He measured the entire area of cultivatable land, and
classified land on the basis of quality and fixed the state
revenue.
Raja Todar Mal

17. Military Administration
The Army was the hub of Mughal administration.
Mansabdary system: The Mughal army was based on
Mansabdari system. This system was introduced by Akbar.

18. Meaning of the Mansabdari system: The “Mansap” is an
Arabic word meaning rank or position or status of a
person. Thus Mansabdari was a system in which the rank
of government officials was determined.
 The Mansabs were from 10 to 10,000 soldiers in the
beginning but later they were enhanced up to 50,000.
 Generally Mansabs above 5000 soldiers were reserved for
the princes. The members of the royal family were
awarded Mansabs up to 40,000 and 50,000
 Akbar introduced the rank of “Zat” and “Sawar” in the
Mansabdari system.

19. Method of Recruitment
The emperor was in charge of all recruitment of Imperial
officers.
Salary structure – normally cash salaries were given to the
Mansabdars and they were paid very highly.

20. Different categories of soldiers:
 Ahadi Soldiers: They were the personal soldiers of the
emperor. Diwan and Bakshi looked after their
appointment, training and discipline on behalf of the
emperor. They were nicely paid from the imperial
treasury. They were completely loyal to the Emperor.
 Dakhili Soldiers: They were also recruited on behalf of the
emperor but kept in the charge of Mansabdars and formed
a part of Mughal army.
 Permanent army: Mughal emperor had a powerful
permanent army.

21. Army Units; The army was divided in to the following five
units;
 Cavalry: It had two types of Horsemen;
“Bargir” were those soldier who received horses, arms, dress etc.,
from the state
Siledar: were those soldiers who brought their own horses and
arms.
 Infantry: Infantry was organized in to two units namely;
Bandukshi (Riflemen) and
Sam Shirbaz – (Swordmen)
 War elephants: the elephants were used for fighting as well
as for carrying load.

22.  Artillery: Artillery was equally a significant part of the
Mughal army. Babur was the first Mughal ruler who made
use of gun powder.
 Navy: The Navy of the Mughals was very weak as compared
with the Europeans.

23. Law and Justice:
 The Quran, the Hadis (the tradition) and Ijma (consensus of
opinion) were the basis of their law and justice. It proved
useful to Muslims only – Hindus were treated improperly.
 The Emperor was the highest authority in Law and Justice.
 Chief Qazi was next the Emperor and he used to dispense
Justice in the Capital.
 Diwan, Amalguzar, Anil etc., dealt with revenue disputes
but Subedar, Faujdar and Kotwals looked after criminal
cases and settled them.
 The village panchayat were authorized to settle disputes
pertaining to their own villages.