1. What was the ‘district’ known as during the Mughal administration?
(a) Ahar
(b) Vishyas
(c) Suba
(d) Sarkar
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2004]
Ans. (d) Sarkar
- Akbar organized the empire into smaller parts to make it easier to manage.
- This was made up of 12 provinces, which later increased to 18 and finally 20 during Aurangzeb’s rule.
- These were further divided into districts (Sarkars) and sub-districts (Parganas).
- Several villages made up a Pargana. Every district had a main officer like Faujdar, Amalguzar, Qazi, Kotwal, Bitiqhi, and Khajandar.
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2. What was the district called during the Mughal period?
(a) Iqta
(b) Sarkar
(c) Tarf
(d) Suba
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009]
Ans. (b) Sarkar
- Akbar divided his empire into smaller pieces to make it easier to manage.
- This ended up making 18 units, and eventually 20 during Aurangzeb’s rule. These were split into districts and sub-districts.
- Several villages were put together to make a sub-district.
- Each district had a leader who was in charge of it, like a Faujdar, Amalguzar, Qazi, Kotwal, Bitiqhi, and Khajandar.
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3. With reference to medieval India, one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size.
(a) Paragana–Sarkar–Suba
(b) Sarkar–Paragana–Suba
(c) Suba–Sarkar–Paragana
(d) Paragana–Suba–Sarkar
[I.A.S. (Pre.) 2021]
Ans (a) Paragana–Sarkar–Suba
- The Mughal Empire was divided into provinces called Subas.
- These provinces were broken down into districts, which were called Sarkar.
- Each district was split up into smaller areas called Paraganas or Mahals.
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4. Which of the following was the head of the army in the Mughal period?
(a) Shane-e-Peel
(b) Mir Bakshi
(c) Wazir
(d) Sawahenigar
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992]
Ans. (b) Mir Bakshi
- In the time of the Mughals, the leader of the army was known as the Mir Bakshi.
- He was chosen by the main court nobles.
- The Mir Bakshi was responsible for collecting information and also suggesting who should be appointed or promoted in the military to the emperor.
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5. In the Mughal era Duty of Mir Bakshi was :
(a) Charged Tax from farmers
(b) Maintaining accounts of income and Expenses
(c) Justice
(d) Supervisions of land revenue officials
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2004]
Ans. (d) Supervisions of land revenue officials
- During the Mughal Empire, the Mir Bakshi was responsible for overseeing the people who collected land taxes and the salaries of the army.
- Sir Jadunath Sarkar referred to Mir Bakshi as the Pay Master.
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6. Who among the following was appointed as a physician in the Mughal service?
(a) Bernier
(b) Coreri
(c) Manucci
(d) Tavernier
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (c) Manucci
- Niccolo Manucci, an Italian traveler, was hired to be a doctor in the Mughal army in 1653.
- He first worked as an artilleryman for Dara Shikoh and then became a doctor after Dara Shikoh died in 1659.
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7. Consider the following statements:
Ahadis were those troopers who :
1. offered their services singly
2. did not attach themselves to any chief
3. had the emperor as their immediate colonel
4. attached themselves to Mirzas of these statements :
(a) 1, 3, and 4 are correct
(b) 1, 2, and 3 are correct
(c) 2 and 3 are correct
(d) 1 and 4 are correct
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1998]
Ans. (b) 1, 2, and 3 are correct
- Akbar’s army was made up of a few thousand Ahadis, who were known to be great archers.
- They each had several horses but were not allowed to have anyone else riding with them.
- These warriors were controlled by the Emperor.
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8. In the Mughal administration ‘Muhtasib’ was –
(a) Military Officer
(b) Head of Foreign Affairs
(c) an Officer-in-Charge of public morals
(d) Officer of Correspondence Department
[47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]
Ans. (c) an Officer-in-Charge of public morals
- The Muhtasib was responsible for making sure that people followed the Islamic laws, acting as both a police officer and a judge.
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9. In medieval India, why was the mansabdari system introduced?
(a) For revenue collection
(b) Facilitating recruitment to the army
(c) To establish religious harmony
(d) Ensuring clean administration
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
[65th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (d) Ensuring clean administration
- The Muhtasib was responsible for making sure people followed the religious laws of Islam.
- They served as both a police officer and a judge.
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10. In medieval India, the Mansabdari system was introduced mainly for :
(a) Making recruitment to the army
(b) Facilitating revenue collection
(c) Ensuring religious harmony
(d) Effecting clean administration
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1996]
Ans. (d) Effecting clean administration
- Akbar created a structured system for the military and government of the Mughal Empire, which was called the Mansabdari system.
- This system quickly became the main foundation of the Mughal military and government.
- The purpose of the Mansabdari system was to improve and organize the administration.
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11. Which one of the following is not true about the Mughal Mansabdari System?
(a) There were 33 divisions.
(b) They got conditional or Mashut rank.
(c) Their ‘Sawar’ rank could exceed the ‘Zat’ rank.
(d) All civil and military officers were given man says.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
Ans. (c) Their ‘Sawar’ rank could exceed the ‘Zat’ rank.
- Mansab was a term used to describe an individual’s rank or status.
- There were 33 different classes of Manasabdars, or officeholders, who were paid different amounts of money based on their rank.
- In certain cases, like when the Manasabdar was in difficult terrain surrounded by rebels, the state would give them a higher rank, without changing their zat rank.
- This system was not set in stone and it changed to fit the current situation.
- Sometimes a temporary increase in salwar rank was used as a form of reform, called Mashrut.
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12. Consider the following statements about Mughal Mansabdari and select the correct answer by using the codes below:
1. ’ Zat’ and ‘Mansab’ designations were granted.
2. Mansabdars were hereditary officials.
3. There were three classes of mansabdars.
4. Their salary was paid by the Diwan Office.
Code :
(a) Four statements are true.
(b) Four statements are false.
(c) Only 1,2 & 3 are true.
(d) Only 1 & 3 are true.
[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (d) Only 1 & 3 are true.
- The king chose the mansabdars himself.
- He could increase, decrease, or take away their position.
- These people were required to do civil and military tasks.
- There were 33 different ranks of mansabdars.
- The lowest rank commanded 10 soldiers while the highest commanded 10,000 soldiers.
- The mansabdar’s salary was supplemented by the salary of the soldiers.
- The position was not inherited. The mansabdar had to use their salary to pay for horses, elephants, camels, mules, and carts.
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Q 13. With reference to Mansabdari system, which of the statements is/are correct?
1. Mansabdari system was the official nobility of the state, started by Akbar.
2. A Mansabdari was hereditary.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) Both 1 and 2
(c) 2 only
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (a) 1 only
- The king chose the people who would be mansabdars.
- He could give them more power, take power away, or remove them.
- Mansabdars were responsible for any civil or military duties.
- There were 33 levels of mansabdars, the lowest one in charge of 10 soldiers and the highest in charge of 10,000.
- Part of the salary of the soldiers was added to the mansabdar’s personal salary.
- The mansabdari system was not inherited. The mansabdar had to pay for their own expenses and also maintain a certain amount of horses, elephants, camels, mules, and carts.
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14. What was the principal source of State income in Mughal India :
(a) Booty
(b) Escheat
(c) Land Revenue
(d) Tax
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1995]
Ans. (c) Land Revenue
- The main part of farming during Mughal rule was that the peasants had to give away the extra food they grew (more than what they needed) as a tax to the state.
- This was the main way the government made its money.
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15. In Mughal administrative vocabulary ‘Maal’ represents–
(a) Land Revenue
(b) Salaried
(c) Allowance
(d) None of these
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009]
Ans. (a) Land Revenue
- It had to do with money paid for the use of land.
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16. The Mughal Emperor prohibited the use of tobacco –
(a) Akbar
(b) Babur
(c) Jahangir
(d) Aurangzeb
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005, Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (c) Jahangir
- In 1605, the Portuguese brought tobacco to India and it soon became popular with everyone.
- However, the Mughal emperor Jahangir noticed the bad effects of tobacco and ordered it to be banned in 1617.
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17. ‘Madad-i-Mash’ indicates in Mughal administration –
(a) Toll Tax
(b) Revenue Freeland granted to learned person
(c) Pension provided to military officials
(d) Cultivation Tax
[46th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (b) Revenue Freeland granted to learned person
- The Mughal government sometimes gave donations to people who were either religious or deserving, known as Madad-i-Mash.
- This showed the idea of unity and peace and was used to help religious people, places, and organizations without having to pay taxes.
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18. Assertion (A): The Mansabdari system was existing during the Mughal period.
Reason (R): Mansabdars were selected on the basis of qualification.
Code :
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
- The Mansabdari system was the way the Mughal Empire ran its government.
- It decided the rank of a public official.
- The ruler of the Empire appointed the Mansabdars based on their skills.
- Statement (A) and Reason (R) are both correct, but Reason (R) does not explain Statement (A).
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19. Read the statement (A) and (B) below and choose the correct answer from the codes given below:
(A) Not all the mansabdars were military officers.
(B) Those who held high civil posts under the Mughals were also mansabdars and were graded accordingly.
Code :
(a) both (A) and (B) are false.
(b) both (A) and (B) are true.
(c) (A) is true, while (B) is false.
(d) (A) is false, while (B) is true.
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2013]
Ans. (b) both (A) and (B) are true.
- The Mughal Empire, under the rule of Akbar, had a system of administration called the Mansabdari system.
- This system was used for both the military and civil services.
- Abul Fazl stated there were 66 levels of Mansabdars, but they were not all.
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20. Given below are two statements, one is labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The Mughal Empire was originally a Military State.
Reason (R): The vitality of the development of the Central government System depended on its military power.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Codes :
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021]
Ans (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- Historians generally agree that the Mughal Empire was a military state, with Mansabdars appointed to perform military duties.
- The Mughals also had a large army, which helped them to expand and strengthen their empire.
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21. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List–I List-II
(Officer) (Assign Duty)
| List–I |
List-II |
| (Officer) |
(Assign Duty) |
| A. Diwan-i-Tan |
1. Look after the office |
| B. Mustarfi |
2. Maintained a proper list of main events and firmans |
| C. Mushrif |
3. Look after the Jagir and Salaries |
| D. Vakianvis |
4. Examine the income expenditure of the State |
Codes :
A B C D
(a) 2 4 1 3
(b) 3 4 1 2
(c) 1 3 2 4
(d) 4 1 2 3
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (b) 3 4 1 2
- The correct match is as follows:-
| (Officer) |
(Assign Duty) |
| A. Diwan-i-Tan |
Look after the Jagir and Salaries |
| B. Mustarfi |
Examine the income-expenditure of State |
| C. Mushrif |
looks after the office |
| D. Vakianvis |
Maintained a proper list of main events and firmans |
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22. Who among the following rulers issued some coins with figures of Rama and Sita and Devanagari legend ‘Rama-Siya’?
(a) Bhoja
(b) Siddharaja Jayasimha
(c) Zain-ul-Abidin
(d) Akbar
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
Ans. (d) Akbar
- Akbar made coins with pictures of Ram and Sita and the Devanagari words “Ram Siya”.
- He added decorations like flowers, dots, and four-sided shapes to the coins.
- The coins were both round and square and had a special “mihrab” shape with great calligraphy.
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23. During the Mughal rule, the copper coin was known as:
(a) Rupee
(b) Daam
(c) Tanka
(d) Shamsi
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) Daam
- During Akbar’s reign, the Mughal currency system used three coins: the Mohur made from gold, the Rupee from silver, and the Daam from copper.
- Copper was chosen to be the money used in transactions and also for its value.
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24. Which of the following is not correctly matched?
(a) Dam Copper coin
(b) Desai Revenue Collector
(c) Diwan Revenue Chief of a province
(d) Jarib A type of tax
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (d) Jarib A type of tax
- During the Shershah period, one silver Rupee was worth 64 copper coins called Dam.
- During the Maratha rule, a Desai or Deshmukh was responsible for collecting taxes in each district.
- During the Mughal rule, a Diwan was the head of a province’s taxes.
- The Mughal rule also used a unit of measurement called a Jarib for land taxes.
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25. The meaning of the word Bantai during the Medieval period was?
(a) Religious Tax
(b) System of calculating revenue
(c) Wealth tax
(d) Property tax
[48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) System of calculating revenue
- During the Middle Ages, the term ‘Bantai’ was used to refer to a method of dividing crops between the state and farmers for taxation.
- Sher Shah Suri introduced three different systems for taxation: Nasq/Muktai/Kankut Nakadi or Jabti Galla Bakshi or Bantai, which had three variations: Khet Bantai, Lank Bantai, and Raasi Bantai.
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26. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Akbar, like Shershah, tried to regulate the currency of the state.
Reason (R): As in Shershah’s currency, the chief copper coin of Akbar’s time was the Dam.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Code :
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
- Akbar tried to make sure the money in his state was handled in the same way as Sher Shah did.
- During Akbar’s reign and after him, gold coins, silver rupees, and copper Dams were widely used and regulated for trading.
- Even when Akbar was in power, copper Dams were the main form of currency, and state income and expenditure were calculated in Dams.
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27. The term ‘Chakla’ has been used in Medieval Indian History sources. This was
(a) Identical to Paragraph
(b) Identical to Sarkar
(c) Territorial unit between Subah and Paragnah, but not identical to Sarkar
(d) None of the above
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (c) Territorial unit between Subah and Paragnah, but not identical to Sarkar
- During the Mughal Empire, especially during the rule of Shah Jahan, Chakla was an administrative division at the district level in the Indian subcontinent.
- It was used in both the Bengal and Oudh provinces.
- Chakla was the main administrative division in these provinces and was further split into Parganas.
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28. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the differences/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 had revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (d) Neither 1 nor 2
- During Akbar’s time, the land was divided into two parts, Khalisa and Jagir.
- Revenue from the Khalisa went to the government, while the revenue from the Jagir was given to the Jagirdars as their salary.
- They had the right to collect this revenue and use it for their salary and to fulfill their military duties.
- Local courts and police were run by Zamindars.
- Jagirdars could be shifted from one Jagir to another, to avoid them getting too settled.
- Zamindars were usually inherited and were found all over the Mughal Empire.
- They had the most important role in the agrarian system of Mughal India.
- The word ‘Zamindar’ comes from two Persian words – Zamin (land) and Dar (holder).
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29. Which of the following Mughal period canals, was constructed by restoring the Rajabwah of Firuz Shah?
(a) Shekhnu-Ni
(b) Shahab Nahr
(c) Nahr-i-Bihisht
(d) Nahr-i-Agra
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (b) Shahab Nahr
- The Shahab Canal was built by bringing back to life Firuz Shah’s Rajabwah Canal.
- During Akbar’s reign, Sihabuddin Khan and Nuruddin Muhamad Tar both worked on reconstructing the canal for irrigation purposes and renamed it the Shahab Canal.
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