What is the name of the award given to meritorious men in the Mughal Court in the form of a robe of honour that was once worn by the Emperor ?

In the Mughal administrative and courtly culture, the 'Khilat' (or khil'at) was a prestigious robe of honour bestowed by the Emperor upon meritorious individuals or officials as a mark of royal favour. The term 'Khilat' literally refers to a garment, and its significance was heightened when it was a 'sarapa' (head to foot), consisting of a tunic, turban, and sash. A particularly high honour involved the Emperor gifting a robe he had personally worn, symbolizing a physical and spiritual connection between the sovereign and the recipient. While 'Sarapa' describes the completeness of the outfit and 'Patka' refers to the sash or girdle, 'Khilat' is the overarching name for the award itself. 'Padma murassa' was a distinct jewelled honour. These ceremonies were central to establishing hierarchies and personal loyalty within the Mughal court system.

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > 7.3 Languages and communication > p. 158