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Which of the following statements about 'Mughal Mansab' system are correct? 1. 'Zat' rank was an indicator of a Mansabdar's position in the imperial hierarchy and the salary of the Mansabdar. 2. 'Sawar' rank indicated the number of horsemen the Mansabdar was required to maintain. 3. In the seventeenth century, Mansabdars holding 1000 or above 'Sawar' rank were designated as nobles (Umara). Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
The Mughal Mansabdari system was a dual-rank hierarchy. The 'Zat' rank determined a Mansabdar’s personal status, his position in the imperial hierarchy, and his personal salary [3]. The 'Sawar' rank indicated the specific number of cavalrymen (horsemen) and horses the official was required to maintain for imperial service [3]. Regarding the classification of nobles, the system evolved such that Mansabdars were categorized based on their ranks. In the seventeenth century, those holding a rank of 1000 or above were generally designated as 'Umara' (nobles), while those below were termed 'Mansabdars'. This hierarchical division ensured a structured military-cum-bureaucratic apparatus where the nobility's status was directly tied to their military obligations and revenue assignments [2]. Thus, all three statements accurately describe the functional and hierarchical aspects of the system.
Sources
- [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Mansabdari System > p. 206
- [3] https://www.deshbandhucollege.ac.in/pdf/resources/1586228171_Hs(H)-IV-EM-The_mansab_and_jagir_systems.docx
- [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > Jagirdari Crisis > p. 65