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Q5 (IAS/2021) History & Culture › Medieval India › Mughal administrative system Official Key

With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 1: Paragana-Sarkar-Suba. This sequence correctly represents the administrative hierarchy of the Mughal Empire in ascending order of geographical size and administrative complexity.

  • Paragana: This was the smallest unit among the three, consisting of a cluster of villages. It was primarily a fiscal and administrative unit headed by officers like the Shiqdar and Amil.
  • Sarkar: A group of Paraganas constituted a Sarkar, which is equivalent to a modern-day district. It was headed by the Faujdar (military/executive) and Amalguzar (revenue).
  • Suba: This was the largest administrative unit, equivalent to a province. Several Sarkars made up a Suba, which was governed by a Subahdar or Governor.

Options 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect because they misplace the hierarchy. In the Mughal system established by Akbar, the order was strictly Village → Paragana → Sarkar → Suba.

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Q. With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size? [A] Paragana-S…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 5/10

This is a textbook 'Sitter' directly from NCERT Themes Part II. It rewards basic structural clarity over rote memorization of dates. If you skipped the administrative hierarchy of the Mughals, you missed a fundamental pillar of Medieval History preparation.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In medieval India, was the ascending order by administrative unit size Paragana < Sarkar < Suba?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > 8. The Ain-i Akbari of Abu'l Fazl Allami > p. 218
Presence: 5/5
“After setting out details at the suba level, the Ain goes on to give a detailed picture of the sarkars below the suba. This it does in the form of tables, which have eight columns giving the following information: (1) parganat/mahal; (2) qila (forts); (3) arazi and zamin-i paimuda (measured area); (4) naqdi, revenue assessed in cash; (5) suyurghal, grants of revenue in charity; (6) zamindars; columns 7 and 8 contain details of the castes of these zamindars, and their troops including their horsemen (sawar), foot-soldiers (piyada) and elephants (fil ). The mulk-abadi gives a fascinating, detailed and highly complex view of agrarian society in northern India.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly describes Ain-i Akbari presenting details first at the suba level and then giving a detailed picture of the sarkars below the suba
  • Lists parganat/mahal as an entry under the sarkar tables, placing pargana/mahal beneath sarkar
  • Directly implies the hierarchical ordering: pargana/mahal under sarkar, and sarkar under suba
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 15: The Marathas > Provinces > p. 235
Presence: 3/5
“Provinces under the Peshwas were of various sizes. Larger provinces were under the provincial governors called Sar-subahdars. The divisions in the provinces were termed Subahs and Pranths. The Mamlatdar and Kamavistar were Peshwa's representatives in The districts. They were responsible for every branch of district administration. Deshmukhs and Deshpandes were district officers who were in charge of accounts and were to observe the activities of Mamlatdars and Kamavistars. It was a system of checks and balances. In order to prevent misappropriation of public money, the Maratha government collected a heavy sum (Rasad) from the Mamlatdars and other officials. It was collected on their first appointment to a district.”
Why this source?
  • Refers to Subahs as provincial divisions and names provincial governors (Sar-subahdars), indicating Subah is a large administrative unit
  • Distinguishes Subah-level administration from district-level officers, supporting Subah as above district subdivisions
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > Jagirdari Crisis > p. 65
Presence: 3/5
“The nobility comprised people who were either assigned large jagirs and mansabs or appointed subahdars of Mughal subas and given the responsibility of maintaining these. To this class belonged many Rajput rulers, subahdars and mansabdars. Mughal rule has often been defined as "the rule of the nobility", because these nobles played a central role in administering the empire. Although Akbar had provided a well-knit organisation for them, there was divisiveness among the nobility on the basis of religion, homeland and tribe, and each category formed a group of its own. Mutual rivalry, jealousy and contest for power among the various groups during the rule of the later Mughals (in the absence of a strong central leadership) not only reduced the prestige of the emperor, but also contributed to the decline of the empire.”
Why this source?
  • Refers to subahdars of Mughal subas and assigns them significant administrative responsibility, implying suba is a major province
  • Associates nobles being appointed as subahdars, which signals the larger scale and importance of subas
Statement 2
In medieval India, was the ascending order by administrative unit size Sarkar < Paragana < Suba?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Ascending Order of Administrative Units in Medieval India ; Paragana: Smallest unit, equivalent to a group of villages. ; Sarkar: A collection of several parganas"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly identifies 'Paragana' as the smallest administrative unit (a group of villages).
  • States 'Sarkar' is a collection of several parganas, implying Sarkar is larger than a paragana.
  • Together these lines indicate the correct ascending sequence is Paragana < Sarkar < Suba, which contradicts the given Sarkar < Paragana < Suba.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > 8. The Ain-i Akbari of Abu'l Fazl Allami > p. 218
Strength: 5/5
“After setting out details at the suba level, the Ain goes on to give a detailed picture of the sarkars below the suba. This it does in the form of tables, which have eight columns giving the following information: (1) parganat/mahal; (2) qila (forts); (3) arazi and zamin-i paimuda (measured area); (4) naqdi, revenue assessed in cash; (5) suyurghal, grants of revenue in charity; (6) zamindars; columns 7 and 8 contain details of the castes of these zamindars, and their troops including their horsemen (sawar), foot-soldiers (piyada) and elephants (fil ). The mulk-abadi gives a fascinating, detailed and highly complex view of agrarian society in northern India.”
Why relevant

Ain-i-Akbari description arranges information 'at the suba level' and then 'gives a detailed picture of the sarkars below the suba', with sarkar-level tables listing 'parganat/mahal' as an entry—implying a nested hierarchy (suba > sarkar > pargana/mahal).

How to extend

A student could combine this nested description with a standard map of Mughal administration or other Mughal-era texts to test whether pargana/mahal units were contained within sarkars and sarkars within subas.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > Jagirdari Crisis > p. 65
Strength: 4/5
“The nobility comprised people who were either assigned large jagirs and mansabs or appointed subahdars of Mughal subas and given the responsibility of maintaining these. To this class belonged many Rajput rulers, subahdars and mansabdars. Mughal rule has often been defined as "the rule of the nobility", because these nobles played a central role in administering the empire. Although Akbar had provided a well-knit organisation for them, there was divisiveness among the nobility on the basis of religion, homeland and tribe, and each category formed a group of its own. Mutual rivalry, jealousy and contest for power among the various groups during the rule of the later Mughals (in the absence of a strong central leadership) not only reduced the prestige of the emperor, but also contributed to the decline of the empire.”
Why relevant

Mentions 'subahdars of Mughal subas' and treats subas as provinces governed by high nobles, indicating suba is a large provincial unit.

How to extend

A student might infer suba is a top-level provincial unit and check other sources or administrative maps to see how many sarkars/parganas fit within a suba.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 15: The Marathas > Provinces > p. 235
Strength: 3/5
“Provinces under the Peshwas were of various sizes. Larger provinces were under the provincial governors called Sar-subahdars. The divisions in the provinces were termed Subahs and Pranths. The Mamlatdar and Kamavistar were Peshwa's representatives in The districts. They were responsible for every branch of district administration. Deshmukhs and Deshpandes were district officers who were in charge of accounts and were to observe the activities of Mamlatdars and Kamavistars. It was a system of checks and balances. In order to prevent misappropriation of public money, the Maratha government collected a heavy sum (Rasad) from the Mamlatdars and other officials. It was collected on their first appointment to a district.”
Why relevant

Discusses provinces and divisions under the Peshwas, using terms 'Subahs and Pranths' and 'provincial governors called Sar-subahdars', showing 'subah' used as a large territorial division in later/related administrative usage.

How to extend

One can extend this pattern to Mughal-era terminology by comparing the role and size of subahs in different periods to locate sarkar and pargana relative sizes.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > REFERENCE BOOKS > p. 223
Strength: 2/5
“• 1. Abraham Eraly, Emperors of the Peacock Throne: The Saga of The Great Mughals, Penguin Books, New Delhi, 1997. • 2. Irfan Habib, Medieval India, The Story of a Civilization, National Book Trust, New Delhi, 2007. • 3. Stanely Lane-Poole, Medieval India under Mohammedan Rule (AD 712-1764), Delhi, 1963. • 4. Satish Chandra, Medieval India, NCERT, New Delhi, 2007 • 5. Satish Chandra, History of Medieval India, Orient BlackSwan, New Delhi, 2007”
Why relevant

Lists standard reference works on the Mughal/medieval period (e.g., Irfan Habib, Satish Chandra) that typically describe administrative hierarchies, suggesting where to corroborate the relative sizes and ordering of suba, sarkar, and pargana.

How to extend

A student could consult these cited works (common secondary sources) to verify the precise hierarchy and typical scale of each unit.

Statement 3
In medieval India, was the ascending order by administrative unit size Suba < Sarkar < Paragana?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Ascending Order of Administrative Units in Medieval India ; Paragana: Smallest unit, equivalent to a group of villages. ; Sarkar: A collection of several parganas"
Why this source?
  • Provides an explanatory list titled 'Ascending Order of Administrative Units in Medieval India'.
  • Defines Paragana as the smallest unit (group of villages) and Sarkar as a collection of several parganas, implying Paragana < Sarkar.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"the correct ascending order in terms of size is: Paragana (smallest). Sarkar (intermediate). Suba (largest)."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states the ascending order in size among the three units.
  • Names Paragana as smallest, Sarkar as intermediate, and Suba as largest, which corresponds to Paragana < Sarkar < Suba.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > 8. The Ain-i Akbari of Abu'l Fazl Allami > p. 218
Strength: 5/5
“After setting out details at the suba level, the Ain goes on to give a detailed picture of the sarkars below the suba. This it does in the form of tables, which have eight columns giving the following information: (1) parganat/mahal; (2) qila (forts); (3) arazi and zamin-i paimuda (measured area); (4) naqdi, revenue assessed in cash; (5) suyurghal, grants of revenue in charity; (6) zamindars; columns 7 and 8 contain details of the castes of these zamindars, and their troops including their horsemen (sawar), foot-soldiers (piyada) and elephants (fil ). The mulk-abadi gives a fascinating, detailed and highly complex view of agrarian society in northern India.”
Why relevant

States that the Ain-i Akbari 'sets out details at the suba level' and 'gives a detailed picture of the sarkars below the suba', and its tables list 'parganat/mahal' as a unit within sarkars.

How to extend

A student could infer a hierarchical order (suba > sarkar > pargana/mahal) and then check maps or Ain-i Akbari tables to compare typical territorial sizes.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > Jagirdari Crisis > p. 65
Strength: 4/5
“The nobility comprised people who were either assigned large jagirs and mansabs or appointed subahdars of Mughal subas and given the responsibility of maintaining these. To this class belonged many Rajput rulers, subahdars and mansabdars. Mughal rule has often been defined as "the rule of the nobility", because these nobles played a central role in administering the empire. Although Akbar had provided a well-knit organisation for them, there was divisiveness among the nobility on the basis of religion, homeland and tribe, and each category formed a group of its own. Mutual rivalry, jealousy and contest for power among the various groups during the rule of the later Mughals (in the absence of a strong central leadership) not only reduced the prestige of the emperor, but also contributed to the decline of the empire.”
Why relevant

Mentions 'subahdars of Mughal subas' as governors responsible for large jagirs and provinces, implying suba is a major/provincial unit.

How to extend

Combine this with the Ain-i Akbari hint to place 'suba' at the top of a provincial hierarchy and then look up sarkar/pargana as subordinate units.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 15: The Marathas > Provinces > p. 235
Strength: 3/5
“Provinces under the Peshwas were of various sizes. Larger provinces were under the provincial governors called Sar-subahdars. The divisions in the provinces were termed Subahs and Pranths. The Mamlatdar and Kamavistar were Peshwa's representatives in The districts. They were responsible for every branch of district administration. Deshmukhs and Deshpandes were district officers who were in charge of accounts and were to observe the activities of Mamlatdars and Kamavistars. It was a system of checks and balances. In order to prevent misappropriation of public money, the Maratha government collected a heavy sum (Rasad) from the Mamlatdars and other officials. It was collected on their first appointment to a district.”
Why relevant

Refers to divisions termed 'Subahs and Pranths' under Maratha administration and names 'Sar-subahdars' as provincial governors, indicating 'subah' as a province-level term in later/related contexts.

How to extend

Use the parallel Maratha use of 'subah' as a large unit to support the idea that subah/suba denotes a larger administrative unit than district- or village-level units like pargana.

Statement 4
In medieval India, was the ascending order by administrative unit size Paragana < Suba < Sarkar?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > 8. The Ain-i Akbari of Abu'l Fazl Allami > p. 218
Strength: 5/5
“After setting out details at the suba level, the Ain goes on to give a detailed picture of the sarkars below the suba. This it does in the form of tables, which have eight columns giving the following information: (1) parganat/mahal; (2) qila (forts); (3) arazi and zamin-i paimuda (measured area); (4) naqdi, revenue assessed in cash; (5) suyurghal, grants of revenue in charity; (6) zamindars; columns 7 and 8 contain details of the castes of these zamindars, and their troops including their horsemen (sawar), foot-soldiers (piyada) and elephants (fil ). The mulk-abadi gives a fascinating, detailed and highly complex view of agrarian society in northern India.”
Why relevant

Says the Ain-i-Akbari first sets out details at the suba level and then gives a detailed picture of the sarkars below the suba, with parganat/mahal listed inside sarkars — implying a hierarchy Suba > Sarkar > Pargana.

How to extend

A student could combine this with basic knowledge that Ain-i-Akbari describes Mughal administration to infer suba = larger province, sarkar = sub-division, pargana = smaller unit (cluster of villages), and so test the proposed order.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 15: The Marathas > Provinces > p. 235
Strength: 3/5
“Provinces under the Peshwas were of various sizes. Larger provinces were under the provincial governors called Sar-subahdars. The divisions in the provinces were termed Subahs and Pranths. The Mamlatdar and Kamavistar were Peshwa's representatives in The districts. They were responsible for every branch of district administration. Deshmukhs and Deshpandes were district officers who were in charge of accounts and were to observe the activities of Mamlatdars and Kamavistars. It was a system of checks and balances. In order to prevent misappropriation of public money, the Maratha government collected a heavy sum (Rasad) from the Mamlatdars and other officials. It was collected on their first appointment to a district.”
Why relevant

Refers to 'Subahs' and provincial governors (subahdars) and treats them as provinces/divisions, indicating Subah is a large administrative unit.

How to extend

Use the general rule 'Subah = province' from this snippet plus a map or Mughal-era descriptions to place Subah above sarkar/pargana in the hierarchy.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > Jagirdari Crisis > p. 65
Strength: 3/5
“The nobility comprised people who were either assigned large jagirs and mansabs or appointed subahdars of Mughal subas and given the responsibility of maintaining these. To this class belonged many Rajput rulers, subahdars and mansabdars. Mughal rule has often been defined as "the rule of the nobility", because these nobles played a central role in administering the empire. Although Akbar had provided a well-knit organisation for them, there was divisiveness among the nobility on the basis of religion, homeland and tribe, and each category formed a group of its own. Mutual rivalry, jealousy and contest for power among the various groups during the rule of the later Mughals (in the absence of a strong central leadership) not only reduced the prestige of the emperor, but also contributed to the decline of the empire.”
Why relevant

Notes that subahdars were appointed of Mughal subas and given responsibility of maintaining these — treating suba as a major territorial unit administered by high nobles.

How to extend

A student could take this as supporting evidence that suba is larger than units managed by lower officers (like sarkar or pargana) and compare lists of officials for each level to confirm relative sizes.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC consistently tests 'Hierarchy' and 'Chronology' in History. If a standard text (like Ain-i-Akbari) describes a system of classification, the sequence of that classification is a high-probability question. Never skim over the structure of governance.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct lift from NCERT Themes in Indian History Part II, Chapter 8 (The Ain-i Akbari), Page 218.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Mughal Administration > Provincial Administration > The hierarchy of land revenue units.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the full chain: Empire > Suba (Province) > Sarkar (District) > Pargana (Sub-district/Tehsil) > Mauza/Gram (Village). Map officials to units: Subedar (Suba), Faujdar/Amalguzar (Sarkar), Shiqdar/Qanungo (Pargana), Muqaddam/Patwari (Village).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When reading Medieval history, stop treating 'terms' as isolated vocab. Always visualize the 'Administrative Pyramid'. Create a flowchart for every empire (Delhi Sultanate vs. Mughals vs. Marathas) showing Unit Name → Head Official.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Mughal administrative hierarchy: Suba > Sarkar > Pargana
💡 The insight

The administrative ordering places pargana/mahal below sarkar, and sarkar below suba.

High-yield for questions on medieval administrative structure and revenue/land records; connects to topics on Ain-i Akbari, provincial governance, and district administration. Mastery helps answer source-based and structure-comparison questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > 8. The Ain-i Akbari of Abu'l Fazl Allami > p. 218
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > Jagirdari Crisis > p. 65
🔗 Anchor: "In medieval India, was the ascending order by administrative unit size Paragana ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Ain-i Akbari as a primary administrative record
💡 The insight

Ain-i Akbari provides tabular details of suba, sarkar and parganat/mahal used for administrative and revenue assessments.

Important for source-based questions and for understanding Mughal revenue/record systems; links to agrarian society, revenue assessment, and administrative nomenclature. Enables answers on how administrative data was organised.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > 8. The Ain-i Akbari of Abu'l Fazl Allami > p. 218
🔗 Anchor: "In medieval India, was the ascending order by administrative unit size Paragana ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Role and scale of a Subah and subahdar
💡 The insight

Subahs are provincial units governed by subahdars, indicating suba is a top-level administrative division.

Useful for questions on provincial governance, role of nobility, and administrative hierarchy across periods (Mughal and regional parallels). Helps in comparing titles, administrative responsibilities, and territorial scale in essay and prelims/optionals.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 15: The Marathas > Provinces > p. 235
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > Jagirdari Crisis > p. 65
🔗 Anchor: "In medieval India, was the ascending order by administrative unit size Paragana ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Mughal administrative hierarchy: Suba > Sarkar > Pargana (Mahal)
💡 The insight

This directly addresses the relative sizes and nesting of suba, sarkar and pargana that the statement asserts.

High-yield for questions on medieval administration: knowing the correct ordering clarifies provincial, district and revenue units and links to revenue assessment and local governance. It connects to topics on land revenue, agrarian structure and primary administrative records, enabling comparison-type and source-based questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > 8. The Ain-i Akbari of Abu'l Fazl Allami > p. 218
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > Jagirdari Crisis > p. 65
🔗 Anchor: "In medieval India, was the ascending order by administrative unit size Sarkar < ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Ain-i-Akbari as an administrative source
💡 The insight

Ain-i-Akbari provides tabulated details at the suba level and sarkar-level tables listing parganat/mahal, making it a key primary source for unit definitions.

Essential for source-based history questions and for reconstructing Mughal administrative practice. Mastery helps answer questions on revenue records, administrative terminology and the use of primary texts in reconstructing institutional structures.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > 8. The Ain-i Akbari of Abu'l Fazl Allami > p. 218
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > REFERENCE BOOKS > p. 223
🔗 Anchor: "In medieval India, was the ascending order by administrative unit size Sarkar < ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Role of Subahdars and subas in provincial governance
💡 The insight

Subahdars were provincial governors of subas, indicating suba's position as the major provincial unit.

Important for questions on provincial administration, the nobility and jagirdari responsibilities; links administrative titles to territorial units and to political authority, useful in both polity and history sections.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 15: The Marathas > Provinces > p. 235
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > Jagirdari Crisis > p. 65
🔗 Anchor: "In medieval India, was the ascending order by administrative unit size Sarkar < ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Mughal administrative hierarchy: Suba > Sarkar > Pargana
💡 The insight

Subas were the top-level provincial units; sarkars are described as below subas and their tables list parganat/mahal, implying parganas are subdivisions of sarkars.

High-yield for questions on medieval administrative geography and revenue administration. Mastering this hierarchy helps answer questions on provincial governance, revenue collection units, and comparisons between levels of administration in source-based questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Peasants, Zamindars and the State > 8. The Ain-i Akbari of Abu'l Fazl Allami > p. 218
🔗 Anchor: "In medieval India, was the ascending order by administrative unit size Suba < Sa..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

On the same NCERT page (p. 218), the Ain-i-Akbari tables mention specific columns like 'Suyurghal' (grants of revenue in charity) and the distinction between 'Jama' (assessed revenue) and 'Hasil' (collected revenue). Expect a definition-based question on 'Suyurghal' or 'Jama vs Hasil' next.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use linguistic association. 'Subedar' is a high-ranking Governor (implies a large province/Suba). 'Sarkar' implies 'The Government' (a significant authority, likely the District). 'Pargana' is a term still used in rural land records (UP/Bihar) for local clusters. Logic: Local (Pargana) < District (Sarkar) < Province (Suba).

🔗 Mains Connection

Connect this to GS-2 (Indian Administration). The Mughal 'Sarkar' is the direct ancestor of the modern 'District' (Collectorate), and the 'Suba' corresponds to the modern 'State'. Understanding this continuity helps in Mains answers regarding the historical evolution of Indian bureaucracy and the District Magistrate's legacy.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

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CDS-I · 2004 · Q34 Relevance score: -0.26

Which of the following gives the correct description of the sub- divisions of the Mughal empire in the proper descending order?

IAS · 2004 · Q30 Relevance score: -0.29

Which one of the following sequences indicates the correct chronological order?

IAS · 1998 · Q15 Relevance score: -0.33

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the states (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) of India shown on the map in descending order in terms of their available ground water resources for irrigation ?