a. Administrative system of Akbar: Akbar was a good organizer and administrator. He established the heritage of Mughal administration and looked after the welfare of the people through a strong central government. He was a benevolent ruler having the welfare of the people, always in his mind and took personal interest in the affairs of the state and looked after every detail of the administration.

He provided strength, stability and imperial rule. The Mughal Emperor was called ‘Padishah or Badshah’. He was considered ‘Shadow of God’ and ruled in accordance with Islamic principles.

1. Central administration: The Emperor was the supreme authority in the administration. The absolute authority of the King was never clearly defined, and there was practically no check on the Emperor’s powers. He was the supreme law maker and generally worked hard to safeguard the interests of the people. Emperor was assisted by a Council of Ministers. They were called the ‘Pillars of the State’.

The important ministers were, the Vakil (Prime minister), Diwan-iAli (Finance), Mir Bakshi (Military), Sadar-us-Sadar (in charge of charities) Khan-i-Saman (Home), Dewan (Revenue), and Qazi (Chief Justice). The government was divided into a number of departments, each headed by an officer under a minister.

2. Provincial Administration : Akbar’s Empire consisted of 16 provinces called ‘Subas’. Each province was headed by a Governor called ‘Subedar’, who was responsible for the collection of revenue and maintaining law and order within the province. Some of the important officers of the provinces were Dewan.

Bakshi, Sadar, Faujdar, Kotwal, Qazi, etc., Each Suba was divided into a number of Sarkars. Faujdar was the head of a Sarkar and each Sarkar was further divided into a number of Paraganas. Kotwals were in charge of city administration and village was the last unit of administration.

3. Military administration or mansabdari system: Akbar introduced a new system of military and civil administration known as ‘Mansabdari system’. He evolved this with the help of Mir Bakshi Shahbaz Khan in 1571 C.E. The term ‘Mansab’ means rank, dignity or office or position. It aimed at fixing a particular person at a particular place on the basis of his horses, soldiers, his status and salary, etc. This army was at the service of the Emperor as and when required.

The army was composed of infantry, artillery, cavalry, and elephantry. The Mansabdars could be transferred from one place to another. There were 33 grades of Mansabdars (from controlling 10 to those controlling 10,000 soldiers which was later extended to 50,000). The Emperor could appoint, promote and dismiss Mansabdars at his will.

The mansabdari system consisted of Zat and Sawar. Zat indicated the number of soldiers a Mansabdar was expected to maintain, while the word Sawar indicated the actual number of horses that he maintained. The salaries of Mansabdars were high. They were generally not paid in cash but were allotted Jagirs; yielding their respective salaries.

Mansabdars were directly under the control of the Emperor. Hence, most of them obeyed the Emperor implicitly. However, the system was not without defects. There was always the possibility of some powerful Mansabdars revolting against the Emperor with the help of their soldiers because the loyalty of the soldiers was always to the Mansabdar who recruited them and paid their salaries and not to the Emperor.

4. Revenue system of Raja Todarmal: Akbar followed the land revenue policy of Allauddin Khilji and Sher Shah. Land revenue was the main source of income to the state. In 1581, Akbar’s revenue minister Raja Todarmal reorganised the whole land revenue system and introduced what was known as ‘Zabti system or Ain- deeh-Sala’.

The land was surveyed with Jaribs (Bamboo sticks joined with iron studs). Land was classified into different categories according to the fertility of the soil. Land was classified as Polaj, Parauti, Chachar and Banjar Bhoomi. He collected the aggregate rate of taxation for ten years. It was called ‘Ain-deeh-Sala’. It was 1/3 of the average of the previous ten year’s produce. The revenue could be paid in cash or kind.

The Emperor was conscious of the welfare of the peasantry. During the days of famine or fall in the yield, farmers were exempted from tax. Raja Todarmal’s revenue policy had provision to provide loans (Taccavi loans) to the cultivatiors. Taccavi loans were granted for the development of agriculture, which could be repaid in easy annual instalments.

This land revenue system was called as “Todarmal’s Bandobust”. The state maintained the documents Patta and Qabuliyat, which recorded information regarding the land ownership and land revenue details.