Test: The Mughal Empire & Sher Shah Suri - 1 - UPSC MCQ

The Ain-i-Akbari is a significant historical source written by Abul Fazl, providing information about Mughal administration during the reign of Emperor Akbar.

The Mughal administration was a mix of Indian and extra-Indian elements or the Perso-Arabic system in an Indian setting.

The mir bakshi was the minister who looked after the administration of the army during the Mughal period.

The Muhataib was primarily an ecclesiastical officer whose duty was to regulate the lives of the people.

The administrative officer of a port during the Mughal period was called Shah bandar.

The mansabdari system was a unique feature of the administrative system of the Mughal empire, introduced by Emperor Akbar.

The term "du-aspah sihaspah" implied that a mansabdar had to maintain and was paid for double the quota of troopers indicated by his sawar rank.

The powerful class of zamindars was known by different names, such as deshmukhs, patils, nayaks, etc., during the Mughal period.

The measurement system of land revenue administration was introduced by Alauddin Khalji and was later followed by Sher Shah. This system involved dividing land into three categories - good, bad, and middling.

The Zabti or Bandobast system was a new system of revenue calculation introduced by Raja Todar Mal. It was based on the measurement system and aimed to collect correct figures from the Qanungos and implement a new jama (general assessment).

Under Ain-i-Dahsala, land was classified into four categories: Polaj (annually cultivated), Parauti (left fallow for a short period), Chachar (left fallow for 3-4 years), and Banjar (uncultivated for 5 years or more).

In most regions, land revenue payments were made in cash, but in Kashmir and Orissa, payments were made in kind.

Muzariyams were peasants who belonged to the same village but did not have either lands or implements and were heavily dependent on the Khudkashta for their supply.

The main aim of Ain-i-Dahsala was to introduce a permanent jama (Dastur Ulamal) and remove difficulties and delays associated with yearly sanction. This was done by ascertaining a 10-year stage of every paragana in regard to the category of cultivation and level of prices, and fixing cash rates once for all.

The growth of trade and commerce during the Mughal period was due to political and economic unification of the country, improvement of transport and communications, and the arrival of European traders.

Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, undertook the construction of a series of forts, including the Agra fort in red sandstone.

Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, revived the Indian tradition of painting and introduced new themes, colors, and forms, with the help of Persian master painters.

The main difference between the Mughal school of painting and the Rajput school of painting is that the Mughal school was aristocratic and genuinely realistic, while the Rajput school was democratic and chiefly mystic.

Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, was a great scholar of Islamic theology and jurisprudence.

Mughal miniature paintings were characterized by their small size, absorption of Indian atmosphere, and courtly and aristocratic themes, but they did not represent Indian emotions or scenes from the daily life of the Indians.