Question 72 from UPSC CSE 2019 - Medieval History

Question

With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar?
1. Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection.
2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Neither 1 nor 2

Strategy: - Identify the roles of Jagirdars and Zamindars in the Mughal system.
- For statement 1, recognize that Jagirdars handled military and revenue duties, not judicial or police functions.
- For statement 2, recall that jagirs were non-hereditary, while zamindari rights were often hereditary, which is the opposite of the statement's claim.
- Conclude that both statements are incorrect based on these facts.

Key Info: ## Jagirdar
Under the Mughal system, a Jagirdar was a mansabdar (military official) assigned the collection of revenue from a particular territory (jagir) in lieu of his salary. The assignment was typically non-hereditary and frequently transferable to prevent the development of personal power bases and to keep local interests subordinate to central authority. Jagirdars were primarily revenue or military administrators and did not inherently perform judicial or civil policing functions.

## Zamindar
Zamindars were local landholders or chiefs who collected land revenue on behalf of the state but often held hereditary rights over their lands. They acted as intermediaries between the peasantry and the Mughals and sometimes exercised local judicial and policing powers, especially in rural settings. Their position was generally hereditary, entrenched in local society, and recognized by imperial authorities.

## Hereditary vs Non-hereditary Rights
Jagir assignments were not hereditary to prevent autonomy; jagirdars could be moved or removed at the emperor's will. Zamindari rights, however, often passed from father to son, making them a hereditary landed class.

## Other Duties
While zamindars often performed local administrative tasks, including maintaining order and assisting in justice at the village or pargana level, jagirdars' roles were restricted to revenue collection and military service. Judicial and police powers under the Mughals rested in various officials: the emperor, qazis, and local zamindars.

Answer

Option A: 1 only

Answer

Option B: 2 only

Answer

Option C: Both 1 and 2