why did mansabdari system undergo a change under Aurangzeb
Answers
Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great is the one who introduced a new revenue system of administration called ‘Mansabdari system’. Mansab means ‘rank’. As the rule of emperors change, the mansabdari system also undergoes the change either in terms of number of mansabdars or in terms of the principles of the system.
At the end of Aurengazeb’s period, there were about 15000 mansabdars but earlier it was only around 1800 in Akbar’s time. Nature of assigning mansabdars changed during Aurangazeb’s rule; Mansabdar assignment was no longer a hereditary one. A new law called ‘Zabti’ was proposed, according to which the property of mansabdar was seized by the king after the death of mansabdar.
After Aurengazeb’s period, the mansabdari system was triggered to downfall due to large increase in the number of Mansabdars and insufficient land to assign them with ‘Jagirs’. Jagir is the division of land in the emperor’s area to be assigned to a mansabdar.
The mansabdari system introduced by Akbar was a unique feature of the administrative system of the Mughal Empire. The term mansab (i.e. office, position or rank) in the Mughal administration indicated the rank of its holder (mansabdar) in the official hierarchy. The mansabdari system was of Central Asian origin. According to one view Babur brought it to North India.