Main Features Of Mansabdari System In Mughal India

As the Mughal Empire expanded to encompass different regions the mughals recruited diverse bodies of people.

From a small nucleaus of Turkish nobles they expanded to include Iranians,Indian Muslims,Afghans,Rajputs,Marathas and other groups.Those who joined Mughal service were enrolled as Mansabdars.

The term Mansabdars refers to an individual who holds a mansab meaning a position or a rank.It was a grading system used by the Mughals to fix rank,salary and military responsibilities,Rank and salary was determined by numerical value called zat.The higher the zat,the more prestigious was the noble's position in court and larger his salary.

The mansabdar's military responsibilities required him to maintain a specified number of sawars or cavalrymen.The mansabdar brought his cavalrymen for review,got them registered,their horses branded and then received money to pay them as salary.

Mansabdars received their salaries as revenue assignments called jagirs which were somewhat like iqtas.Most mansabdars didnt actually reside in or administer their jagirs.