The Evolution Of Akbar's Mansabdari System

This project has been submitted by

Ananya Mishra
2nd Year

On the topic:

Throwing light on Akbar’s Mansabdari System: Its origin and factors leading to its decline
(Legal History -2)

In the Winter Semester
2015-16

Introduction:

The Mansabdari System was introduced by Akbar for the administration of his vast empire. ‘Mansab’ means rank and ‘Dar’ means to hold; therefore a ‘Mansabdar’ means a rank holder. It is said to be one of the major pillars of the Mughal Administration particularly during its heydays. It lasted in some form or the other till the 19th century.

Mansabdars were appointed to all civil and military posts except that of judiciary, and the positions like wazir, bakshi, faujdar and Subedar were held by the Mansabdars. Abul Fazl states that Akbar provided 66 grades of Mansabdars ranging from commanders of 10 horsemen to 10,000 horsemen but he gives a list of 33 grades of Mansabdars.

Evolution of Mansabdari System:

The Mansabdari system is said to be brought to the nation by Babar but it could neither reach prominence in his era nor did Humayun draw it into his administration. It was the reign of Akbar that marked the evolution of Mansabdari system and it became an effective part of his administration. Professor Shireen Moosvi of Aligarh University has elaborately explained the three different stages of evolution of Mansabdari and how it developed to become a full- fledged system.
First Stage (from 1556, from the beginning of Akbar’s reign) –