Administration In Mughal Empire

The Administration of the Mughal Empire witnessed a blend of innovation and continuity, drawing inspiration from both the Sultanate and Shershah’s governmental structures. To enhance governance, the Mughals introduced the “suba,” a novel geographical division. Additionally, they implemented the Jagir and Mansab systems, contributing to a highly centralized administrative system. This dynamic mix of change and continuity defined the administrative landscape of the Mughal Empire, shaping it into a unique and effective system of governance.

Levels of the Administration In Mughal Empire

The Mughal administration featured a hierarchical structure with various departments, each overseen by appointed officers. These governmental divisions were crewed by different officials, contributing to the organized functioning of the Mughal Empire.

Central Administration

By understanding the hierarchical structure and key roles within the Mughal administration, one can gain insights into the empire’s governance and how power was distributed among various officials.

Supreme Authority of the Emperor: The Mughal Empire, dominating every corner of modern India, operated under a centralized administrative system where the emperor held unparalleled authority. His directives were the ultimate and conclusive decisions in the Mughal administrative hierarchy.

Wazir – The Diwan with Dual Power: The position of Wazir, also known as Diwan, wielded both civil and military authority. During King Akbar’s reign, the financial powers of the Wakil were transferred to the Diwan Kul, the finance minister, marking a significant shift in the Mughal administrative landscape.

Diwani Kul – Guardian of Finances: Diwani Kul, the financial minister, played a crucial role in overseeing all financial transactions and payments within the Mughal administration. This position held the key to managing the empire’s economic affairs.

Mir Bakshi – Central Figure in Military Affairs: Mir Bakshi played a pivotal role at the heart of the Mughal Empire, managing payments, appointments, and other tasks related to the military. His responsibilities extended to maintaining order and efficiency within the armed forces.

Mir Saman – Head of Procurement: Mir Saman, also known as Khan Saman, held a significant position as the head of the purchase department in the Mughal Empire. His role was crucial in managing the acquisition of resources and supplies for the empire.

Sadr-us Sudar – Overseeing Ecclesiastical and Charity Affairs: Sadr-us Sudar, also known as Sadr, was responsible for the ecclesiastical and charity departments in the Mughal administration. This role involved managing religious matters and overseeing charitable activities under the emperor’s authority.

Province Administration

During the era of Akbar, he divided the Mughal empire into the 12 subas. To control and regulate these subas, the uniform administrative model for each suba was adopted. The part of province level of Mughal administration are:

Diwan: In a suba, the Diwan played a crucial role, particularly in managing the revenue department. A proposal is underway to grant the Diwan independence and assign responsibilities for the Subhadra, Sipah Salar, and Nazim positions, with a direct reporting line to the central authority.

Bakhshi: At the suba level of the Mughal empire, the Bakhshi held a significant position. Responsibilities included overseeing payments, appointments, and other tasks related to soldiers within the suba.

Darogha: The Darogha-i-Dak was entrusted with managing the communication system of the imperial postal system in the suba. This system facilitated the sending and receiving of messages at the dak chowkis.

Fozdar and Kotwal: The Fozdar served as the administrative head of the district, while the Kotwal was responsible for executing executive and ministerial duties. Their roles were integral to maintaining order and governance within the district.

Local Administration

The local administration was divided into the sarkar, pargana and village level.

Sarkar Level: At the highest level of Mughal administration, the Faujdar and Malguzar played pivotal roles. The Faujdar, serving as the administrative head, held the responsibility of ensuring the safety of people and their property. Meanwhile, the Malguzar functioned as the revenue collector.

Pargana Level: Moving down to the Pargana level, the Shiqqadar served as the executive officer assisting the Malguzar. This tier operated under the overarching structure of the Sarkar, contributing to the local administration.

Village Level: At the grassroots level, the Muqqaddam took charge as the head of the village in the Mughal administrative system. Working alongside, the Patwari was tasked with maintaining detailed records of village revenue, contributing to the effective functioning of the local administration.

Town, Fort and Port Administration

The administration to handle the work related to the town (cities), forts and the ports, this department was responsible in Mughal administration. The officers in this administration are –

City Safeguard by the Kotwal: The primary role of the Kotwal is to ensure the safety of the city residents and their belongings. Acting as a guardian at the city level, the Kotwal maintains records of unidentified individuals and issues permits to outsiders, contributing to a secure environment.

Fort Administration Under Al’adar: Al’adar holds the responsibility for administering forts, diligently safeguarding the assigned area. His duties encompass fort protection and overall fort management, ensuring a secure and well-maintained environment.

Port Governance by Mutasaddi: Serving as the governor of the ports, the Mutasaddi plays a pivotal role in overseeing port activities. Responsibilities include tax collection and supervision of port operations, contributing to effective governance and economic management at the ports.

Departments of the Mughal Administration

The Mughal administration implemented a dedicated department to efficiently collect taxes and revenue.
The renowned Zabti system became a hallmark in the Mughal Empire, where the state claimed one-third of the produced crop as its share.
The military department had a structured hierarchy with key officers responsible for soldier activities.
At both central and suba (province) levels, the Bakshi played a crucial role in overseeing military operations.
The Mansabdar held a significant position as the head of soldiers, horsemen, and other military departments.
Working under the Mansabdar, Dakhili and Ahadis were integral in executing military strategies and operations.

Conclusion

The Mughal administration operated primarily from a centralized system, with its main objective being the effective governance and rule of diverse regions within the empire. To achieve this, the Mughal Empire was organized into 12 subas or provinces. In order to efficiently manage and oversee these subas, a standardized administrative model was implemented for each region. This approach aimed to streamline governance and ensure uniformity across the various parts of the Mughal Empire.