“The Jagirdari crisis was more of an administrative failure than a territorial constraint.” Critically examine.

Answer: 

Approach to the answer:

Introduction: Please provide a quick overview of the Jagirdari system.

• For Example: A person was assigned land under the Jagirdari system in order to collect taxes in lieu of receiving a monetary salary for his government service. It was solely for the collection of land income and had no inherited rights. During Akbar’s rule, the Mughal Jagirdari system was established, and it underwent changes over time.

Body: Describe the reasons of the Jagridari crisis and how it occurred. Wherever feasible, back up your opinions with those of historians.

For Example: According to several historians, the Jagirdari crisis had management and administrative roots. Aurangzeb’s choice to retain profitable jagirs under Khalisa for his expeditions was the reason why there were so few decent jagirs, even in Deccan territory.

• Historian Athar Ali claims that all of the nobles fought for superior jagirs, which were getting harder to get as a result of the southern migration of Marathas and Deccanis. The obvious result was the breakdown of the political system, which was heavily reliant on jagirdari. The number of ranks was completely out of proportion to the period’s actual territorial expansion.

In conclusion, you can write on how the Mughal empire was affected by the Jagridari issue.

For Example: Rapid economic growth in both the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors could have postponed the Jagirdari catastrophe. This crisis, however, was unavoidable and was a major contributing factor to the Mughal Empire’s demise.

Practice Question:

Question: “The Jama-Hasil discrepancy and corruption in jagir assignments reflected deeper cracks in the Mughal administrative apparatus.” Elucidate.

• Hint: Bring in factors like misreporting, ineffective revenue collection, droughts, and Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaigns.

Mains PYQs

Question: Evaluate the role of the Jagirdari system in the decline of the Mughal Empire. (UPSC 2019) 

Prelims PYQs

Question: Which of the following was a significant consequence of the Jagirdari Crisis in the Mughal Empire?

1. Rise of regional powers
2. Strengthening of Mughal authority
3. Decrease in European influence
4. Increased agricultural productivity

Answer: (a) 

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