Administration of Akbar: Central and Provincial Administration

Akbar�s administration

 

An efficient administration was established during Akbar�s reign. The Persian language was used by Mughal India during that period. The main features of Akbar�s administration are discussed below:

 

Central Administration:

A strong centralized government was set up to join all the provinces of the empire. The emperor was the supreme authority, the Commander-in-Chief of the army, and the supreme judge whose decision is considered final on all political, military, and judicial matters.

 

Some of the important ministers who assist the emperor are Prime Minister (Wakil), Diwan (Wazir), Head of the military department (Mir Bakshi), In charge of the imperial household (Mir Saman), Head of the judiciary (Qazi). Diwan-i�-Aam and Diwan-i-Khas were the halls where the meetings were held among the officers and Akbar.

Provincial Administration:

Akbar�s empire was split into 15 provinces known as subas which were governed by subedars. Diwan was another important minister who kept records on land revenues and exercised checks and counterchecks on each other. Provinces were further divided into districts and villages.

 

Uniform Coinage System: Akbar introduced silver, copper, and gold coins to establish uniform coinage throughout his empire. The old coins were also accepted for their full face value. The silver coin was round in shape and was known as the rupee which weighed 172 grains. The copper coin was called a dam or paisa which weighed 323.5 grains.

 

Do you know one paisa was equal to how many jitals?

 

One paisa was equal to 25 jitals (lowest copper coin). One gold coin (illahi) was equal to 10 rupees. The biggest gold coin was called shahanshah which weighed over 101 tolas.

Uniform Weights and Measures: Weights were based on the weights of various seeds and lengths were based on the length of arms and width of fingers before Akbar�s reign. Akbar brought a change in this system and there was a uniform method adopted for measuring lengths and weights.

 

Barleycorn was used for measuring weight and Illahi Gaz (yard) was used for measuring lengths. Long distances were measured in long gaz, stone houses, temples in middle gaz and garments, table linen was measured in short gaz.

 

Questions:

 

1. Which language was used in Mughal India?
a) European
b) French
c) Italian
d) Persian

 

2. What was the name used for the lowest copper coin?
a) Dam
b) Shahanshah
c) Illahi
d) Jital

 

3. In charge of the imperial household was called __________.
a) Mir Bakshi
b) Wakil
c) Wazir
d) Mir Saman

 

4. One gold coin is equal to ___ rupees.
a) 1
b) 5
c) 8
d) 10

 

5. Which seed was adopted during the reign of Akbar for measuring weight?
a) Wheat
b) Gram
c) Rice
d) Barley corn