MIS Class - 7 Chapter - Administration and society under the Mughals.
MCQs and
Notes
15 MCQs with Answers ( no need to write in copy)
15 MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)
1. Who introduced an efficient system of administration under the Mughals?
a) Aurangzeb. b) Humayun. c) Akbar. d) Babur
2. Who wrote that a ruler should love all his people like a father?
a) Raja Todar Mal. b) Abul Fazl. c) Faizi. d) Bairam Khan
3. What was the Dewan-i-Aam?
a) Military court b) Assembly of officials. c) Royal kitchen. d) Treasury
4. Who was the emperor's chief military advisor?
a) Diwan. b) Qazi. c) Mir Bakshi. d) Muqaddam
5. How many provinces (subas) did Akbar divide his empire into?
a) 10. b) 20. c) 12. d) 15
6. Which rank fixed the personal status and income of a mansabdar?
a) Zat. b) Sawar. c) Jagir. d) Qazi
7. What is the term for the number of cavalrymen a mansabdar had to maintain?
a) Zat. b) Sawar. c) Suba. d) Karkhana
8. Who designed Akbar’s land revenue system?
a) Abul Fazl. b) Raja Todar Mal. c) Shah Jahan. d) Dara Shikoh
9. What was the chief source of income for the Mughals?
a) Land revenue (kharaj). b) Trade. c) Inheritance. d) Royal gifts
10.Who were the zamindars?
a) Army generals. b) Artisans. c) Landowners who collected tax. d) Poets
11.What title did Akbar receive due to his power and popularity?
a) Padshah. b) Alampanah or Jahanpanah. c) Sahib-e-Alam. d) Sultane Hind
12.Who were the especially chosen forces of the Mughal army?
a) Mansabdars. b) Ahadis. c) Muqaddams. d) Patwaris
13.Which emperor’s daughters were Jahanara and Roshanara?
a) Shah Jahan. b) Akbar. c) Babur d) Aurangzeb
14.What was the Mughal empire’s system of assigning ranks to officials called?
a) Zabt. b) Mansabdari system. c) Jagirdari system. d) Ain-i-Akbari
15.What did the mansabdar receive instead of cash salary?
a) Coins. b) Crops. c) Jagir (land revenue). d) Horses
🔹 2 Marks Questions (in ~60 words)
1. What was the mansabdari system?
Ans:
● It was a system where every officer was given a rank (mansab).
● The rank determined the status, salary, and number of soldiers he had to maintain.
● The two main ranks were zat (status) and sawar (cavalry).
● Introduced by Akbar to maintain an organized administration and army.
2. Who was Mir Bakshi and what was his role?
Answer:
● Mir Bakshi was the chief military advisor to the Mughal emperor.
● He was the head of the military department.
● He gave reports on military matters and new developments.
● He worked closely with intelligence officers and other officials.
3. What was the main source of revenue for the Mughal empire?
Answer:
● The main source of revenue was land revenue or kharaj.
● Other sources included custom duties, sales tax, and tax on property.
● Revenue was used to maintain the army and build gardens and monuments.
4. What was the role of Mir Bakshi?
● Mir Bakshi was the chief military advisor of the emperor and head of the military
department.
● He reported on new developments in the army and artillery. He also managed
intelligence officers and maintained army records.
5. What were zat and sawar?
● Zat fixed a person’s rank, salary, and status in the Mughal administration. Sawar fixed
the number of cavalrymen an officer had to maintain. For example, 3,000 sawars meant
3,000 horsemen had to be maintained by the officer
🔹 3 Marks Questions (in ~90 words)
1. Describe Akbar's method of administration.
Answer:
● Akbar divided the empire into 12 provinces (subas).
● Each suba had a governor, diwan, bakshi, qazi, and waqya nawis.
● These officials handled administration, finance, military, judiciary, and
record-keeping.
● Akbar often moved with a mobile camp and kept contact with people.
● This structure helped in centralized control and better management.
2. What were the roles of women in the Mughal royal family?
Answer:
● Royal women like Nur Jahan minted coins in their name.
● Jahanara and Roshanara helped in administration and construction.
● Jahanara built Chandni Chowk and wrote poetry.
● Women also founded schools, promoted education, and gave scholarships.
● They influenced politics and contributed to the welfare of the poor.
3. How was Akbar's land revenue system implemented?
Answer:
● Designed by Raja Todar Mal.
● Village officials like patwari and muqaddam recorded land and crops.
● Peasants paid about one-third of their produce as tax.
● Revenue was collected either in cash or kind.
● Jagir lands given to mansabdars were collected with the help of zamindars.
🔹 5 Marks Questions (in ~150 words)
1. Discuss the features of the Mansabdari System introduced by Akbar.
Answer:
● The Mansabdari system organized the army and nobility.
● Each officer was given a mansab (rank) based on his status and responsibility.
● Two main components:
1. Zat – Personal status and salary
2. Sawar – Number of cavalrymen he had to maintain
● Ranks ranged from 10 to 5,000, later increasing up to 40,000.
● Mansabdars were mostly paid through jagirs (land revenue) and not in cash.
● They were loyal to the emperor and helped control the empire.
● Mansabdars appointed zamindars to collect taxes.
● This system made the army strong, organized, and loyal.
● It lasted till the 18th century, playing a key role in Mughal administration.
2. Describe village life under the Mughals.
Answer:
● Landless peasants lived in mud houses, borrowed money, and had very little to eat or
wear.
● Landed peasants owned bullocks and grew crops like wheat, rice, pulses, and cotton.
● They paid land revenue and passed land to their children.
● Zamindars owned land and collected taxes from many villages.
● Women wore multicolored saris, cooked festive dishes, and managed homes.
● Children learned in temples or homes, and girls were taught household work.
● Rich girls learned Hindi, Persian, and Gujarati from tutors.
● People celebrated Eid, Rakhi, Diwali, and Holi, and all participated in fairs.
3. How did Akbar show his power and maintain control over his empire?
Answer:
● Akbar appeared at the balcony every morning for people’s darshan.
● Hindu priests ensured people could see him regularly.
● On special days, he did tuladan – weighing himself with gifts.
● He gave gifts to the poor and needy to show generosity.
● Called Alampanah or Jahanpanah, showing divine protection.
● Maintained strict centralized rule with well-placed officials.
● Regularly reviewed military, intelligence, and administration in Dewan-i-Aam.
● He toured the empire in moving camps, keeping close contact with his people.
● His military and revenue systems were efficient, making him a powerful ruler.
4. Describe the Peacock Throne.
● The Peacock Throne was a magnificent creation of the Mughal period, built under Shah
Jahan.
● It was made of pure gold and decorated with rubies, emeralds, and other precious
stones.
● The throne had a central seat with eleven jewelled panels. The inner roof was enameled
and the outer one adorned with gems.
● It had three jewelled steps and was known for its beauty and splendor. A splendid ruby
presented by the Shah of Persia was its central gem.
● It symbolized the grandeur of the Mughal Empire.
