Previous Year Question
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): The territories of the Sultanate could be broadly divided into two parts — the Khalsa and the Jagirs.
Reason (R): The Jagirs comprised of the land under the control of the State.
Select the correct answer from the code given below:
Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(A) is false, but (R) is true.
(A) is true, but (R) is false.
Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
For a broad understanding of the revenue administration of the Sultanate, land was distinguished between Khalsa and land assigned to officials as revenue assignments. The question uses the term Jagir for this second category.
Khalsa land remained under the direct control of the Sultan or the central government. Land revenue obtained from such territories was deposited directly into the royal treasury and was used for central administration and royal expenditure.
In contrast, the second category of land was assigned to officials or military nobles in the form of a right to collect revenue. In the context of the Delhi Sultanate, the more precise administrative term for such an assignment was Iqta, and its holder was known as a Muqti or Iqtadar.
The Iqtadar was not given complete private ownership of the land. He was granted the right to collect revenue from a specified territory and discharge his administrative and military obligations. The central authority could also alter or transfer such an assignment when required.
Therefore, land under the direct control of the State was Khalsa, not Jagir or Iqta. Reason (R) has reversed the defining characteristics of the two categories.
In a more detailed administrative classification, other categories of land grants such as Inam, Madad-i-Maash or Waqf are also found. However, this question asks about the broad division of the revenue territories of the Sultanate.
Thus, the broad distinction between Khalsa and assigned land given in the Assertion is acceptable, but describing Jagirs as land directly controlled by the State is incorrect.