Question

How did the Mughal rulers classify agricultural land for revenue? Explain with examples.

Hint:

The Mughal system of classifying land for revenue helped in organizing and streamlining the agricultural economy. It allowed the Mughal rulers to collect taxes more efficiently based on the land’s productivity.

Answer 1

The Mughal rulers classified agricultural land based on its productivity and usage, which helped in determining the revenue to be collected from it. This classification system was part of the Mughal revenue system, which was highly organized and efficient. The primary way the Mughals classified agricultural land was by its quality, type of crops grown, and its fertility.
1. Land Classification Based on Fertility:
The Mughals divided agricultural land into different categories based on its fertility. The most important categories were:

• Polaj: These were the most fertile lands that were regularly cultivated. The crops grown on this land were considered the primary source of revenue.
• Chachar: These lands were left fallow for a season or more, allowing them to recover fertility before being cultivated again.
• Banjar: These lands were left barren for long periods and were not suitable for cultivation. The revenue from these lands was minimal.

2. Classification Based on Crop Type:
In addition to land fertility, the Mughal rulers also considered the type of crops grown. Different crops yielded varying amounts of revenue, and the Mughal rulers would classify lands based on these differences. For example, land that produced cash crops like cotton or indigo might be taxed differently than land that produced food grains like wheat or rice. 
3. Land Revenue Assessment:
The revenue was generally calculated as a fixed proportion of the produce. A tax system called the Zabt was used, where the amount of revenue was based on the land's classification and the expected yield. For example, fertile land (Polaj) would be expected to yield a higher crop, and therefore, a higher tax would be levied. 
4. Examples of Land Classifications in Practice:
- For instance, the land around Delhi, which was highly fertile and well-watered by the Yamuna River, was classified as Polaj and taxed heavily, as it produced a large amount of grain and other crops. - Conversely, land in the arid regions of Rajasthan, classified as Banjar, was not taxed heavily since it was unsuitable for regular agriculture.