Question

The Mughal imperial administrative apparatus was effectively dependent on ________.

• A. Travellers
• B. Nobles
• C. Masses
• D. Mir Bakshi

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The Mughal imperial administrative apparatus was effectively dependent on the nobility (umara, mansabdars, and elite aristocrats).

Why Nobles Were Crucial:

• Mansabdari System – The Mughal bureaucracy and military were run by nobles (mansabdars) who held ranks (zat and sawar) granted by the emperor. They governed provinces, led armies, and collected revenue.
• Loyalty & Patronage – The emperor’s power rested on keeping nobles loyal through jagirs (land revenue assignments), titles, and marriages.
• Regional Control – Nobles acted as intermediaries with zamindars, merchants, and peasants, ensuring stability.
• Military Power – The Mughal army was not a standing force but relied on nobles supplying troops.

Consequences of Noble Dependence:

• Succession Crises – Noble factions backed rival princes (e.g., War of Succession after Aurangzeb).
• Decline – When nobles became semi-independent (e.g., Nizam-ul-Mulk in Hyderabad), the empire fragmented.

Thus, while the emperor was the symbolic center, the nobility was the real machinery of Mughal rule.