Question

The following is a listing of criteria of classification excerpted from the Ain: The Emperor Akbar, in his profound sagacity, classified the lands and fixed a different revenue to be paid by each. Polaj is land which is annually cultivated for each crop in succession and is never allowed to lie fallow. Parauti is land left out of cultivation for a time that it may recover its strength. Chachar is land that has lain fallow for three or four years. Banjar is land uncultivated for five years and more. Of the first two kinds of land, there are three classes, good, middling, and bad. They add together the produce of each sort, and the third of this represents the medium produce, one-third part of which is exacted as the Royal dues.

What principles did the Mughal state follow while classifying lands in its territories? How was revenue assessed?

Answer 1

1. The Mughal state classified land according to how regularly it was cultivated.
2. Polaj was land cultivated every year and never left fallow.
3. Parauti was land that was left uncultivated for a short period so that it could regain its fertility.
4. Chachar was land that had remained uncultivated for about three or four years.
5. Banjar was land that had remained uncultivated for five years or more.
6. Polaj and parauti lands were further divided into good, middle and bad quality according to their produce.
7. The average produce was calculated by adding the produce of these three categories and taking one-third of the total.
8. The state then fixed its share of revenue on the basis of this average produce.

Thus, land classification and revenue assessment under Akbar were based mainly on the condition of the land and its agricultural productivity.