With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar?
- 1.Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection.
- 2.Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
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Answer: D. Statement 1 is wrong: Mughal jagirdars held revenue assignments in return for military service (maintaining troops under the mansab system), not judicial and police duties, and zamindars also had duties such as keeping order and supplying troops. Statement 2 is wrong: jagirs were transferable and not hereditary, while zamindari rights were hereditary. So neither statement is correct.
Watch for: Statement 2 swaps the two systems; students who half-remember 'one was hereditary' pick it.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because jagirs were given for military service, and zamindars had duties beyond revenue collection.
- B. Wrong because it reverses the facts: jagirs were transferable, zamindari was hereditary.
- C. Wrong because both statements misdescribe the two roles.
Source to check: NCERT Class 12 Themes in Indian History Part II, Chapter 8 'Peasants, Zamindars and the State' and Chapter 9 'Kings and Chronicles'
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.