Land Revenue System during medieval times

- Sher Shah Suri's administrative set up was followed until Akbar's 8th year of rule (1564) & was established as a separate Mughat set up only in 1580.

- During Akbar's rule there were three kkinds of lands in the country.

i. Khalsa or Crown Land.
ii. Jagir - noble's land who sent a share to king.
iii. Sayurghal - free grants

- The Mughal system was a tax and crop set up & not a rent or a land tax.

- 'Nasq' or 'Kankut' was the system, wherein an estimate of the produce was made by the Goverment officials.

- Muqtai system : It was a fixed revenue demand leased in Cash.

- 'Ain-i-Dahsala' - Todar Mal improved over Zabti system, through these fresh reforms in 1580. Under this, the land was classified into four categories based on its cultivation frequency -

i. Polaj - annually cultivated
ii. Parauti - left fallow for 1 to 2 years.
iii. Chachar - left fallow for 3 to 4 years.
iv. Banjar - uncultivated for 5 years or more.

- further, according to Abul Fazl, based on this classification, a 10-year state of every paragana was ascertained, avarage cash rate of previous 10 years harvest was derived & tax fixed, once for all.

- This system was adopted by the East India Company in the Ryotwari System.

- Land was meansured by a new jarib which was lamboo clipped with iron range (earlier rope was used)

- The unit of measurement, introduced by Todar Mal in 1588 was Ilahigaz.

- 'Nankar' 1/10th of the produce given as allowance to the Zamindar.

- 'Malikana' Compensation for imposts & perquisites lost eqvivalent to 25%.

- 'Muzarian' : Low caste share-croppers.

- 'Khudkashta' - Resident Cultivators called 'Mirasdars' in Maharashtra 'Gaveti' in Rajasthan.

- 'Phikashta' : Non-resident cultivators.

- 'Begar' : Forced labour

- 'Dhenkali' , 'Cholas', 'Saqiya' : used for irrigation.