With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?
- Paragana—Sarkar—Suba
- Sarkar—Paragana—Suba
- Suba—Sarkar—Paragana
- Paragana—Suba—Sarkar
Explanation
Option (a) is correct
- The hierarchical order based on size is Pargana – Sarkar – Suba. The Mughal Empire was divided into several Subas (provinces), each administered by a Subedar (or Nizam) and a Diwan. During the reign of Akbar, there were 15 Subas, which later increased to 22 under Aurangzeb. Each Suba was further divided into Sarkars, which were placed under the charge of a Fauzdar (administrative head) and an Amal (revenue collector). The Sarkars were subdivided into Parganas, administered by a Shiqdar (executive officer) and assisted by Amils in revenue collection. At the pargana level, there were also three semi-hereditary officials: the Qanungo (keeper of revenue records), the Chaudhuri (responsible for revenue collection), and the Qazi. A number of villages (gramas) together formed a pargana, and each village was managed by a Muqaddam (headman) and a Patwari (accountant)
Answer: (a) Paragana—Sarkar—Suba; Difficulty Level: Medium
