With reference to the administrative system in the Mughal period, answer the following questions:

(a) What was the position of the monarch?

(b) Who were the three important ministers?

(c) How was the provincial government organised?

(a) According to Abul Fazl, the office of a true ruler was a very responsible one which depended on divine illumination. Thus, the Mughal Emperor endowed with the divine light was regarded as the vice-regent of God on earth. He ruled the empire with paternal love towards his subjects without distinction of sect or creed. The emperor was the head of the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary and the Army. He was the supreme commander of armed forces and all other commanders were appointed and removed by him. He made laws and issued administrative ordinances. The royal uzuk (small singet ring) was affixed to farmans granting appointments, titles, jagirs etc.

(b) The three ministers in Mughal empire were:

1. Vakil or Prime Minister — he was entrusted with great powers in civil and military affairs.
2. Diwan or Diwan-i-ala — He was head of revenue department. He was responsible for all income and expenditure.
3. Mir Bakshi — He was the head of military department and intelligence and information agencies of the empire.

(c) The Empire was divided into twelve provinces or subahs, which was further subdivided into sarkars and each sarkar into parganas or mahals. Each subah was headed by one governor who was called the subahdar or sipah salar or nazim. He was usually a mansabdar of high rank. His functions included maintenance of law and order, enforcement of imperial decrees, administration of criminal justice and the smooth collection of revenue. The provincial diwan was incharge of revenue administration of the province. Beside them, the other important officials in the province were faujdar, kotwal, bakshi, sadr qazi and muhtasib. The centre appointed the officials of the provinces, sarkars and the parganas. Hence, these divisions were directly responsible to the centre.