Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Zabti system was introduced by-
Solution & Analysis
Answer: D
Concept
Before Akbar, revenue was often assessed arbitrarily, leading to corruption and peasant distress. The Zabti system was the first major 'scientific' attempt to fix taxes based on physical measurement and historical data.Explanation
Akbar introduced the Zabti system (also called the Dahsala system) around 1580–82. Devised by his finance minister Raja Todar Mal, it involved measuring the land and calculating the state's share based on the average yield and prices of crops over the previous ten years.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: This system eliminated the need for annual assessments, providing stability to both the peasant and the imperial treasury.
Logic 2: It categorized land into fertility levels like Polaj (regularly cultivated) and Parati (fallow), ensuring the tax was fair to the soil's capacity.