Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Which statement about the Ahadis of Mughal period is NOT true?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: D
Concept
Ahadis were 'Gentlemen Soldiers' who owed loyalty directly to the Emperor. They served as a loyalist counter-weight to the armies raised by powerful nobles (Mansabdars).Explanation
Ahadis were elite individual troopers recruited directly by the Emperor. They had their own administrative structure (separate Diwan and Bakhshi) and did not serve under Mansabdars. While their salary was much higher than regular soldiers (some earning 500 rupees), it was not at par with Mansabdars, who were high-ranking officials with administrative responsibilities.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Ahadis were independent 'swordsmen' rather than bureaucratic rank-holders like Mansabdars.
Logic 2: Option D is false because Mansabdars earned vast amounts meant to maintain entire contingents, whereas Ahadis were paid strictly as elite individual combatants.