Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Assertion (A): The Mughal Empire was originally a Military State. Reason (R): The vitality of the development of the Central Government System depended on its military power.
Solution & Analysis
Answer: A
Concept
The Mughal state was built on conquest. Its administrative structures, like the Mansabdari system, were essentially military hierarchies applied to civil governance. Without a dominant military, the central authority could not collect revenue or keep regional governors in check.Explanation
Babur founded the empire through military prowess. His successors maintained this 'Military State' character by ensuring that the central government's strength remained tied to its ability to deploy force. This military power was the primary tool for territorial expansion, law enforcement, and maintaining the flow of land revenue.Logical Breakup
Logic 1 (Assertion): True. Every officer in the Mughal bureaucracy (Mansabdar) held a military rank, regardless of their actual job, highlighting the military roots of the state.
Logic 2 (Reason): True and explanatory. The 'vitality' of the system—its capacity to function—rested on the Emperor being the supreme commander. If military power weakened, the centralized administrative links dissolved.