Central Mughal Administration

Matching Mughal Officers with Their Duties

In the Mughal government, the Diwan-i-Tan managed salaries and jagirs, the Mustarfi was the state auditor, the Mushrif was the chief accountant, and the Vakianvis was the official recorder of events and firmans.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class XII: Themes in Indian History - Part II

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Match list-I with list-II and select the correct answer:
List-I (Officer)List-II (Duty)
A. Diwan-i-Tan1. Look after the office
B. Mustarfi2. Maintained a proper list of main events and Firmans
C. Mushrif3. Look after the Jagir and Salaries
D. Vakianvis4. Examine the income expenditure of State

[UPPCS (Pre) 2020]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


The Mughal central bureaucracy was highly specialized. Separate departments managed land assignments (Jagirs), state auditing, accounting, and official record-keeping to ensure absolute imperial control over the nobility.

Authentic Source Evidence


  • Diwan-i-Tan: Focused on 'Tan' (salaries) and 'Jagir' (land assignments).

  • Mustarfi: Acted as the chief auditor to examine state income and expenses.

  • Mushrif: Functioned as the chief accountant looking after the daily office operations.

  • Vakianvis: The news-writer who recorded imperial firmans and significant events.
  • Analytical Breakdown


  • Logic 1: The Diwan-i-Tan was a subsidiary of the main Diwan, specifically handling the complex pay scales of Mansabdars.

  • Logic 2: The Mustarfi and Mushrif worked as checks and balances against each other—one recording (accountant) and the other auditing.
  • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "Why was the role of the Vakianvis so important for the Emperor?"

    The Vakianvis acted as the Emperor's 'eyes and ears' by reporting on provincial events and ensuring official orders were properly recorded.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "The specialization of these roles shows that the Mughal state was an 'information-driven empire' with sophisticated financial auditing."

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