NCERT Class 12 History — Chapter 4: Peasants, Zamindars and the State - Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire (c. 16th - 17th centuries)

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In the Mughal revenue administration, the official responsible for ensuring that imperial regulations were implemented in the provinces was known as:

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

APatwari
BAmin
CMuqaddam
DShroff

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is Amin.

Explanation

The Mughal revenue administration was a highly centralized and hierarchical system. The empire was divided into Subas (provinces), Sarkars (districts), and Parganas (sub-districts). Specific officials were appointed at each level to manage revenue assessment, collection, and the enforcement of imperial regulations (Dastur-ul-amal).

Analysis of Options

Amin Amin: Correct. In the Mughal revenue structure, the Amin was an official appointed at the Pargana level. His primary responsibility was the assessment of revenue. He acted as an impartial umpire or trustee (the literal meaning of Amin) to ensure that the measurement of land and the assessment of revenue were conducted strictly according to imperial regulations. He served as a check on the revenue collectors (Amils) to prevent oppression of the peasantry.
Shroff Shroff: Incorrect. The Shroffs were money changers, bankers, and experts in verifying the purity of coins. They were private financial agents or semi-official bankers who facilitated revenue remittance but were not administrative officials responsible for implementing regulations.
Muqaddam Muqaddam: Incorrect. The Muqaddam was the village headman. While he played a crucial role in collecting revenue from the cultivators and handing it over to the state officials, he was a hereditary local representative, not an imperial official sent to enforce regulations.
Patwari Patwari: Incorrect. The Patwari was the village accountant responsible for maintaining records of land holdings and crops. Like the Muqaddam, he was a village-level functionary rather than a provincial or pargana-level imperial administrator.

Key Takeaway

Amin was the imperial revenue assessor at the Pargana level, responsible for ensuring that revenue assessment followed state regulations, distinct from the Amil (or Amalguzar), who was primarily responsible for revenue collection.

Your note

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Solution

The correct option is Amin.

Explanation

Analysis of Options

Amin Amin: Correct. In the Mughal revenue structure, the Amin was an official appointed at the Pargana level. His primary responsibility was the assessment of revenue. He acted as an impartial umpire or trustee (the literal meaning of Amin) to ensure that the measurement of land and the assessment of revenue were conducted strictly according to imperial regulations. He served as a check on the revenue collectors (Amils) to prevent oppression of the peasantry.
Shroff Shroff: Incorrect. The Shroffs were money changers, bankers, and experts in verifying the purity of coins. They were private financial agents or semi-official bankers who facilitated revenue remittance but were not administrative officials responsible for implementing regulations.
Muqaddam Muqaddam: Incorrect. The Muqaddam was the village headman. While he played a crucial role in collecting revenue from the cultivators and handing it over to the state officials, he was a hereditary local representative, not an imperial official sent to enforce regulations.
Patwari Patwari: Incorrect. The Patwari was the village accountant responsible for maintaining records of land holdings and crops. Like the Muqaddam, he was a village-level functionary rather than a provincial or pargana-level imperial administrator.