Like the present day, the Mughal Administration was divided into :
1. Central Administration
2. Provincial Administration, and
3. Local Administration
Central Administration:
In the Central Administration the Emperor was the supreme. His council of ministers were different from today's council of ministers. Every minister was responsible to the Emperor directly.
- Wakil (meaning - Representative) was representative of the Emperor and in his absence represented the Emperor, The power of Wakil varied from ruler to ruler.
- Diwan (Finance Minister) was responsible for revenue and expenditure and was very powerful.
- Mir Bakshi, the minister of Military administration was also Paymaster General and had wide power.
- Mir Saman ( saman means household) was minister of Household.
- Sadr was responsible for enforcement of Islamic law or sharia.
Provincial administration:
1, Subah is known as province or state and the holder of subah was subedar. All ministerial designations at Central Administration had its provincial counterparts in subah. There were 15 subahs during Akbar's reign, 17 during Jahangir's, 22 during Shahjahan's, and 21 during Aurangzeb's. Further Subahs were divided into Sarkars (districts), and Sarkars were divided into Parganas (Tehsils).
Local Administration:
Big towns or state capitals had Kotwals equivalent to the police chiefs and the correspnding Kotwali was the police station.
Mansabdari system:
Mansab was the rank or the grade. Mansabdars were the rank holders. They were classifieed on the basis of the Zaat (pesonal pay) and Sawar (horses and horsemen). There was a system to inspect horsemen and horses to avoid duplication. Chehra or physical description of the horsemen and Daag or branding of the horses were done. Mansabdars provided horses and horsemen whenever the emperor desired. Mansabdaars were paid either in cash or in jagirs.
Land Revenue System:
Raja Todar Mal, the Finance Minister of Akbar, was the architect of the Land Revenue System. He carried out detailed assessment of land on the basis of cultivated area, produce and local pricing. He took the average of 10 year's data and fixed 1/3 of produce as state's share.
