Consider the following statements regarding the administrative structure of the Mughal Empire: 1. The empire was divided into provinces known as subas, which were governed by officials designated as subahdars or nizams. 2. Each suba was further subdivided into administrative units called sarkars, which were comprised of smaller fiscal units known as parganas. 3. The judicial administration at the provincial and district levels was headed exclusively by the imperial military commander or bakhshi. Which of the statements given above are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are correct because Mughal territorial organization structured the empire into subas managed by subahdars, sarkars headed by faujdars and amils, and parganas containing groups of villages. Statement 3 is incorrect because the judicial branch was led independently by the qazis appointed to administer Islamic law, whereas the military bakhshi handled recruitment, salary disbursement, and military record-keeping within the mansabdari framework. The separation of judicial powers from executive military command ensured a check on local administrative excess.