Examine the evolution of the administrative office of the 'Mir Bakhshi' in the Mughal imperial hierarchy: 1. He acted as the head of the military department, responsible for intelligence gathering, recommendations for mansabs, and overseeing the branding of horses. 2. He independently exercised control over the imperial treasury and disbursed monthly salaries to all civil officials.

💡 Solution & Explanation

The first statement is correct because the Mir Bakhshi managed military administration, noble rankings, and intelligence operations. The second statement is incorrect because treasury disbursements and financial auditing were managed separately by the Diwan-i-Ala or imperial Diwan, ensuring a system of checks and balances between military and financial heads. This institutional separation prevented any single noble from consolidating excessive power against the sovereign.