Paper Details

The agrarian structure of the Mughal Empire formed the economic backbone of imperial authority, and under Emperor Akbar (1556–1605), significant reforms were introduced to stabilize, rationalize, and centralize the land revenue system. This study examines the agrarian organization during Akbar’s reign, focusing on the relationship between peasants, zamindars, jagirdars, and the imperial state. It analyses the evolution of revenue assessment methods, especially the zabt and dahsala systems, and evaluates their economic, administrative, and social impact. By drawing upon primary sources such as the Ain-i-Akbari and modern historiography, the paper argues that Akbar’s agrarian reforms were not merely fiscal adjustments but part of a broader project of imperial consolidation. While these reforms enhanced administrative efficiency and ensured steady state income, they also reveal the structural pressures placed upon the peasantry. The study highlights how agrarian management under Akbar became a foundation for Mughal stability and longterm political expansion

Agrarian structure, Akbar, Mughal land revenue, zabt system, dahsala, zamindars, jagirdari system