1996 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 1996 · General Studies
Question 86: History and Culture
In medieval India, Mansabdari system was introduced mainly for
amaking recruitment to the army
bfacilitating revenue collection
censuring religious harmony
deffecting clean administration
AnswerThe answer is (a).
Introduced by Akbar, the mansabdari system graded officers by rank (mansab), fixed their pay and the number of troopers each had to maintain, so it organised the imperial army and its recruitment. It also gave a common rank structure to civil and military officials, but its main purpose was military. Revenue collection was handled by separate revenue officers.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right: ranks and troops fixed for each mansabdar organised the army.
- (b) Revenue collection was done by separate officers, not through the mansab.
- (c) Religious harmony was served by other policies, not the mansabdari.
- (d) Clean administration was not the main aim of the system.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1996, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.