The system of nazar-pahani as a method of revenue assessment and collection was initiated by................

The correct answer is - Malik Ambar

Key Points

• Malik Ambar
  • Malik Ambar was a prominent figure in the Deccan region during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
  • He introduced the nazar-pahani system as a method of revenue assessment and collection.
  • Nazar-pahani involved a detailed survey and estimation of agricultural land to determine revenue based on its productivity.
  • This system emphasized fairness and efficiency in taxation, ensuring that farmers were taxed according to the actual yield of their land.
  • Malik Ambar’s reforms contributed significantly to the administrative and financial stability of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate.

Additional Information

• Malik Ambar’s administrative contributions
  • He was an Ethiopian slave who rose to become a military leader and later the regent of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate.
  • Malik Ambar is renowned for his military strategies and introducing efficient administrative reforms.
  • His revenue system, including nazar-pahani, inspired later Mughal administrative systems.
• Comparison with Raja Todar Mal
  • Raja Todar Mal was the finance minister of Akbar and is known for the zabti system, a detailed revenue assessment method.
  • While both Malik Ambar and Todar Mal contributed to revenue systems, their methods were tailored to their respective regions and time periods.
• Impact on later systems
  • Malik Ambar’s reforms influenced the development of revenue systems in the Deccan and later Mughal territories.
  • The emphasis on fairness and productivity in taxation became a hallmark of efficient governance in medieval India.