Question

Which among the following was also known as the Bandobast system?
a. Dahsala
b. Kankut
c. Zabti
d. Nasaq

Answer 1

Hint:
Under the reign of Akbar in the year 1580-82 the Dahsala or Zabti System was introduced to put a check on the problems that were arising due to fixed prices each year and settlement of revenue of the last year. Sometimes this system is called Todar Mal’s bandobast.

Complete solution:
In the year 1580, Akbar instituted a new system named the dahsala. The word 'dah' means ten. The average production of various crops along with the average prices prevailing over the last ten years was calculated. However, the state demand was declared in cash. In order to fulfil the demand, the state shares were converted into money on the basis of a schedule of average prices over the past ten years.

Basically, this system was developed by Raja Todarmal. He was the finance minister at during Mugal Empire in India. Therefore, sometimes it is called as Todar Mal’s bandobast or bandobast system. Todar Mal was a brilliant revenue officer. He joined Akbar, after serving on Sher Shah’s court for a few years.

This system was basically in practice during Shershah Suri but was honed perfectly during Akbar’s reign. The system covered the area from Allahabad to Lahore and the provinces of Gujarat and Malwa. Provinces were subdivided into dastur or revenue circles with their own revenue rates. But only the areas where the Mughals were able to survey were kept under this system and places like Bengal and Gujarat were kept out of this new revenue system.


Hence, the correct answer is option A.

Note:
It is to be noted that the system of land revenue became very popular and continued for a very long time. Originally the zabti system is called Toder Mal’s bandobast system. But according to some historians, the zabti and dahsala were two parts of a whole system. Hence the dahsala system, as well as zabti system, is known as Bandobast system.