History glossary
Mansabdari system
the Mughal ranking system that tied elite status, pay and military obligation to imperial service.
- Category
- Administrative system
- Region
- Mughal India
- Date range
- Mughal period
What it means
The mansabdari system ranked Mughal nobles and officers according to status and service obligation. It helped connect salary, cavalry responsibility and promotion to the emperor rather than only to local or inherited power.
