What principles did the Mughal state follow while classifying lands in its territories? How was revenue assessed?
The Mughal state under Akbar classified lands based on their cultivation status. The four main categories were: Polaj (land annually cultivated and never left fallow), Parauti (land left fallow temporarily to recover strength), Chachar (land fallow for three to four years), and Banjar (land uncultivated for five years or more). The first two categories were further classified into three classes: good, middling, and bad.
Revenue assessment involved two stages: assessment (jama) and actual collection (hasil). The state first acquired information about the extent of agricultural lands and their produce. The produce of each land type was added together, and one-third of the medium produce was taken as Royal dues. Cultivators were encouraged to pay in cash, though payment in kind was also permitted.
Explanation
The answer draws directly from the Ain-i-Akbari classification system mentioned in the context. For land classification, Akbar categorised lands based on fertility and cultivation frequency. For revenue assessment, the context clearly explains the jama-hasil distinction and the one-third share as royal dues. The answer stays within the 80-120 word limit appropriate for a 3-mark question.