A historian studying Mughal revenue records notes down four practices…

A historian studying Mughal revenue records notes down four practices. With reference to the ways of collecting revenue in kind described in the Ain, which one is the odd one out?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Surveying cultivation village by village and peasant-wise before assessing the jama

Option (1) Estimating the grain and, in case of doubt, estimating the cut crop in three lots — Incorrect. This is kankut, where the grain was estimated. It is one of the Ain's ways of taking revenue in kind.

Option (2) Reaping and stacking the crops and dividing them by agreement before the parties — Incorrect. This is batai, also called bhaoli. The harvested crop itself was shared, so revenue was taken in kind.

Option (3) Dividing the fields between the parties after they have been sown — Incorrect. This is khet-batai. The sown fields were divided, which is again a way of collecting in kind.

Option (4) Surveying cultivation village by village and peasant-wise before assessing the jama — Correct. The other three are the Ain's methods of collecting revenue in kind. This one is different: Aurangzeb's order of 1665 asked amins to survey actual conditions of cultivation before fixing the jama, which is a way of assessing revenue.

NCERT (2026-27): “6. Land Revenue System …
The Ain on land revenue collection: Let him (the amil-guzar) not make it a practice of taking only in cash but also in kind. The latter is effected in several ways. First, kankut : in the Hindi language kan signifies grain, and kut, estimates … If any doubts arise, the crops should be cut and estimated in three lots, the good, the middling, and the inferior, and the hesitation removed. Often, too, the land taken by appraisement, gives a sufficiently accurate return. Secondly, batai, also called bhaoli, the crops are reaped and stacked and divided by agreement in the presence of the parties. But in this case several intelligent inspectors are required; otherwise, the evil-minded and false are given to deception. Thirdly, khet-batai, when they divide the fields after they are sown. Fourthly, lang batai , after cutting the grain, they form it in heaps and divide it among themselves, and each takes his share home and turns it to profit.”

“This is an excerpt from Aurangzeb’s order to his revenue official, 1665: He should direct the amins f the parganas that they should discover the actual conditions of cultivation (maujudat), village by village, peasant-wise (asamiwar), and after minute scrutiny, assess the jama, keeping in view the financial interests (kifayat) of the government, and the welfare of the peasantry.”

A historian studying Mughal revenue records notes down four practices. With reference to the ways of collecting revenue in kind described in the Ain, which one is the odd one out?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Surveying cultivation village by village and peasant-wise before assessing the jama