Consider the role of zamindars in the rural economy of Mughal India. Identify the odd one out.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Fixing the revenue demand for the whole province
Option (1) Providing cultivators with cash loans and other means of cultivation — Incorrect. Zamindars helped settle cultivators by giving them the means of cultivation, including cash loans. This is one of their roles.
Option (2) Selling the produce from their own milkiyat lands — Incorrect. Zamindars sold the produce from their milkiyat lands. This added to the use of money in the countryside.
Option (3) Fixing the revenue demand for the whole province — Correct. The revenue demand was fixed by the Mughal state, not by zamindars. Zamindars only collected revenue on behalf of the state, so this is the odd one out.
Option (4) Setting up markets to which peasants also came to sell their produce — Incorrect. Zamindars often established markets (haats) where peasants also came to sell their produce. This is one of their roles.
NCERT (2026-27): “5. The Zamindars … |