Question

With regard to Akbar’s nobility, which of the following statements is not correct ?
1. At the beginning of Akbar’s reign, his nobility consisted mainly of Turani and Khurasani nobles.
2. From 1561, he began to admit Rajput princes who were allowed to hold their ancestral domains against their mansabs.
3. At the same time, he discriminated the Shaikhzadas (Indian Muslims).
4. To bring the nobles under close control, he took away their Jagirs and put them on cash pay, along with strict branding and muster regulations to ensure regular maintenance of contingents.

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : At the same time, he discriminated the Shaikhzadas (Indian Muslims).

• Mughal Emperor Akbar was known for his visionary administrative policies which allowed him to stabilize all frontiers of the Mughal Empire and establish a network of allied support for the empire. The initial period of Akbar’s rule was under the regency of Bairam Khan, as the emperor was still a minor and the powerful nobility comprised of the Khurasanis and Turanis.
• After the end of the regency period, Akbar adopted policies that led to the creation of composite nobility; the most remarkable among these was establishing matrimonial alliances with the Rajputs and inducting them into the mansab system.
• He also gave more emphasis on talent and merit in appointments to administrative positions and actively recruited Indian Muslims (Shaikhzadas) and Hindus in his court. Apart from these groups, Akbar also recruited Kambohs, a tribal group predominant in the Punjab region, the Kambohs were either Hindu or Sikhs, as pointed out by historian Satish Chandra. 
• Akbar also initiated numerous measures to strengthen the mansab and the jagirdari system, a system of military and administrative governance, which was governed by the rank system.  He later instituted the Dahsala system, in combination with the Dagh system, i.e. branding of the horses to streamline military administration.
• In light of the above statements, we can conclude that Option 3 is the correct answer.