The Central Mughal Administration
The Mughal emperors brought about certain fundamental changes in the administrative structure in India. Babur, the founder of the Mughal emperor assumed the title of Padshah (emperor) which was continued by his successors. It meant that the Mughal emperors did not accept the Khalifa even as their nominal overlord. Akbar further enhanced the power and prestige of the emperor by declaring himself the arbiter in case of differences of opinions regarding Islamic laws.
The Mughal rule was also not theocratic. Except for Aurangazeb, no other Mughal emperor attempted to carry his administration on principles of Islam. The emperors accepted two primary duties for themselves – Jahanbani (protection of the state) and Jahangiri (extension of the empire). Besides, they tried to create those conditions which were .conducive to the economic and cultural progress of their subjects. Another novelty of the Mughals was that they began the policy of religious toleration.
Only Aurangazeb reversed the policy of Akbar. All these new innovations in polity made the Mughal administration different from the administration of the Sultans of Delhi in many respects. Akbar raised the structure of the Mughal administration. It persisted till the reign of Aurangazeb with minor changes. The weak successors of Aurangazeb, however, could not maintain it and the result was virtual anarchy.
The King
The Emperor was the head of the state. He was the lawmaker, the chief executive, the commander-in-chief of the army and the final dispenser of justice. His ministers and nobles could advise him but he was the final arbiter in everything. From the time of Akbar, the emperor was regarded as God’s representative on earth.
That is why Akbar started practices like Jharokha Darshan (a predominantly Hindu practice where the king appeared on the balcony in full regalia for the view of the public) and Tula Dan (weighing of the emperor on his birthdays in gold and silver and then distributing them as alms to the poor). Thus, the theory of kingship of the Mughals was near to the Hindu theory of kingship.
By concentrating all powers in their hands and believing that the king was the representative of God on earth, the Mughal emperors were perfect despots. But, they were enlightened, benevolent despots who believed that the foremost duty of a king was to look after the welfare of his subjects. Every Mughal emperor, including Aurangzeb, worked very hard to attain this object.
The Prime Minister (Vakil-i-mutlaq; Diwan)
Akbar gave this post to Bairam Khan whereby, he was the protector of the state and was above all other ministers with the right of even appointing and dismissing them. But no other man was given these powers after the fall of Bairam Khan. The Prime Minister’s functions were over to the Diwan or the Finance Minister who was made equivalent to the Prime Minister.
Primarily, the Diwan looked after the income and expenditure of the state. Besides, he looked after the administration in absence of the emperor from the capital and commanded the army on occasions. The prime minister supervised the working of other departments, collected news from provinces, dispatched orders of the emperor to governors and looked after the correspondence of the state.
The Mir Bakhshi
He was in charge of the military department. In no way, he was the commander-in-chief of the army. He managed the recruitment of the soldiers, maintained their huliya, looked after the branding of the horses and the elephants, looked after all sorts of supplies to the army and training of the soldiers. He also deputed Mansabdars for the security of the palace and changed them every day. He was also the head of the nobility and was the head of all Mansabdar affairs.
Sadr-us-Sadur (Chief Sadar)
He advised the emperor on religious matters. He looked after charity, religious education, distribution of jagirs to scholars and observance of the laws of Islam by the Muslims. Sometimes the posts of Sadr-us-Sadur and chief Qazi were combined.
The Chief Qazi
Though the emperor was the highest judicial authority in the state, yet, he was assisted by chief Qazi at the capital. While the muftis interpreted Islamic laws, the chief Qazi declared the judgement. He also appointed Qazis in provinces, districts, etc.
The Muhtasib
He looked after the moral development of the subjects, particularly it was his job to see that the Muslims observed Muslim laws. He also checked drinking of liquor, gambling and illegal relations between men and women. He also kept control over weights and measures and observed that articles were sold in the market at proper prices. During the reign of Aurangazeb, he was assigned the responsibility of destroying the schools and temples of the Hindus.
Khan-i-Saman
He was not a minister during the reign of Akbar but was ranked as one of the ministers after him. He looked after the personal necessities of the emperor and his family and also that of the palace. One of his important duties was to manage the royal Karkhanas or workshops which manufactured articles necessary for the royal household.
Mir-i-Atish or Daroga-i-Topkhana
He was incharge of the artillery of the emperor. It was an important office and was mostly assigned to a Turk or a Persian.
Daroga-i-Dak-chauki
He was the head of the spy department of the state. He collected news from various Vaqia-i-navises and Khufia-navises who were appointed by him in provinces and elsewhere. He had to keep the emperor informed about every important affair within the empire.