Q. Consider the following administrative reforms introduced by the statesman Mahmud Gawan in the Bahamani Sultanate during the reign of Muhammad Shah III:
1.He restructured the provinces (Tarafs) by decreasing their size and number to curb the power of the provincial governors (Tarafdars).
2.He reserved substantial tracts of land (Khalisa) for the central government to ensure direct income for royal expenses, reducing the king’s dependence on the nobles.
3.He introduced detailed land surveys and measurement, moving towards a standardized and rational assessment of land revenue.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: B
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Incorrect. Gawan restructured the provinces, but he increased their number from four to eight, making them smaller and thus reducing the power of any single Tarafdar.
- Statement 2: Correct. Expanding the Khalisa was a central tenet of his reforms, vital for the financial health of the central government.
- Statement 3: Correct. Gawan’s introduction of scientific land measurement and classification marked a significant improvement in the revenue administration, similar to early reforms in Delhi.
