Consider the following statements regarding the provincial administration in the Mughal period and select the correct option.

Question

Consider the following statements regarding the provincial administration in the Mughal period and select the correct option.

Statement I: Each Suba was placed under a Subedar or provincial governor who was directly appointed by the Emperor.

Statement II: Daroga-i-Dak was responsible for maintaining the communication channel.

1. A. Both statements I and II are incorrect.
2. B. Statement I is incorrect, while statement II is correct.
3. C. Both statements I and II are correct. (Correct answer)
4. D. Statement I is correct, while statement II is incorrect.

Correct Answer

Option C — Both statements I and II are correct.

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Both statements I and II are correct.

Key Points

• Statement I is correct. The empire was divided into Subas (provinces), each under a Subedar or provincial governor directly appointed by the Emperor — a deliberate check that kept provincial power dependent on the centre.
• Statement II is correct. The Daroga-i-Dak headed the postal and communication establishment, maintaining the network of runners and relay posts that carried official despatches across the empire.

Additional Information

• Mughal provincial administration mirrored the centre. Alongside the Subedar sat the Diwan (revenue), Bakhshi (military pay and muster), Sadr (religious and charitable grants), Qazi (justice) and Kotwal (city law and order).
• Crucially these officers were appointed separately by the Emperor and reported independently, so the Subedar could not consolidate control — the same principle of divided authority that ran through the whole system.
• The administrative hierarchy ran Suba → Sarkar → Pargana → Gram, with a Faujdar in charge of a sarkar and a Shiqdar of a pargana.
• The Waqia-navis (news reporters) sent independent intelligence to the Emperor, complementing the Daroga-i-Dak's despatch network.