🏰 SAMPLE PAPER (CBSE BOARD PATTERN)

Class XII – History (Course B)

Chapter: Peasants, Zamindars and the State (Mughal Agrarian Society)

Time: 3 Hours | Maximum Marks: 80
No Copyright – Free for Education

🧾 General Instructions:

1. All questions are compulsory.
2. Answer each question according to the word limit.
3. Support your answers with relevant historical examples.

SECTION – A: Very Short Answer Questions (1 × 4 = 4 Marks)

(Answer each question in 30–40 words)

Q1. Who wrote Ain-i Akbari and what is its historical importance?
Answer:

• Ain-i Akbari was written by Abu’l Fazl during Akbar’s reign.
• It is a part of Akbarnama and provides detailed information on administration, economy, agriculture, revenue, and the social structure of the Mughal Empire.

Q2. Define the terms Khud-Kashta and Pahi-Kashta peasants.
Answer:

• Khud-Kashta: Resident peasants who cultivated their own land in their native village.
• Pahi-Kashta: Non-resident peasants who cultivated lands in other villages temporarily, often migrating for better opportunities.

Q3. What were the main crops grown during the Mughal period?
Answer:

• Food crops: Rice, wheat, barley, millets, and pulses.
• Cash crops: Cotton, sugarcane, indigo, and opium.
• New crops introduced after the 16th century included tobacco, maize, and chillies.

Q4. Who were Zamindars and what was their role in Mughal administration?
Answer:

• Zamindars were local landholders or intermediaries who collected revenue from peasants on behalf of the state.
• They maintained law and order, managed irrigation works, and acted as the link between the state and the rural population.

SECTION – B: Short Answer Questions (3 × 4 = 12 Marks)

(Answer each question in 100–120 words)

Q5. Describe the main features of village communities under the Mughals.
Answer:

• Villages were self-sufficient units where peasants, artisans, and labourers lived.
• Every village had a Panchayat headed by the Mukaddam and a Patwari who maintained records.
• The Panchayat resolved disputes, managed common resources, and ensured payment of taxes.
• Social hierarchy based on caste was strong; upper castes dominated village administration.
• Temples and mosques were the centres of community life.

Q6. Discuss the role of women in the agrarian society of the Mughal period.
Answer:

• Women actively participated in agricultural production – sowing, harvesting, winnowing, and cattle rearing.
• They also worked in household industries like weaving and food processing.
• According to local customs, women could inherit property in some regions, though their rights were limited.
• Islamic law (Shariat) also provided inheritance rights to women, but these were rarely implemented.
• Their labour was essential but often undervalued and unrecorded.

Q7. What was the role of forests and tribes in the Mughal agrarian economy?
Answer:

• Forests provided timber, honey, fruits, and wax — essential for both rural and urban markets.
• Tribal groups such as Bhils, Gonds, and Santhals practiced shifting cultivation and traded forest products.
• The Mughal state encouraged clearing of forests for agriculture to increase revenue.
• However, this led to conflicts with tribal communities, many of whom resisted Mughal authority.
• Over time, some tribal leaders were absorbed into the zamindari or military system.

Q8. Explain the significance of silver in the Mughal economy.
Answer:

• The 16th–17th centuries saw a huge inflow of silver from Europe and the New World (America) through trade.
• European traders brought silver to purchase Indian goods like textiles, spices, and indigo.
• This increased the monetization of the economy, as taxes and wages were paid in silver coins.
• Towns like Agra, Surat, Lahore, and Ahmedabad became thriving trade centres.
• It integrated India into the global economic network of the early modern world.

SECTION – C: Long Answer Questions (6 × 3 = 18 Marks)

(Answer each question in about 200–250 words)

Q9. Examine the features of the Mughal revenue system under Akbar.
Answer:

• Land Measurement (Ain-i Dahsala): Land was measured using the Bigha unit. Crops were classified into Rabi, Kharif, and Zaid seasons.
• Average Produce: The produce of 10 years was averaged to fix a standard rate.
• One-third Share: Peasants paid one-third of the average produce as tax (mal).
• Todar Mal’s Role: Raja Todar Mal reorganized revenue administration, ensuring uniformity and fairness.
• Zabt System: Standardized rates were compiled in the Ain-i Akbari.
• Assessment and Collection: Local officials like Amil-Guzar and Qanungo managed collection.
• The system ensured regular income for the state and protection for cultivators, balancing revenue and productivity.

Q10. Discuss the role and status of Zamindars in Mughal India.
Answer:

• Zamindars were intermediaries between the state and the peasants.
• They collected land revenue and remitted it to the state, keeping a portion as commission (nankar).
• They often controlled large estates, maintained armed retainers, and enjoyed local prestige.
• Many built temples, tanks, and mosques, enhancing their social status.
• However, their power sometimes led to conflicts with peasants and the state over excessive taxation.
• Despite tensions, Zamindars remained vital to Mughal governance as local administrators and patrons of rural economy.

Q11. Describe the main features of the Ain-i Akbari as a source of Mughal agrarian history.
Answer:

• Written by Abu’l Fazl (1590s), Ain-i Akbari is the third book of Akbarnama.
• It records administrative regulations, revenue rates, crop patterns, and regional yields.
• Provides data on soil classification, crop prices, revenue rates, and irrigation systems.
• Lists local customs, caste practices, and festivals – giving a social dimension.
• It was the first systematic attempt to create a statistical record of the empire.
• Although biased towards the imperial view, it remains the most detailed source for reconstructing Mughal agrarian structure.

SECTION – D: Source-based Question (5 Marks)

(Read the passage and answer the questions)

Source: (From Ain-i Akbari)

“The cultivators are industrious and pay the tax punctually. Agriculture depends on the proper distribution of water. Canals and wells are built by the joint efforts of villagers and officials. The state derives great profit from the increase in cultivation.”

Q12. (i) What does this passage tell us about the nature of Mughal agriculture?
Answer:
It highlights that agriculture was organized and productive, dependent on proper irrigation through canals and wells.

Q12. (ii) How was irrigation managed in villages?
Answer:
Irrigation was maintained collectively — both villagers and officials contributed labour and funds to construct and repair canals and wells.

Q12. (iii) What was the importance of agriculture to the Mughal state?
Answer:
Agriculture formed the economic backbone of the empire, providing the main source of revenue (mal) which financed administration and military expansion.

SECTION – E: Map-Based Question (5 Marks)

(On an outline map of India, mark and label the following)

1. Agra – capital city under Akbar
2. Lahore – important trade centre
3. Surat – major port city
4. Ahmadabad – textile hub
5. Bengal – major rice producing region

Answer Key:

• Agra – Uttar Pradesh
• Lahore – present-day Pakistan
• Surat – Gujarat coast
• Ahmedabad – Gujarat
• Bengal – Eastern India (modern West Bengal and Bangladesh)

SECTION – F: Essay Type Question (8 Marks)

(Answer in about 300–350 words)

Q13. “The Mughal agrarian system was a balance between state control and local autonomy.” Discuss.
Answer:
The Mughal agrarian system was designed to ensure both efficient revenue collection and local participation.

• State Control:
  • The emperor was considered the ultimate owner of all land.
  • Officials such as Amil, Qanungo, and Karori monitored tax collection.
  • The Zabt system standardized revenue rates across regions.
• Local Autonomy:
  • Village communities enjoyed autonomy through Panchayats.
  • Zamindars acted as intermediaries, managing local disputes and irrigation.
  • Peasants had hereditary rights to cultivate their land (raiyati rights).
• Balance and Conflict:
  • When the state imposed excessive revenue, peasants resorted to migration or rebellion.
  • The system worked best when the state and local elites cooperated.
• Outcome:
  • This structure ensured a stable agrarian base that supported urban growth, trade, and cultural development.
  • However, over-taxation and corruption weakened it in the 18th century.

Conclusion:
Thus, the Mughal agrarian system reflected a sophisticated balance between centralized authority and village self-governance — a hallmark of India’s early modern economy.