Question -
Answer -
The muqtis or iqtadar was a military commander appointed by the Khalji and Tughlug monarchs as governors of territories of varying sizes. These lands were called ‘Iqta’. The duties of the muqtis were as follows:
a. To lead military campaigns and maintain law and order in their iqtas.
b. The muqtis had to collect the revenues of their assignments as salary in exchange for their military services and had to pay their soldiers from these revenues.
c. Control over muqtis was most effective if their office was not inheritable and if they were assigned iqtas for a short period of time before being shifted.
d. Accountants were appointed by the state to check the amount of revenue collected by the muqtis. Care was taken that the muqti collected only the taxes prescribed by the state and that they kept the required number of soldiers.