Question

Which type of land was Polaj during the Mughal period ?

• A. Barren Land
• B. Land capable of round the year production
• C. Very little fertile land
• D. Land usable after three-four years

Hint:

Memorize the four Mughal land classifications: Polaj (annual cultivation), Parauti (fallow for 1-2 years), Chachar (fallow for 3-4 years), and Banjar (fallow for 5+ years). This helps in quickly identifying the correct answer in related questions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
During the Mughal era, particularly under Emperor Akbar's reign, a sophisticated land revenue system was established. Land was classified based on its fertility and frequency of cultivation to ensure a fair assessment of taxes.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The Mughal administration categorized land into four main types:
1. Polaj: This was the most fertile land which was cultivated every year for each crop in succession and was never allowed to lie fallow.
2. Parauti: This was land that was temporarily left out of cultivation for a year or two to recover its fertility.
3. Chachar: This was land left fallow for three to four years.
4. Banjar: This was the least fertile land, which was left uncultivated for five years or more.
Based on these classifications, 'Polaj' was the ideal type of land that was capable of production throughout the year.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the correct description of Polaj land is 'Land capable of round the year production'. This corresponds to option (ii) in the original image, which is option (B).