Explanations:The Delhi Sultanate, which ruled large parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 13th to the 16th century, had a complex administrative system. One of the key features of this system was the iqtadari system, which involved the granting of iqtas (land assignments) to officials in exchange for military service. The officials who were granted these iqtas and collected the revenues from them as their salary were known as Muqtis.
The iqtadari system was a form of land grant system where the Sultan would assign a certain area of land to an official, known as an iqtadar, who would then appoint a lower-ranking official, the Muqti, to manage the land and collect the revenues. The Muqtis were responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting taxes, and providing military service to the Sultan. In return, they were allowed to keep a portion of the revenue collected from the land as their salary.
It is important to distinguish between the roles of different officials in this system. Iqtadars were higher-ranking officials who were granted iqtas, but they did not necessarily collect the revenues themselves. Instead, they appointed Muqtis to manage the land and collect the revenues. Zamindars, on the other hand, were landholders who collected revenue from peasants but were not part of the iqtadari system. Bandagans were slaves or servants and did not have the role of collecting revenues as salary in exchange for military service.
Understanding the roles and functions of these officials is crucial for comprehending the administrative structure of the Delhi Sultanate. The Muqtis played a significant role in the revenue collection and military service system, which was a key aspect of the Sultanate's governance.