Which of the following administrative units was introduced during the reign of Shahjahan?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. Chakla.
The Chakla was an administrative unit introduced during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan. It functioned as a subdivision of a suba (province) and was made up of multiple parganas. The introduction of the chakla system aimed to improve administrative efficiency and ensure better revenue collection and local governance. Each chakla was managed by officials responsible for law enforcement, tax assessment, and public order. This reorganization helped Shahjahan strengthen Mughal control over the empire’s expanding territories by making the administrative structure more granular and manageable, especially in economically or strategically important regions.
Other Options:
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Mahals: These were revenue units used before the Mughal period and continued, but not introduced by Shahjahan.
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Paraganas: A traditional revenue and administrative unit dating back to the Delhi Sultanate and earlier.
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Subah: Introduced by Akbar as a major provincial division, not during Shahjahan’s reign.