Amin
Topic: Mughal Agrarian Society and Economy · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Peasants, Zamindars and the State"
Meaning
The amin was a Mughal official whose job was to make sure that imperial regulations were carried out in the provinces. Many of these rules were about land revenue, the empire's main source of income. So the amin helped turn the emperor's revenue orders into real practice in the countryside.
Example
Akbar laid down rules for assessing and collecting land revenue, including a preference for cash with payment in grain kept open. Amins checked that revenue officials in the provinces followed these rules.
Don't confuse with
- Amalguzar (amil-guzar): The amalguzar collected the revenue. The amin made sure the regulations were followed.
- Diwan: The diwan headed the finance department, and the revenue system was run from his daftar (office).
Related concepts
- Mughal land revenue system
- Jama
- Hasil
- Amalguzar
- Kankut
- Batai
- Khet-batai
- Lang batai
- Classification of lands under Akbar
- Polaj