Muqti
Also called: Iqtadar · Topic: Turkic Invasions and the Delhi Sultanate · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A muqti was a noble who held an iqta in the Delhi Sultanate. An iqta was a piece of territory given to a noble to manage. Muqtis are also called iqtadars. A muqti collected taxes from his iqta and used them to pay for his soldiers. Whatever was left had to be sent to the sultan's treasury. The post was not hereditary, which means a son did not inherit it. Muqtis were often moved to other iqtas, so they could not build up local power.
Example
Under Ala-ud-din Khilji, officials carefully checked muqtis' accounts. Muqtis who were caught taking more than their share were punished severely.
Don't confuse with
- Iqta: the iqta was the territory itself. The muqti was the person who held it.
- Zamindar: a zamindar usually held hereditary rights over land in his local area. A muqti's post was not hereditary and could be transferred.