Taxation in medieval India

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This page examines the forms of taxation levied in India during the Middle Ages.

Contents

Ghari

Ghari was a tax on houses. It was introduced by Allauddin Khilji. [1]

Charah

Charah was a tax on grasslands used for grazing of animals. It was also introduced by Allauddin Khilji. [1]

Kharaz

Kharaz was a tax levied on the gross product of lands belonging to non-Muslims. It was introduced by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.

Ushraf

Ushraf was a tax levied on the gross product of lands belonging to Muslims.

Zakat/Sadka

Zakat was a religious tax levied on Muslims. [1] It was kept in the special treasury of Diwan-i-Rasalat headed by kabir-i-Mulk. [2]

Jizya

Jizya was a tax levied on non-Muslims and non-followers of Islam.

Khums

Khums was a tax which was 15 of the product (20%) if a person's earnings exceeded the expenditure needed for them and their family.

Sharab or Sharb

Sharab or Sharb was 110 of crop production levied on farmers to develop and maintain water supply facilities. It was introduced by Firuz Tughlaq. [3]

Vijayanagara Empire

In the Vijayanagara Empire, the government department responsible collecting the land revenue was called Athanave. The Vijayanagara emperors collected the taxes based on the soil fertility of lands. Tax on production was 16 of the gross product. It was paid either in the form of crops or money. Heavy taxes were levied on prostitution.

Turkish sultans and Guznavids followed the Hanafi School of Islamic jurisprudence as their monetary policy. The costs were very low in the time of Ibrahim Lodhi. In the Vijayanagar Empire the cost of goods was also low.

Zarib

Zarib was introduced by Murshid Quli Khan based on the unit bigha. It was collected as one quarter of the crop production. It was paid in any form.

Chauth and Sardeshmukhi

Shivaji collected these taxes outside of his territory. Chauth...' was 14 of the government revenue paid by Mughal officers. In addition to this, the sardeshmuki was another ten percent tax.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Vijeta competition APPSC Group II Paper – I General Studies Book page no. 505
  2. Vijeta competition APPSC Group II Paper – I General Studies Book page no. 509
  3. Vijeta competition APPSC Group II Paper – I General Studies Book page no. 507