The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c16.11

v4.c16.11

The conversion of the whole of the imperial territories into crown lands was a root and branch measure, amounting to nothing less than the complete change of the administrative system. It was aimed against the corrupt practices of the officers of state who, while extracting the last penny of revenue from their assignments, failed to maintain at full strength or to pay at a just rate the contingents for the support of which the assignments had been made. Akbar's intention was that his territories should be administered by his own revenue officials, and that his troops should be a standing army regularly paid at uniform rates from the imperial treasury.