With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs :

1. Aurang	—	In-charge of treasury of the State
2. Banian	—	Indian agent of the East India Company
3. Mirasidar	—	Designated revenue payer to the State

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

3 only

1, 2 and 3

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2020

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Pair 1 is incorrect. ‘Aurang’ in the context of Mughal and post-Mughal India, particularly concerning European trade, referred to a factory or depot, especially related to the collection and processing of goods like textiles, where weavers or producers delivered their output. It was not typically the in-charge of the State treasury, which was managed by officers like Diwan or Bakshi depending on the specific treasury (revenue, military payments, etc.). Pair 2 is correct. ‘Banian’ was a term used, especially by the British, for Indian merchants, brokers, or agents who assisted European traders in conducting business in India by acting as intermediaries. Pair 3 is correct. ‘Mirasidar’ (or Mirazdar) in South India referred to a holder of ‘miras’, a hereditary right to land or a share in village produce. Mirasidars were often the recognized landholders and were responsible for paying land revenue to the state.

‘Banian’ and ‘Mirasidar’ are correctly defined in the context of historical Indian economic and land systems.

The ‘Aurang’ system, particularly for indigo and cotton, was a significant part of the economic interaction between European companies and Indian producers. Mirasidars held a privileged position in the agrarian structure, often belonging to the dominant castes and having hereditary rights to cultivate land and collect dues.

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