jāgīrdār systemArticle Free Pass jāgīrdār system, form of land
tenancy developed in India during the time of Muslim rule
(beginning in the early 13th century) in which the collection of
the revenues of an estate and the power of governing it were
bestowed on an official of the state. The term was derived by
combining two Persian words: jāgīr (“holding land”) and dār
(“official”). The bestowal of a jāgīr on a jāgīrdār could be
either conditional or unconditional. A conditional jāgīr
required in reciprocity from the beneficiary some form of public
service, such as the levying and maintaining of troops for the
benefit of the realm. An iqta (assignment of land) was usually
made for life, and the jāgīr would revert to the state on the
death of the holder, though it was possible for the heir to
renew it on payment of a fee. The system was introduced by the
early sultans of Delhi. Being feudalistic in character, it
tended to enfeeble the central government by setting up quasi-
independent baronies. The practice was s