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Why did Akbar give mansabdars land assignments called jagirs?

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Akbar A painting titled *Akbar Hunting* from a folio of *Akbarnama* (“History of Akbar”), late 16th century; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

Akbar utilized land assignments known as jagirs as a primary method to compensate his mansabdars—the officials who served as the backbone of the Mughal administrative and military bureaucracy.12

While Akbar preferred paying his officers in cash from the imperial treasury, he frequently used jagirs to manage the empire's financial obligations. Under this system, a mansabdar was granted the right to collect revenue from a specific piece of land. The official would retain an amount equivalent to their salary and remit the remaining balance to the state treasury.234

These assignments served several strategic purposes:
* Administrative Control: By frequently transferring jagirs from one officer to another, Akbar prevented officials from building local power bases or financial resources that could threaten the central government.12
* Centralization: The system ensured that mansabdars remained dependent on the emperor for their income and status, as their positions and land assignments were nonhereditary and subject to imperial oversight.12
* Incentivization: It allowed the emperor to offer lucrative careers to influential individuals, helping him secure the loyal service of diverse groups, including Rajput princes.2