With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?
- (a) Paragana—Sarkar—Suba ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) Sarkar—Paragana—Suba
- (c) Suba—Sarkar—Paragana
- (d) Paragana—Suba—Sarkar
Why the answer is (a)
• Mughal administration under Akbar divided the empire into Subas (provinces), each Suba into Sarkars (districts), and each Sarkar into Parganas (groups of villages).
• In ascending order of size, therefore: Pargana → Sarkar → Suba — option (a).
• Akbar created 12 Subas in 1580, later 15; a Subedar headed a Suba, a Faujdar a Sarkar, and a Shiqdar/Amil a Pargana.
• Options (b), (c) and (d) invert one or more levels of this hierarchy.
• Hence option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) Sarkar—Paragana—Suba
- Pargana is smaller than Sarkar, not larger.
- (c) Suba—Sarkar—Paragana
- This is descending order, not ascending.
- (d) Paragana—Suba—Sarkar
- Suba is the largest unit; Sarkar is smaller than Suba.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2021, held on 10 October 2021. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.