Q92 · UPPSC Prelims 2018 · Set B · General Studies

← Q91 Q93 →

The term 'chakla' has been used in Medieval Indian History sources. This was

A Identical to Paragnah
B Identical to Sarkar
C Territorial unit between Subah and Paragnah, but not identical to Sarkar
D None of the above

Correct answer: (c) Territorial unit between Subah and Paragnah, but not identical to Sarkar

Explanation

  1. A

    Identical to Paragnah

    A pargana was a cluster of villages, smaller than a sarkar. Chakla was not simply identical to pargana. This option is not the key.

  2. B

    Identical to Sarkar

    Sarkar was the Mughal district under a subah. Chakla is not treated as a mere synonym of sarkar in the keyed definition. This option is therefore wrong.

  3. C

    Territorial unit between Subah and Paragnah, but not identical to Sarkar

    In later Mughal and Nawabi usage, especially in Bengal and Awadh, a chakla was an intermediate territorial unit between the subah and the pargana, and it was not identical to the sarkar. That is the stored definition. This option is the official key.

  4. D

    None of the above

    A recognised meaning exists, so none of the above is incorrect. This option is not the key.

Summary. Official key is (c) Territorial unit between Subah and Paragnah, but not identical to Sarkar. Subah, sarkar, pargana and village form the familiar Mughal ladder; chakla appears as an extra rung in some regions and periods. It is neither just a pargana nor simply another name for sarkar. Only (c) states that intermediate status.