The Mansabdar was a military unit within the administrative system of the Mughal Empire introduced by Akbar later used in all over in early modern India.
The system determined the rank and status of a government official and military generals.
Asad Yar Jung mentioned 66 grades of mansabdars, but in practice there were around 33 mansabs.
During the early reign of Akbar, the lowest grade was ten and the highest was 5,000 (later raised to 7,000 and 10,000).
Higher mansabs were given to imperial princes and Rajput rulers who accepted the suzerainty of the emperor.
There are occasion of foreigner appointed as Mansabdar, such as the case of an English man William Hawkins during the era of Jahangir.
During later years of his reign, Akbar introduced the ranks of zat and sawar in the system.
Irlos IV expressed the view that zat indicated the actual number of cavalry under a mansabdar besides other soldiers while sawar was an additional honour.
Therefore, if a mansabdar received the rank of 500 sawar he was given rupees one thousand additional allowance.
During the reign of Akbar, the mansabdars were asked to keep as many horsemen as were indicated by numbers of their ranks of sawar.
Till the middle of Akbar's reign, the highest rank an ordinary officer could hold was that of a commander of 5,000.
Both civil and military officers held mansabs and were liable to be transferred from one branch of the administration to another.
Each mansabdar was expected to maintain prescribed number of horses, elephants, and equipment, according to his rank and dignity.
In addition to meeting his personal expenses, the mansabdar had to maintain out of his salary a stipulated quota of horses, elephants, camels, mules and carts.
A mansabdar holding a rank of 5,000 had to maintain 340 horses, 100 elephants, 400 camels, 100 mules and 160 carts.
A record was kept of the description (‘huliya’) of each horseman under a mansabdar and branding (‘dag’) of horses to prevent corruption.
The troops raised by the emperor but not paid directly by the state and placed under the charge of mansabadars were known as Dakhili 1.