In Akbar's revenue system, land that had lain fallow for three or four years was called:

In Akbar's revenue system, "chachar" was land that had lain fallow (uncultivated) for three or four years.

The four categories of land:

• NCERT explains that the Ain-i-Akbari classified land into four categories, according to how continuously it was cultivated.
• Chachar: land that has lain fallow for three or four years.
• Banjar: land that has remained uncultivated for five years and more.
• The other two categories covered land cultivated every year and land left fallow for a short time to recover its fertility.
• The two last categories (chachar and banjar) were divided into three grades: good, middling and bad.

Revenue on chachar land:

• Chachar and banjar lands paid lower revenue rates at first.
• The rate was increased gradually over a few years, until it reached the full rate.
• This encouraged peasants to bring fallow and waste land back under cultivation, which increased the total revenue of the state in the long run.

Akbar's revenue administration:

• His revenue system was based on the measurement of land ("zabt").
• The revenue was fixed on the basis of average produce and prices over ten years.
• The state's share was about one-third of the average produce.

Officials:

• "Amil-guzar": the revenue collector.
• "Qanungo": the official who kept records of land.
• "Patwari": the village accountant.

NCERT on the importance of agriculture:

• NCERT notes that land revenue was the economic mainstay of the Mughal empire.
• It was therefore vital for the state to create an administrative apparatus to ensure control over agricultural production.
• The state tried to extend cultivation by giving loans (taqavi) to peasants and by encouraging the cultivation of cash crops.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Polaj and parauti were other categories of land.
• ✗Khud-kashta were resident peasants, not a category of land.