In Akbar's system of measurement, the standard yard (gaz) was divided into 24 equal parts, each called a:

In Akbar's system of measurement, described in the Ain-i-Akbari, the standard yard (gaz) was divided into 24 equal parts, each called a "tassuj".

About the gaz-i-Ilahi:

• Akbar introduced a standard yard called the "gaz-i-Ilahi" (the divine yard or Akbar's yard), to bring uniformity to the measurement of land and buildings.
• It was about 33 inches (about 84 cm) long.
• It replaced the "gaz-i-Sikandari" of Sikandar Lodi and other earlier measures, which varied from place to place.
• It was divided into 24 tassujes.

Measuring land:

• Land was measured with a "jarib", a measuring rod or chain.
• Earlier, ropes were used, which could shrink or stretch depending on the weather.
• Akbar introduced a jarib made of bamboo pieces joined by iron rings, which gave more accurate measurements.
• The standard unit of area was the "bigha", which was divided into "biswas" (20 biswas = 1 bigha).
• A bigha was 60 gaz by 60 gaz (3,600 square gaz).

Importance:

• Uniform measures were essential for the zabt system of revenue, which was based on the measurement of land.
• They also helped in building, trade and administration.
• The gaz-i-Ilahi continued to be used in north India until the British period.

About the Ain-i-Akbari:

• It contains detailed information on weights, measures, prices, wages and revenue rates of Akbar's time.
• It is a valuable source for the economic history of Mughal India.

Units in medieval India:

• "Kos": a unit of distance (about 3-4 km); Sher Shah and the Mughals built kos minars (milestones) along the roads.
• "Ser" and "man": units of weight.

Why not the other options?

• ✗A biswa was a fraction of a bigha.
• ✗A jarib was a measuring rod or chain.
• ✗A bigha was a unit of area.