In the Mughal classification of land described in the Ain-i-Akbari, the term 'polaj' referred to:

In the classification of land described in the Ain-i-Akbari, "polaj" was land that was cultivated annually for each crop in succession and was never allowed to lie fallow.

Akbar's classification of land:

• NCERT explains that the Ain-i-Akbari classified land into four categories, according to how regularly it was cultivated.
• Polaj: land annually cultivated for each crop in succession and never allowed to lie fallow; it was the best land and paid the full revenue.
• The other three categories covered land left fallow for a short time to recover its fertility, land left fallow for a few years, and land left uncultivated for five years or more.
• The revenue demand on each category was different.
• The first two categories were further divided into three grades (good, middling and bad), and the average produce of the three was used to fix the revenue.

Purpose of the classification:

• The classification helped the state assess the revenue fairly, according to the quality and productivity of the land.
• Land that was cultivated regularly paid the full rate, while land that had been fallow paid a lower rate for a few years, to encourage peasants to bring it back under cultivation.

Akbar's revenue system:

• It was based on the measurement of land, using a standard yard (gaz-i-Ilahi) and bamboo rods joined with iron rings, instead of ropes, which could shrink or stretch.
• The revenue was fixed on the basis of the average produce and prices of the previous ten years (the "dahsala" system).
• The state's share was about one-third of the average produce.
• The revenue was collected mainly in cash.

NCERT on the Ain:

The Ain-i-Akbari is the main source for these details.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Land left uncultivated for five years or more was a different category.
• ✗Land reserved for the emperor was khalisa.
• ✗Land given in charity was called madad-i-maash.