Role of landed intermediaries in revenue collection:

(i) Besides state officials various categories of intermediaries existed between the peasants and the state. These intermediaries played a curcial role in land revenue collection. They claimed revenue exemptions on their lands or a share in land revenue in return for the services rendered by them.

(ii) Prior to the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate there were raja, rajaputra, ranaka, mahasamanta etc. These were hereditary right holders connected with land. They collected land revenue from peasants of their respective areas, sent a part of it to the state and kept a part with themselves for their sustenance.

(iii) The state also granted tax-exempt land to Brahmans and temples. Land revenue from such areas were collected by these grantees.

(iv) During the Sultanate period, landed intermediaries continued to play an important role in revenue collection. Khuts (small landlords), Muqaddams (village headmen) and a group of intermediaries, such as rai, rana, rawats etc., enjoyed superior rights over land as compared to an average peasant. Alauddin Khalji tried to curtail the powers and shares of these groups. Later Delhi Sultans like Ghiyassuddin and Firoz Shah Tughlaq gave certain concessions to them.

(v) During the Mughal period rais, ranas, rawats and other such intermediaries were referred as zamindars. They were the people who had hereditary rights over the produce of the land.

(vi) The zamindars claimed a direct share in the peasants' produce. Their share varied from 10% to 25% in different parts of the country These claims co-existed in a subordinate capacity with the land revenue demand of the state. Zamindars also assisted the state and jagirdar in the collection of land revenue.

(vii) Iqta of the Sultanate period in a modified form became Jagir under the Mughals. Its holders (jagirdars) were paid through revenue assignments.

(viii) The muqaddams (in north India) and patels (in Deccan) acted as village head-men who were responsible for collection of revenue and maintenance of law and order in the village. For their services, they were granted revenue free village land.

(ix) The patwari (in north India) and kulkarni (in Deccan), who served as village accountants, were also paid similarly.