Iqta

noun

/ɪqˈtɑːʕ/

An administrative practice in Islamic states whereby the right to collect tax revenue from a designated territory was assigned to a military officer (iqtadar) in lieu of a cash salary.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The Delhi Sultanate's reliance on the iqta as a fiscal-military instrument allowed Iltutmish to remunerate his nobility without depleting the treasury, yet its non-hereditary character meant that the centralisation of power perpetually hinged on the Sultan's ability to transfer and resume such assignments at will.

Synonyms

land-revenue assignmentfiefjagirprebendbeneficegrant

Antonyms

milk (private freehold)allod (allodial ownership)patrimony

🌱 Word Family

iqtadar (n, related), muqti (n, related Arabic-Persian form)

🔡 Root

Arabic iqṭāʿ (إقطاع) = allotment of revenue; root qaṭaʿa (ق-ط-ع) = to cut off, to allot

📜 Etymology

From Arabic iqṭāʿ (إقطاع), derived from the root qaṭaʿa (ق-ط-ع), meaning "to cut off" or "to allot," signifying the assignment of a portion of revenue.

🧠 Memory Hook

Iqta shares the Arabic root q-ṭ-ʿ 'to cut' - think of the Sultan 'cutting off' a slice of revenue and handing it to an officer, who never owns the land but only collects from it.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Prelims 2019 — Medieval India

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Iqta” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

🏛️ History & Culture 📖 Seen in: Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)

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