Dogra Administration, Revenue and Economy

Structure

• The Maharaja was the absolute ruler under British paramountcy.
• A Wazir (Diwan or Prime Minister) and ministers ran the departments. After 1889, a State Council advised.
• The State had three divisions: Jammu, Kashmir and the Frontier (Ladakh and Gilgit).
• A British Resident sat in Srinagar from 1885. Foreign affairs and defence stayed under the British.

Land and taxes

• The State claimed a large share of the crop. Revenue was often collected in kind and by revenue farmers.
• Jagirdars and muafidars held land free or at low rates.
• Taxes fell on shawls (dagshawl), marriage, grazing, trades and trees.
• Begar (forced labour), such as carrying loads for officials and soldiers, was hated.
• The Lawrence Settlement (1889 to about 1895) cut some of these burdens, but most peasants remained in debt. Later laws such as the Agriculturists' Relief Act tried to ease the debt.

Economy