Q. Consider the following statements with respect to the state of Bengal, in the post-Aurangzeb era:

1. It was set up by Alivardi Khan and Murshid Quli Khan, who ruled it jointly for some time.
2. Due to the policies of the Bengal Nawabs, a new landed aristocracy was born in Bengal.

Which of the above is / are correct?
Answer: Only 2
Notes: Taking advantage of the growing weakness of the central authority, two men of exceptional ability, Murshid Quli Khan and Alivardi Khan made Bengal virtually independent. They freed Bengal from the central control but regularly sent tributes to the Emperor. Murshid Quli was the governor -and de facto ruler- of Bengal till 1727. Alivardi Khan made himself Nawab in the year 1739 only, after deposing the ruler of that time. So, statement 1 is incorrect. Bengal nawabs undertook many administrative reforms, one such new policy was the policy of revenue farming, ijaradari. Bengal nawabs were very stringent in collecting land revenue. As a result, many old zamindars were driven out and replaced by revenue farmers. In choosing the revenue farmer, they gave preference to local zamindars and Mahajanas. Thus, a new landed aristocracy was born in Bengal. Thus, statement 2 is correct.