The mansabdari system, introduced and organized systematically by Akbar, became the backbone of the Mughal administrative and military structure. It assigned officials a rank or mansab and determined their status, salary and military obligations. During the reigns of Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, the basic framework remained intact, but several changes were introduced to meet changing administrative, military and financial requirements. During Jahangir’s reign, the mansabdari system was modified through the introduction of the du-aspa and sih-aspa system. Under this arrangement, selected mansabdars were required to maintain a larger number of cavalrymen than indicated by their ordinary sawar rank. A mansabdar could therefore receive additional pay for maintaining two or three horses for specified numbers of cavalrymen. This provision was particularly useful for strengthening the cavalry without permanently increasing the numerical rank of every officer. Jahangir also continued Akbar’s practice of granting mansabs according to the ability, loyalty and importance of officials. The system