ABSTRACT
The history of Indian administration through the ages can be divided into three periods, ancient India, medieval India and the British period, which continues to be the foundation on which the current public administration system is built. The Turko-Afghan Sultans for all practical purposes were perfect autocrats, and their word was law. The real source of Sultan's authority was military strength. The Turko-Afghan machinery of administration was military and feudal in character and, was not established on the goodwill and support of people. Akbar's political genius was largely responsible for establishment of Mughal administration, on ideas and principles different than Sultans of Delhi. Mughal rule was essentially military in nature; every officer had to be enrolled in the army list. The Mughals unified India and established a strong central government. At the end of Akbar's reign, almost the whole of India was integrated as one unit and there was fair amount of political stability and administrative unity.
