In the administrative system introduced by Sher Shah Suri, the largest territorial unit under his direct control was placed under the charge of which chief officer of law, order, and revenue administration?

Introduction / Context:
Under Sher Shah Suri, the Sur Empire in North India saw significant administrative reforms. One important aspect of his system was the division of territory into units, each placed under trusted officers responsible for law and order, revenue collection, and local governance. This question tests your knowledge of the designation of the chief officer who headed a major administrative unit under Sher Shah's rule.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sher Shah Suri introduced a multi-tier administrative structure.
• Territory was divided into larger and smaller units for easier governance.
• Each unit had an officer with a specific title and defined responsibilities.
• The options list several well-known officer titles from medieval Indian administration.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this question, we must recall the names and roles of officers under Sher Shah Suri. The key offices included shiqdars (often written as shikadars), who were responsible for law and order and military duties, and munsifs, who handled judicial and revenue matters at the intermediate level. Other titles like mansabdar and faujdar are more strongly associated with later Mughal administration, especially under Akbar and his successors, not with Sher Shah's original system.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Remember that Sher Shah divided his empire into sarkars and parganas to streamline administration.2. At the important territorial level below the central authority, shiqdars (shikadars) played a key role in maintaining law and order and implementing the ruler's orders.3. Mansabdars, although very famous, were part of Akbar's mansabdari system and therefore belong mainly to later Mughal history.4. Faujdars also become prominent primarily under the Mughals as military commanders and district-level officers responsible for peace and security.5. The term Kasi has no recognised role in standard descriptions of Sher Shah Suri's administration.6. Since the shiqdar or shikadar is the correctly associated officer in Sher Shah's administrative framework, we identify 'Shikadar' as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard history references describing Sher Shah Suri's reforms consistently mention that each important territorial unit, especially at the pargana or sarkar level, was supervised by officers such as shiqdars for policing and military functions and munsifs for revenue and judicial duties. In contrast, the mansabdari system and faujdari posts are nearly always discussed in the context of Akbar and later Mughal rulers. This contrast confirms that 'Shikadar' is the most historically accurate choice among the given options.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Mansabdar: This title is primarily associated with Akbar's mansabdari system and not with Sher Shah Suri's administrative structure.
• Kasi: This is not recognised in standard lists of administrative posts under Sher Shah Suri and appears historically irrelevant in this context.
• Faujdar: Although a real Mughal office, the faujdar is more clearly connected with later Mughal administration and not characterised as the key chief officer under Sher Shah's system.
• None of the above: This is incorrect because 'Shikadar' is a historically valid officer title associated with Sher Shah Suri's administration.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse different medieval administrative systems, assuming that any well-known Mughal office such as mansabdar or faujdar must have existed under all rulers. Another common mistake is to ignore the specific time period and treat all medieval Indian rulers as having similar administrative titles. Failing to distinguish between Sher Shah Suri's reforms and Akbar's mansabdari system can easily lead to choosing the wrong option in such questions.

Final Answer:
The chief officer associated with a major administrative unit under Sher Shah Suri was the Shikadar.