In the context of pre modern Indian land revenue systems, the term Upari refers to which one of the following?

Introduction / Context:
Understanding historical land revenue and tenancy systems is essential for examinations in Indian history. Various terms were used in different regions and periods to describe landholders, tenants and officials. The term Upari appears in the context of Maratha administration and needs to be correctly interpreted. This question asks what Upari refers to, so you must recall how it was used in land revenue records and what kind of rights were associated with it.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The term Upari appears in historical sources related to land tenure.
• The options associate it with proprietary tenure, tenancy, military positions and local headmen.
• Only one option correctly reflects its meaning in the Maratha period.
• We assume standard interpretations of Maratha land revenue terminology.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is the distinction between different types of land rights. In Maratha territories, there were hereditary landholders as well as tenants with more limited rights. The word Upari was used for tenants who cultivated land held by others, often on relatively insecure terms. Therefore, it is a category of tenancy tenure under the Maratha rule rather than a proprietary tenure, military rank or village office. Recognising that it fits into land revenue terminology rather than military or administrative titles helps eliminate the wrong options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Upari appears in discussions about agrarian relations and land revenue, suggesting a connection with land tenure rather than with soldiers or officials. Step 2: Evaluate Option A. Proprietary tenure under the Mughal rule is usually referred to by terms such as zamindar and jagirdar. Upari is not known as a Mughal proprietary category, so this option is incorrect. Step 3: Evaluate Option B. Historical studies of Maratha administration identify Upari as a tenant who cultivates land without full proprietary rights, which makes it a category of tenancy tenure under the Maratha rule. This matches the context in which the term is used. Step 4: Evaluate Option C. A soldier in the Maratha army would be referred to by other terms, such as silahdar or bargir, not Upari, so this option is incorrect. Step 5: Evaluate Option D. A village headman under the Mughals is often called a muqaddam or patel, not Upari, so this option is also incorrect. Step 6: Conclude that Option B is the only correct description of Upari.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this understanding by recalling that many texts on Maratha agrarian history describe Uparis as non hereditary tenants, sometimes paying rent to hereditary landholders or village communities. Their tenure is usually more precarious than that of pattadar or mirasdar landholders. In contrast, there is no widely recognised use of the term Upari to designate a specific military or administrative office. The consistent association of Upari with land cultivation and tenant status confirms that it belongs in the category of tenancy tenure.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• A category of proprietary tenure under the Mughal rule: This misplaces the term both in period and in function, since Upari is discussed mainly for Maratha times and refers to tenants, not proprietors.
• A soldier in the Maratha army: Maratha military ranks do not use Upari as a standard term.
• A village headman in the Mughal period: This is another misplacement; village headmen had different titles and Upari is not used in this sense.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes guess based on superficial resemblance of terms without recalling the regional and temporal context. Because land revenue history involves many unfamiliar words, it is easy to confuse them with military titles. Another pitfall is to ignore the specific mention of the Maratha rule in standard explanations and to wrongly assume a Mughal connection. Keeping track of which terms belong to which dynasty and whether they denote owners, tenants or officials is crucial to answering such questions correctly.

Final Answer:
In the context of Maratha administration, Upari refers to a category of tenancy tenure under the Maratha rule.