The right to levy Chauth andSardeshmukhi in Deccan and South India was the condition on which Marathas agree to serve the Mughal king with a cavalary contingent of 15,000 in early 18 th century. Chauth was 25 per cent of the land revenue claimed by zamindars. Sardeshmukhi was 9-10 per cent of the land revenue paid to the head revenue collector in the Deccan.