The Mughal imperial administrative apparatus was effectively dependent on __________ .

The correct option is Nobles.

The administrative machinery of the Mughal Empire was heavily reliant on the nobility (nobles), who formed the core of the imperial ruling class.
The Mughal emperors created a highly structured bureaucracy where nobles held key positions in both the civil administration and the military services. Through the Mansabdari system, nobles were assigned ranks (mansabs) that determined their status, salary, and military obligations. They were responsible for maintaining troops, collecting revenues, and maintaining law and order in their respective territories (jagirs or subas). Without the active participation, military support, and administrative management of these nobles, the Mughal central government could not have effectively governed its vast empire. Therefore, the imperial administrative apparatus was fundamentally dependent on the nobility.