The administration of the Ahom state was centrally organised by the first half of 17th century. The Ahom state depended upon forced labour. Those who were forced to work for the state were known as paiks. A census of the population was taken. Each of the village had to send a number of paiks by rotation.
People of densely populated areas were shifted to less populated areas. Ahom clans were thus broken up. Almost all adult males served in the army during war. At other time, they are involved in building dams, irrigation systems and other public works.
Ahom society was divided into class or khels, a khel controlled several villages. The peasant was given land by his village community, which even the king could not take it easily. Ahom society was very sophisticated. Poets and scholars were encouraged and given land grants.