Waqianavis means news-reporter. The Muslim rulers of India instituted a system of collecting information about happenings in various parts of the empire, which may conveniently be called espionage system. In the Mughal period, akbar first introduced the system of appointing waqianavis for collecting information.

The waqianavises were appointed in different provinces, and they were made independent of the provincial governors. The system continued till the end of the Mughal rule, though the efficiency of the holders of the office varied from time to time. [Abdul Karim]