History • Ancient IndiaHard
Analyze the structural and economic characteristics of the Mauryan provincial administration as detailed in Kautilya's Arthashastra and epigraphical records: 1. The empire was divided into major provinces such as Uttarapatha Avantirdesha Kalinga and Prachyadesha each governed by a royal prince known as Kumara or Aryaputra. 2. The local administration at the village level was managed by hereditary village headmen called Gramika who operated entirely independent of central royal revenue officials. 3. Urban administration in metropolitan centers like Pataliputra was regulated by six boards consisting of thirty members overseeing industrial arts foreigners vital statistics and trade taxes. Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only✓ Correct Answer
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 2 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
💡 Solution & Explanation
The village headman called Gramika worked in close coordination with central revenue collectors and spies rather than operating independently making the second statement incorrect. The first and third statements are correct as provincial governance was entrusted to princes and urban administration under Megasthenes accounts was structured into six specialized municipal boards. Kautilya outlines a highly centralized bureaucratic apparatus across all tiers of governance.
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