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Difficulty: MediumMedieval Indian Dynasties, Administration, and Regional Kingdoms

With reference to the administrative structure and land revenue system under the Imperial Cholas, consider the following statements:

1. The empire was hierarchically organized into provinces called Mandalams, which were further subdivided into Valanadus, Nadus, and Kurrams.
2. Systematic land surveys and detailed land classifications were conducted during the reign of Rajaraja I to fix precise revenue assessments.
3. The central revenue department responsible for maintaining land tax records was known as the Diwan-i-Wazarat.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 2 onlyAnswer
  2. B
    2 and 3 only
  3. C
    1 and 3 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

Statements 1 and 2 only are correct.
The Chola empire maintained a highly structured administrative hierarchy consisting of Mandalams, Valanadus, Nadus, and Kurrams. King Rajaraja I ordered rigorous land revenue surveys to establish systematic tax rates based on productivity. The option indicating that statements 1 and 2 are correct correctly identifies these historical facts while excluding the incorrect statement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Statement 1 regarding Chola territorial administration.
Statement 1 is correct. The Chola state was divided into Mandalams (provinces), governed by royal princes or governors. Mandalams were divided into Valanadus (districts), which were further divided into Nadus (groups of villages) and Kurrams or Kottrams (individual villages or village clusters).
Verifying the territorial administrative hierarchy of the Imperial Cholas.
2
Analyze Statement 2 regarding land revenue surveys under Rajaraja I.
Statement 2 is correct. Rajaraja I (985–1014 CE) initiated extensive land surveys to measure agricultural land accurately, classify soil quality, and determine government revenue demand (Kadamai).
Assessing historical accuracy of Chola land measurement initiatives.
3
Analyze Statement 3 regarding the revenue department title.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The Chola land revenue department was called 'Puravuvari-tinaikkalam' (headed by Puravuvari-tinaikkalam-nayagam). 'Diwan-i-Wazarat' was the central finance/revenue department during the Delhi Sultanate.
Identifying term misattribution between South Indian medieval dynasties and Delhi Sultanate administrative institutions.

Key Concept

Chola Territorial Administration and Land Revenue Systems
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Topics

Medieval Indian Dynasties, Administration, and Regional Kingdoms

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