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Difficulty: HardAncient Indian Civilizations and Early Empires

Match the key administrative officials of the Mauryan Empire listed in List-I with their corresponding administrative functions in List-II as outlined in Arthashastra and Mauryan governance records:

  • SamahartaAssessment and general collection of state revenues and taxes
  • SannidhataCustody of the royal treasury, storehouses, and state granaries
  • VyavaharikaPresiding judge over civil courts (Dharmasthiya)
  • AntapalManagement and defense of frontier forts and border entry posts

Answer

Samaharta matches with assessment and collection of state revenue; Sannidhata matches with custody of the royal treasury and storehouses; Vyavaharika matches with presiding judge over civil courts; and Antapal matches with management and defense of frontier forts.
The correct matches accurately reflect the central administrative framework of the Mauryan state: Samaharta collected revenue, Sannidhata kept custody of state funds and grain, Vyavaharika led civil judicial proceedings, and Antapal guarded imperial frontier forts.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the fiscal administration roles in Kautilya's Arthashastra.
Identify Samaharta as the chief revenue collector and Sannidhata as the chief treasurer.
Mauryan central governance clearly separated the collection of state taxes (Samaharta) from the custodian storage of physical reserves and granaries (Sannidhata).
2
Examine the judicial designation in urban and imperial administrative hierarchies.
Identify Vyavaharika as the judge presiding over Dharmasthiya civil courts.
Civil litigation was handled by judicial officers called Vyavaharika, distinct from criminal judges known as Pradeshta.
3
Identify the border administration officer responsible for territorial security.
Match Antapal to the defense and security of frontier fortresses.
Antapal monitored border movement and protected outer provincial gateways into the Mauryan heartland.

Key Concept

Mauryan Imperial Administration and Administrative Terminology
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Ancient Indian Civilizations and Early Empires

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