Question

short note on District administration of Mauryan empire

Answer 1

Provinces were sub­divided into districts for purposes of administra­tion, and a group of officials worked in each district. The group consisted of three major offi­cials, the pradesika, the rajuka and the yukta. These in turn were assisted by others. The status of the rajuka was subordinate to that of the pradesika.

Among the duties of the pradesika was included that of making a tour every five years to inspect the entire administration of areas under his control. The rajuka belonged to the depart­ment of administration responsible for surveying and assessing land. The yukta mentioned in Rock Edict III appears to have been a subordinate offi­cial. The duties of the yukta largely comprised secretarial work and accounting.

There was an intermediate level of administra­tion between the district level and that of the village. The unit here was formed by a group of five or ten villages. The two important officials concerned with the administration of this unit were the gopa and the sthanika. The gopa worked as an accountant to the unit. The tax was collected by the sthanika who worked directly under the pradesika.

Answer 2

Administration of the Mauryan empire:

• The Mauryan empire divided into different provinces. The provinces subdivided into districts and districts are divided into villages.

• The smallest group of administration is a village. The head of the district administration was the Pradeshika.

• Pradeshika was used to inspect the areas of the district for every five years.

• A group of people worked under him in every district. Rajuka and yukata are the remaining two officials in the Mauryan empire.

• Gopa and Sthanika are the two important officials who worked directly under the Pradeshika.