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U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009

Ancient Revenue Administration

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

In ancient India, the irrigation tax was called-

Solution & Analysis

Answer: A

Concept The fiscal structure of ancient Indian kingdoms relied on specific taxes for infrastructure and resource usage, with distinct terms for land, water, and commodity taxes.

Explanation Bidakabhagam was the term specifically used for the irrigation tax. It represented the state's share of the agricultural produce grown on land irrigated by state-provided canals or wells.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Hiranya (Option B) referred to a tax paid in gold or cash rather than kind.
Logic 2: Udranga (Option C) was generally a tax related to water usage or boats in some contexts, but more specifically a land-based tax in others.
Logic 3: Uparnika (Option D) was an additional tax on pasture land or forest produce.

Active Recall

Question

How was Bidakabhagam typically collected?

Answer

It was typically collected as a specific percentage of the crop yield harvested from irrigated fields.

Core Insight

The existence of a specific irrigation tax indicates that ancient Indian states actively managed water infrastructure and expected a return on that investment.

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