[Solved] Indian Feudalism and Bhoga | Early Medieval History

Consider the following statements regarding Indian Feudalism in the early medieval period:
1. The revenue assignments were called Bhoga.
2. The hereditary chiefs neither collected revenues nor assumed administrative powers.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

[UPSC CDS I 2014]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Indian feudalism (c. 600–1200 CE) was characterized by the granting of land revenue rights to officials and priests, leading to the fragmentation of political authority.

Authentic Source Evidence

Bhoga was the term used for the enjoyment of periodic land revenue assignments or 'use-rights' granted by kings. Unlike full ownership, it gave the grantee the right to collect taxes from a specific area.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Statement 1 is correct. Bhoga was a standard term for these feudal assignments in early medieval inscriptions.

Logic 2: Statement 2 is incorrect. The very essence of being a hereditary chief (Samanta) was the right to collect revenue and exercise administrative/judicial power over their specific territory.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What was the role of the 'Samanta' in this system?"

A Samanta was a vassal who provided military service and tribute to the King in exchange for the right to govern and collect revenue from a local region.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The rise of the 'Bhoga' system led to a weakened central authority and the emergence of a powerful class of local intermediaries."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Agrahara 4 Land Grants 4

Analysing authentic UPSC CDS Iprevious year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to Indian Feudalism helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Indian Feudalism and Bhoga revenue builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →

Consider the following statements regarding Indian Feudalism in the early medieval period:1. The revenue assignments were called Bhoga.2. The hereditary chiefs neither collected revenues nor assumed administrative powers. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?