Mauryan Bureaucracy
Role of Samaharta in Mauryan Administration
In the Mauryan administration, the Samaharta was the official responsible for the collection of revenue and the general supervision of the exchequer.
Primary Reference: NCERT Class 11 - Ancient India (R.S. Sharma)
Archived:
Updated:
Exam Year
2008
Evidence Source
Link ↗Who of the following was associated with the collection of revenue in Mauryan Mantriparishad?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008]
Detailed Solution & Historical Context
Concept
The Mauryan state was a fiscal heavy-weight with a centralized bureaucracy dedicated to taxing every possible economic activity.
Authentic Source Evidence
As per Kautilya's Arthashastra, the 'Samaharta' was the Collector-General responsible for preparing the budget and collecting taxes from various sources like mines, forests, and trade.
Analytical Breakdown
Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic
"What was the difference between Samaharta and Sannidhata?"
Samaharta was responsible for revenue collection and budgeting, while Sannidhata was the custodian of the collected treasury and stores.
Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip
"The role of Samaharta illustrates the sophisticated financial auditing and accounting systems utilized by the Mauryan central government."
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