In the STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION COMBINED GRADUATE LEVEL EXAM, some questions are asked from the History section. So following we are presenting the topic “Important Officers of the Mauryan Period” from the history section. It may help the candidate who is preparing for the SSC CGL exam.
Brief Description Of Mauryan Officers-12th-long
- Mauryan administration has an important place in Indian administrative history.
- It was the first centralized government system in India. The king was the Central point of administration.
- The king was the head of the executive, legislature and judiciary.
- A book called Indica shows that the bodyguards of Chandragupta Maurya were women.
- In the Arthashastra of Kautilya, there is a mention of the Council (Council of Ministers) of the Mauryan king.
- The members of the Council of Ministers were elected from amongst the Amatyas using a test of merit.
- The members of the Council of Ministers used to get an annual salary of 12000 panas.
- Information about the Prime Minister, Purohit, Senapati, Sannidhata and Yuvraj is also given in the Arthashastra. All of them used to advise the king.
- There are descriptions of 18 types of pilgrimages (officers) in the Arthashastra.
Following are the descriptions of some of the prominent officers of the Mauryan period –
Officer |
Related Department And Work |
|---|---|
| Amatya | This was a group of Officers |
| Astynomoi | This was the chief officer of the city |
| Agronomoi | This was the chief official of road construction. |
| Rupadarshaka | This was the chief officer who checked the coins |
| Gopa | It was the official between the district and the village. |
| Sthanika | It was the official to collect land revenue from the villages. |
| Dhamma Mahamatra | Its function was to spread the Dhamma among the people. They are mentioned in the 5th inscription of Ashoka. He was appointed by Emperor Ashiq in the 14th year of his coronation. |
| Rajjukas |
This was the chief officer of the district. He was also given judicial rights by Emperor Ashoka on the 26th year of his coronation They are mentioned in the third inscription of Emperor Ashoka. |
| Yukta | It was the revenue officer under the Rajjuk. They are mentioned in the third inscription of Emperor Ashoka. |
| Prativedika | This officer used to reach the matter of the public to the king. They are mentioned in the 6th inscription of Emperor Ashoka. |
| Brijbhumika | This was the officer who took care of the animals. He is mentioned in the 12th-long inscription of Emperor Ashoka. |
| Stree Mahamatya | This was the head office of the department related to women. They are mentioned in the 12th-long inscription of Emperor Ashoka. |
| Mahamatyapasarpa | This was the head officer of the intelligence department. |
| Antah-Mahamatya | These officers used to go to the border regions for the promotion of Dhamma. They have been mentioned in the 12th inscription of Ashoka. They have been mentioned in the 12th long inscription of Emperor Ashoka. |
| Sanstha | Intelligence Officer |
| Udayasthiti | These were spies living in the guise of a sanyasi. |
| Grihapatik | These were spies living in the guise of a farmer. |
| Vaidehaka | These were spies living in the guise of a merchant. |
| Tapas | These were spies living in the guise of ascetics. |
| Sanchara | These were itinerant spies. |
| Satri | These were specially trained spies. |
| Tikshna | These were brave spies. |
| Rashad | These spies were cruel |
| Rakshina | In Kautilya’s book Arthashastra, the Mauryan police have been called Rakshina |