The Mauryan Empire, which lasted from 321 B.C.E. to 185 B.C.E., was the first pan-Indian empire, encompassing much of the Indian subcontinent. It covered sections of modern-day Iran as well as central and northern India.

Following Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BCE, Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan dynasty, acquired the Punjab area from Alexander’s old empire’s southeastern boundaries.

Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, was Chandragupta’s Prime minister. He counselled him and contributed to the empire’s legacy. Kautilya is noted for producing the Arthashastra, a treatise on leadership and administration, in addition to being a political strategist. The Arthashastra explains how a state’s economics and authority should be organised.

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Central Administration:

The Mauryan government was a centralised power system with the king as the head among all the powers. However, the ruler got assistance from the council of ministers i.e., Mantri Parishad.

According to Kautilya, there are 7 elements of states (Saptanga theory): Raja (the king), Mitra (Friend), Durg (fort), Amatya (the secretaries), Janapada (territory), Kosha (the treasure) and Sena (Army).

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Military administration

Military administration is controlled by a board of 30 members divided into six committees of infantry, cavalry, elephants, chariots, navy, and transport. Two types of Detectives written about in Gudhapurushas/Detectives:

• Sansthan (stationary)
• Sanchari (wandering)

The primary attribute of the Mauryan administration was keeping a huge Military. Kautilya gave authority to all four Varnas to serve in the Military. According to Pliny, Mauryas kept an army of six lakh soldiers. Mauryans also maintained a Navy in their Military.

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Justice System

The ruler was at the head of judicial administration. In both villages as well as towns,  matters were settled by the Gramvardha and Nagarvyavaharika Mahamatras, respectively.

In the state, there were Rajukas who were equal to our modern district- magistrates. Kautilya mentions two other kinds of courts Dharmasthiya (Civil Court) and Kantakashodhana (Criminal Court).

Local Administration

Apart from the directly administered urban region, the empire was split into four provinces, each led by a prince or a member of the royal family (Kumara or Aryaputra). There were four provinces under Asoka: the Northern Province (Uttarapatha) with Taxila as its capital, the Western Province (Avantiratha) with Ujjain as its headquarters, the Eastern Province (Prachyapatha) with Tosali as its centre, and the Southern Province (Dakshinapatha) with Suvarnagiri as its capital.

The central province of Magadha, with its capital at Pataliputra, served as the kingdom’s headquarters. Some of the viceroy’s officials, like the Mahamattas, who went on tour every five years, were appointed by him.

• The village was the smallest administrative entity
• Gramika Villages enjoyed a great deal of autonomy
• Pradeshika referred to the governors of provinces or district magistrates
• Tax collectors who serve under Pradeshikas are known as Sthanikas
• Governors of forts, Durgapala
• Antapala: Frontier governors
• Lipikaras: Scribes Akshapatala/Accountant General

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Countryside administration:

The Arthashastra encourages an elaborate Local administrative structure. In countryside discussion, Kautilya recommends that the king needs to establish a headquarter to control the Local bodies:

• Dronamukha in a unit of 400 villages
• Karvatika in a unit of 200 villages
• Sangrahani in a unit of 10 villages

These local administrators worked on ground level

City Administration

Megasthenes’ description of city administration was most likely applicable to Pataliputra specifically. It suggested six committees of five members each, in charge of the following aspects:

• Industrial arts
• The leisure and surveillance of foreigners
• Preserving information of births and deaths
• Trade and commerce
• Supervising the general public sale of goods
• The tax collection on merchandise sold in the market

Ashoka’s engraving mentions Nagalaviyohalaka-Mahamatas as associated with the city administration. Arthashastra mentions a city administration officer called the Nagaraka, who had Sthanikas and Gopas under him.

Central Government System under Mauryan Administration

• The Mauryan government was known for being extremely centralised
• It all began with the Emperor wielding great power and being the source of all authority
• The state was governed by a council of ministers known as the ‘Mantriparishad’ , the ministers were then referred to as ‘Mantris’
• This Mantri council was led by a person known as the ‘Mantri Parishad-adhyaksha’
• Mahamattas are the titles given to some of the highest-ranking authorities
• There were also high-ranking officials known as Amatyas who served in administrative and judicial capacities
• The Adhyakshyas were divided into various departments and constituted into a secretariat
• Manufacturing, births and deaths, industries, foreigners, trade and sale of products, and sales tax collection were all monitored and documented by the government for smooth operations

Conclusion

As a result, there existed a clear hierarchy in terms of administration. Even now, most governments are motivated by such a government since Arthashastra continues to serve as a blueprint for improved governance. Foreign invasions and weak kings following Ashoka were the major causes of the empire’s downfall.