Describe the revenue administration of mouryas

Hello Aspirant,

At the time of Chandragupta Maurya the Prime Minister was Chanakya. When Chanakya was writing the duties of collector-generals he also mentioned some items on which revenue should be implied. According to Arthashstra, the cities collected 21 various types of taxes. Commodities on which revenue is impled by Chanakya are described below :-

• A share of land output
• Other dues and cesses levied on land including a water-rate. The water rate varied according to the nature of the land and crop and tax on houses in towns.
• Income from crown lands, from forests, from mines and manufactures, some of them monopolies like salt, undertaken by government
• Customs at the frontiers and tariffs, tolls and ferry dues in the interior levied on merchandise in transport
• Profits of coinage and gains from trade operations carried on by the government
• Fees for licenses of various kinds to be taken out by artisans, craftsmen, professionals and traders
• Fines levied in law courts and
• Miscellaneous receipts like presents like transferred possession.

Mauryas granted some exemptions in land revenue for Brahmans, religious institutions and state officials.

Mauryas had created the worldwide trading relations due to which many foreign traders took up residence in Mauryan cities

I hope this answer helps you.

Good Luck!!