With reference to the city administration of Mauryan Empire, consider the following statements:

(i) Megasthenes put light on the Mauryan city administration.
(ii) The city council was divided into six committees.
(iii) City administration was well planned.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is: (c) i, ii, iii

Explanation:

• Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to Chandragupta Maurya, provided significant details about the Mauryan administration in his work Indica.
• He described that the city council of Pataliputra was systematically divided into six committees, each having five members.
• These committees managed various urban functions like sanitation, commerce, industries, registration of births and deaths, regulation of foreigners, and public works.
• The structure and responsibilities indicate that the city administration was highly planned and well-organized, reflecting efficient governance in the Mauryan era.

Information Booster:

• Megasthenes was a Greek envoy sent by Seleucus I to Chandragupta Maurya’s court.
• His book Indica is one of the earliest accounts describing Indian polity and city governance.
• The Mauryan capital Pataliputra was a large, fortified city with systematic planning.
• The six committees managed: (1) Industrial regulation, (2) Public health and sanitation, (3) Census and registration, (4) Commerce and trade, (5) Regulation of foreigners, and (6) Transportation and public works.
• Arthashastra by Kautilya also supports the idea of systematic administration during the Mauryan era.
• Urban planning included roads, drainage systems, and market supervision.