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UPSC Prelims 2025 GS Paper 1, question 19

Topic: Ancient history

Q19

Ashokan inscriptions suggest that the ‘Pradeshika’, ‘Rajuka’ and ‘Yukta’ were important officers at the

  1. (a) village-level administration
  2. (b) district-level administrationCorrect answer
  3. (c) provincial administration
  4. (d) level of the central administration

Solution.

Answer: (b) district-level administration

  1. Ashoka's 3rd Major Rock Edict mentions the 'Yuktas', 'Rajukas', and 'Pradeshikas' going on quinquennial inspection tours (anusamyana) across their jurisdictions.
  2. In Mauryan administration, these three functionaries served as district-level (ahara/vishaya) revenue, judicial, and executive officers below the provincial Viceroy (Kumara/Aryaputra).