Describe the economic measures undertaken by the Mauryan rulers. Was their economic policy successful?10M

 Introduction: 

The phase from c 325 to 187 BCE is well known to have been dominated by the Mauryan Empire in early Indian history. It was a pan-Indian empire. Such a large empire was supported by the large and permanent Army as well as the large bureaucratic administrative system. These two things naturally necessitated the availability of a huge amount of resources. This led the Mauryan ruler to adopt the economic policy of direct state control over the economic activities of the phase. 

Major sources of Economic development to understand Mauryan period:

Economic developments in the light of the following sources of information. These are as follows  Accounts of Diodorus Siculus (late2nd century BCE),  Strabo’s Geographikon (late 1st century BCE)  Arrian’s Indika (CE 1st/2nd century )  Megasthenes’s Indika (contemporary to Chandragupta Maurya)  The Arthasastra of Kautilya (said not before the 1st or 2nd century CE)  Inscriptions of Asoka Maurya.

Agriculture :

The Mauryan economy was mainly dependent on agriculture. A large part of the government income came from land revenue. Therefore, importance was given on efficient collection of revenue. The farmers or landowners had to pay a variety of taxes to the state. For instance :According to the Arthaśāstra, water-tax was collected from the cultivator. It was called udakabhāga. The rate of water-tax depended on how the water for irrigation was taken.

land revenue

Gradually, private ownership of land was allowed. A vast area of wasteland and crown lands was cultivated under the supervision of the state. From the account of Megasthenes we come to know that it was the responsibility of the state to clear new areas or deserted land and to settle the shudra cultivators. These cultivators were initially exempted from paying tax, but once they started working on the land, a tax was imposed. 

There were two types of land revenue. The first one was rent for the use of land and the second was based on the assessment of the produce. The assessment varied according to local condition or the productivity of the soil. The sources mention a range from one sixth to a quarter of the produce of the land. We find mention about different types of taxes. One such was Pindakara which was collected jointly from a village. Pastoralists also had to pay tax on the number of animals and also on their produce

2 Irrigation

It is to be noted that the agrarian development was due to irrigation. The task of irrigation was entrusted to the Agoranomois, high-ranking officers. They controlled udakabandha (sluice) in order to regularly supply the required amount of water to the field. It is learnt that a water reservoir was caused to be built up during the period of the Mauryan king Chandragupta Maurya. It was called Sudarshan Lake situated at Junagarh in Gujarat.

3 Industries 

According to the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya, mines and mining productions / industries were under the state control. It was exercised by the Ākaradhyakṣa. This officer was to have the expertise on metallurgy and mining. Kautilya also advised the king to take up the task of mining which was less expensive. But in the case of expensive mining the king was advised to welcome the private enterprise. But it was conditional. The condition was that a certain part of the mining production was to be given to the royal exchequer. It was called bhāga. 

 4.Weaving and Liquor

The state also played its role in the production sectors of weaving and liquor. These two sectors were under the supervision of the Sūtrādhyakṣa and Surādhyakṣa as found in the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya. The Sūtrādhyakṣa supervised the production of cotton-thread in the state farms. In this task the female labourers were employed in the farms. Their wages were fixed on the basis of how much yarn they could produce within the stipulated time. In these two sectors also the private enterprise was welcomed but with administrative attention thereto. And the production of the industrial goods of lesser importance was under the state control through the imposition of taxes thereon.

Trade and Commerce

Besides agriculture, craft and trade were also two important economic activities of the Mauryan Empire. Some artisans were employed by the state and they were exempted from tax. Armourers and shipbuilders came under this category. Others, who worked in state workshop, had to pay taxes. The rest of the artisans worked either individually or as part of a guild called Shreni or Puga. These associations helped the state in tax collection

Coinage

One can understand the development of trade and commerce in the light of the use of coins during the Mauryan rule. The Kārṣapaṇa coins were used in the kingdom of the Mauryas during the period from the fourth to the second centuries BCE. Cast coins were also used. The metal standard, weight and purity of the coins were much regulated. The use of the coins was under the control of the Mauryan administration. It is learnt that the coins bearing the symbol of the peacock sitting on the gate have been found from north-western India, central India, northern Deccan, Gangetic valley and north Bengal. It is said that such symbolbearing coins belonged to the Mauryas. The officer called Rūpadarśaka was in charge of making coins for the state. It is not difficult to understand that the use of coins facilitated the development of trade and commerce during the rule of the Mauryas in early India.

Was their economic policy successful?

• The development of agriculture, industries, trade and commerce under the control of the Mauryan state continued the process of urbanization during the period. It is well known that Pāṭaliputra became a large urban centre with a well organized administrative system. The city had an administrative department that looked after the foreigners. 

•  Urbanization took place in the east during the time of the Mauryas. This is supported by the epigraphic record from Mahasthan in the Bogra district of northern Bangladesh. The inscription refers to the well fortified city of Puḍanagala or Puṇḍranagara. 

• The archaeological remains of Puṇḍranagara have been brought to light by K. N. Dikshit. The remains include terracotta images of the Mauryan times, semi-precious stone beads, cast coins, Black Polished Ware materials, iron implements etc. In this context mention may be made to the Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra. The text points out how the administrative area, trading zone and residential area are to be developed in different parts of the Durga. Urbanization also reached Odisha and the Deccan. It was possibly because of the administrative purposes of the Mauryas

Conclusion:

It therefore appears that the Mauryan state introduced such an economic system which controlled agriculture, industries and trade and commerce. Thus the control of the state brought about economic development during the period under discussion. But at the same time the Mauryan state also allowed the entry of private enterprises to some extent. The administrative system the Mauryas introduced provided them with a great scope to collect wealth. The Mauryas successfully collected taxes/revenues. Their success in the collection of wealth gave rise to the rich treasury (Kosa) of the state. However the conducive economic environment created by the Mauryas continued the process of urbanization.