Consider the following statements with reference to the mahajana padas...
The taxes were an important source of revenue. Taxes from crops was most important as most people were farmers. The tax was fixed at 1/6th of what was produced. This was known as bhaga or a share.
Herders, hunters and gatherers were also expected to pay taxes in the form of animals and animal produce.
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Consider the following statements with reference to the mahajana padas...
Mahajana Padas were the early states that emerged in the 6th century BC in northern India. These states were ruled by monarchs and had a well-defined administrative system. Let's look at the given statements:
1. The rulers collected taxes on crops which was fixed at 1/5th of what was produced.
- This statement is incorrect. The Mahajana Padas did not have a uniform tax system. Taxes varied from region to region and were collected in various forms such as a share of the produce, labour, and cash.
- The tax on crops was not fixed at 1/5th of what was produced. The share of the produce that was taken as tax varied from region to region and from crop to crop. For example, in the Gangetic plain, the tax on rice was one-sixth of the produce, while on barley, it was one-twelfth.
2. Herders, hunters and gatherers were not required to pay taxes but provided forest produce to the raja.
- This statement is correct. The Mahajana Padas had a well-defined system of collecting forest produce. Herders, hunters, and gatherers were not required to pay taxes, but they had to provide the forest produce they collected to the king's officials.
- The forest produce included honey, wax, lac, resin, medicinal plants, and animal hides. This system ensured that the king had a regular supply of forest produce, which was essential for the economy and for the maintenance of the army.
In conclusion, option (c) is the correct answer as only statement 2 is correct.
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