Satish Chandra Test: Chola Empire- 2 - UPSC MCQ

He introduced the tradition of beginning the cholaepigraphs with historical introductions. He streamlined the administrative system with the division of the country into various districts and by standardizing revenue collection through systematic land surveys. Being an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, he built the magnificent Peruvudaiyar Temple (also known as the Brihadeeswarar Temple) in Thanjavur and through it enabled wealth distribution amongst his subjects. His successes enabled his son Rajendra Chola I to extend the empire even further. 

E is the correct option. Rajendra Chola I was one of the most successful monarchs of the South Indian Chola Empire. To commemorate his victory over Mahipala, he built a new capital called Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Rajendra assumed many titles such as Mudigonda Cholan, Irattapadikonda Cholan, Gangaikondachola, Panditachola, etc.

All the other statements are correct regarding  the administration of the Cholas.

The Chola Government during the imperial period in 850 – 1200 CE was marked for its uniqueness and innovativeness.

• It was divided into provinces and governors were princes of royal blood.
• The provinces, designated as the mandala was divided into divisions known asvalanadu.
• Groups of villages were known askurrams while the districts were known asnadus.
• Popular assemblies of masses were known as Sabha.

Chola kingdom was divided into provinces (mandalam), their being generally eight or nine of these. Each mandalam was divided into valanadus (or districts). These in turn were subdivided into groups of villages, variously called kurram, nadu, or kottam. In some villages, the ur and the sabha were found together. Valanadu village is located in Manapparai Tehsil of Tiruchirappalli district in Tamil Nadu, India. Kurram District is a district in Kohat Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. Until 2018, it was an agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas, with merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it became a district.

Sabha: Chola Village assembly restricted to the Brahmanas of the village.
Ur: The ur was a general assembly of the village. The ur consisted of all the tax-paying residents of an ordinary village.
Nagaram: The nagaramwas an assembly of merchants and belonged to the localities where traders and merchants controlled the stakes.

Uttarmerur inscription is a tenth-century inscription on a temple wall of the brahman village of Uttaramerur that gives the details of village administration or Sabha under Cholas. 

Sabha: Chola Village assembly restricted to the Brahmanas of the village.
Ur: The ur was a general assembly of the village. The ur consisted of all the tax-paying residents of an ordinary village.
Nagaram: The nagaramwas an assembly of merchants and belonged to the localities where traders and merchants controlled the stakes.
Nattar: Assembly of Nadu

Rajaraja I was born in Arulmoli Varman. Rajendra Chola I or Rajendra I founded a new capital city called Gangaikonda Cholapuram Aditya I assumed the title of Maduraikonda (captor of Madurai). Hence, Option A is correct.

The executive committee of Ur general assemblies was called alungnum.