Which one of the following is not true for Mahajanapadas regarding the…
2023
Which one of the following is not true for Mahajanapadas regarding the collection of regular taxes?
- A.
Hunters and gatherers also had to provide forest produce to the Raja.
- B.
There were taxes on goods that were bought and sold, through trade.
- C.
Usually tax on crops was fixed at 1/2(half) of what was produced.
- D.
Herders were expected to pay taxes in the form of animals and animal produce.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
During the Mahajanapada period (c. sixth century BCE onward), the emerging states built a regular system of taxation to fund the king, the army, and the administration: cultivators paid a share of their harvest, while herders, forest-dwellers, and traders paid dues suited to their occupation, generally in kind.
The customary land-revenue share taken from cultivators, known as bhaga, was fixed at one-sixth of the produce, not one-half. Since the question asks which statement is not true, the statement claiming the crop tax was fixed at half of the produce goes against this recorded practice, while the other three statements about forest produce, trade goods, and herders' dues all match it.
Hunters and gatherers: gave forest produce to the Raja — matches the recorded practice.
Traders: paid duty on goods bought and sold through trade — matches the recorded practice.
Cultivators: crop tax fixed at half of the produce — does not match the customary one-sixth share (bhaga).
Herders: paid taxes in the form of animals or animal produce — matches the recorded practice.
So the statement that the crop tax was fixed at half of the produce is the one that is not true.