[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [State and Government in Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949) › c16.41 # State and Government in Ancient India c16.41 State and Government in Ancient India c16.41 - **Language:** English ### [c16.41](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c16.41) We now proceed to consider the different departments, their officers and their functions. The departments were presided over by heads, who were called \*adhyakshas\* in the Mauryan age and \*karmasachivas\* in the Śaka administration. Curiously enough Smṛitis refer to them in a very general and vague way;⁵ it is the \*Arthaśāstra\*, which supplies detailed information, which is very largely confirmed by inscriptions. - [Previous: c16.40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c16.40) - [Next: c16.42](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c16.42) - [Up: c16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c16) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c16.41](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c16.41) · Pramāṇa