Public Administration in Ancient India c13.40

c13.40

The officers of government were remunerated on a liberal scale, so that, being above want and temptation, they might exert themselves in the performance of their duties. Chānakya lays down the following scale of salaries : The Preceptor, the High Priest, the Royal Teacher, the Prime Minister, the Commander-in-Chief, the Crown Prince, the Queen-mother, the Queen-consort,—48,000 panas each (per annum) ; the Superintendents of the city gates and the palace, the Chief of the Police, the Collector-general, the Treasurer-general,—24,000 each ; the princes, the mothers of princes, the chief officer of the city, the judges, the heads of departments, the Members of Council, the prefect of police, the chief officers of boundaries,—12,000 each ; the leaders of corporations, the Superintendents of horses and elephants, and inspecting officers,—8,000 each; the Superintendents of infantry, cavalry, chariots, and the forest rangers,—4,000 each, and so on.¹ The salaries were paid either in cash or in kind, or partly in cash and partly in kind. Sometimes grants of lands were made to State officials as a reward for their services. After a long period of service, officials became entitled to pensions,² and if they died while in the service of the State, the members of their families received subsistence allowances.³