Public Administration in Ancient India c8.32

c8.32

A constant touch was kept up with the distant provinces by means of a regular system of correspondence, and also with the assistance of a class of inspecting officers or ‘overseers,’ whose duty it was to watch all that occurred and to make reports to the Central Government. Portions of the Empire were, it seems, ruled by local Rājās¹ who enjoyed varying degrees of independence. Some of them only owed a nominal allegiance to the Suzerain Power. There were others who paid the annual tribute and were liable to be called upon to assist in case of a war with foreign Powers, but were practically independent of control so far as their internal affairs were concerned. The administration of the less important Princes was probably subject to some sort of supervision by the imperial government.