The Mauryan Polity c8.s3.t17.14

c8.s3.t17.14

The Department of Finance under the Mauryan Government thus possessed many attributes of modern administration supervised by two officials of the state, the Samāhartā and Sannidhātā. It was run on efficient lines as attested partly by the fact of an elaborate machinery, and partly by the healthy principles on which the administration was based. The Kauṭalīyan State endeavoured in the direction of augmenting the sources of income with the consequent increase in the receipt with a proportionate diminution in the expenditure.¹ This does not mean that the state was chary of public expenditure but it does mean that the State recognised the value of a replenished treasury by cutting money on useless and unproductive works but without prejudice to works of public utility.