ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM DURING GUPTA PERIOD
The administrative system in place during the Gupta dynasty was determined to be more or less
comparable to that of the Mauryan Empire in terms of structure and function. At the time of
the Gupta dynasty's dominance, political concord prevailed throughout ancient India. Rajya,
Rashtra, Desha, and Mandala were among of the administrative divisions used during this time
period to organise the Empire's administration. This indicates that administrative
decentralisation is being given a high level of emphasis. The administrative divisions aided the
rulers in their efforts to maintain a systematic grip over their territory. The Gupta period has
been referred to as the "golden age" of ancient Indian history. There was a political unification
of northern India, which heralded the beginning of an era of orderly growth and development
in the region.
The Gupta administration will be discussed in detail under the following headings:
Central Administration:
During the Gupta period, monarchy served as the form of administration, and it has been
praised for being a beneficent monarchy. The King was given ostentatious titles such as
Parameshvara, Maharajadhiraja, and Parambhattaraka to distinguish himself from his subjects.
The Emperor was the ultimate authority in the Empire, and he possessed extensive powers to
ensure that the Empire ran smoothly. He possessed political, administrative, military, and
judicial authority in addition to his other privileges. During this time period, the belief of the
divinity of Kings was widely accepted, which increased the power and prestige of the monarchy.
They were revered as though they were gods. Despite the fact that the King possessed great
powers, he did not exercise them in a despotic fashion. The King's council of ministers and a
number of other officials aided him in the discharge of his duties on a day to day basis.
The Gupta Kings nominated all governors, as well as military and civil officers, all of whom were
directly responsible to the monarch. All awards and titles were bestowed by the King.
Throughout the Empire, the King served as the custodian of all territory. He looked into projects
such as the construction of dams, the administration of justice, the collection of taxes, and the
provision of shelter for the poor. The Kings could never afford to be selffficentered despots in
their reign. This meant that they would have to be ruled in accordance with the ideals of the
'Rajya Dharma.' Additionally, he had ministers and highffi ranking officials to assist and advise
him, and he shared power with these individuals. The Emperor was aided by a council of
ministers known as the Mantri Parishad, which served as a consultative body. Mantri Mukhya,
the state's Prime Minister, was one of the key members of the council, which met on a regular
basis. A joint sitting of the King and his ministers was held to decide all important issues,
including military affairs, law and order, and other matters. The other portfolios, such as those
relating to law and order, were held by different officials known as Mahasandhi Vigrahaka,
Amatya, Mahabaladhikrita, and Mahadandnayaka. The King used to value the advice given by
his ministers and would follow their recommendations.
Due to his position as a beneficent ruler, the King was always concerned about the welfare of
his citizens. He travelled over the country in order to keep himself up to date with the social
and economic conditions of the people.
Administration at the provincial level:
It was the Guptas who established a structure of regional and local administration. The Empire
was divided into sections known as 'Bhukth, and each Bhukti was placed under the command of
a 'Uparika, who oversaw the entire empire. In ancient times, the Bhuktis were split into
districts, known as Vishayas, and each Vishaya was under the supervision of a Vishayapati. The
Vishayapatis were typically considered to be members of the royal household. Representatives
from the council of representatives aided them in their job.
Administration at the local level:
There was a Parishad in charge of running the city, and its leader was known as
NagaraffiRakshaka. An additional officer, Purapala Uparika, was in charge of the
NagaraffiRakshaka, which was under the command of him. There was also a specific officer,
known as Avasthika, who served as the Superintendent of Dharamsalas for a short period of
time. Professional organisations were given a great deal of consideration. Arts and craftsmen,
merchants, and bankers formed their own guilds and took charge of their own business
operations. The guild merchants were responsible for the trade in the cities.
The village was the smallest administrative unit in the country. Gramika was the village's de
facto leader. There were also other officials known as Dutas or messengers, as well as the
headman and Kartri. Gramika received assistance from the village assembly. Local government
entities such as Panchayats were responsible for the welfare of villagers throughout the Gupta
period. These rural councils were made up of the local headman and elders from the
surrounding villages. One could conclude that the Guptas encouraged local engagement at all
levels of govemment as a result.
Revenue Administration:
Officials such as Viniyuktaka, Rajuka, Uparika, Dashparadhika, and others were in charge of the
administration of the tax collection and distribution systems. The most important of the 18
sources of revenue was land revenue, which was the largest. It was usually set at oneffisixth of
the entire amount of food produced. In addition, the revaluation of land was a significant
source of income. The vast majority of the revenue earned was used to benefit the general
populace.
Cultivators who did not have land rights were subjected to a land tax. It accounted for
oneffisixth of the overall harvest. Apart from it, there were other sources of revenue, including
as income tax (known as Bhaga), customs duty, mint duty, inheritance and gift tax, amongst
others. In addition to these taxes, fines such as Dasaparadha, which were imposed on criminals,
served as a source of revenue for the government.
Land grants were commonly used to compensate employees for their services (in lieu of cash).
The beneficiaries of such land gifts were granted hereditary rights to the land in perpetuity. The
King, on the other hand, had the authority to reclaim the territory. The Brahmins were not
required to pay any taxes on the lands that were provided to them.
Waste grounds were turned into productive agricultural land, while grazing pastures were
preserved. The Gupta kings encouraged the development of irrigation systems, which resulted
in a rise in agricultural production.
Administration of the Judiciary:
It was under the Guptas that the judiciary had a significant expansion compared to earlier
periods. During this time period, several works on law were written, and for the first time, the
lines between civil and criminal law were firmly defined. Theft and adultery fell under the
purview of criminal law, whereas disputes over other sorts of property fell under the purview of
civil law. In the area of inheritance, extensive legislation has been enacted.
It was the King's responsibility to uphold the law and deal with legal cases, with the assistance
of Brahman priests, judges, and ministers, to ensure that the law was followed. The verdict or
judgement of the court was based on legal texts, social traditions that were prevalent at the
period, and the King's personal discretion. The King Court of Appeals was the highest court of
appeals. The guilds of artisans, merchants, and other professionals were regulated by their own
set of rules and regulations.
The village assembly or trade guild served as the lowest level of the legal system in ancient
times. These were the village councils, which were constituted to mediate between the various
parties who appeared before them in order to resolve their differences. It is believed that only
moderate punishments were meted out to those who were found guilty.
Military Administration:
The Gupta rulers had a massive army. In addition to maintaining a permanent army, the usage
of cavalry and horse archery was popular during this time period. The Empire's domains were
kept under constant surveillance by the Imperial Guard. The military officers to whom the
inscriptions relate were the Senapati, Mahasenapati, Baladhikrita, Mahabaladhikrita,
Dandanayaka, Sandhivigrahika, and Mahasandhivigrahika, and they were the most important
officials in the military administration at the time of the inscriptions. The military was divided
into four divisions: the intelligence division, the cavalry division, the elephant division, and the
navy. Bows and arrows, swords, axes, and spears were the primary weapons of war throughout
this time period.
Trade and Business:
China, Ceylon, numerous European countries, and the East Indian islands were among the
countries with whom the Empire engaged in commercial activities. This resulted in the Empire
becoming economically and tactically powerful, which in turn resulted in the annexation of
additional states and, as a result, the extension of the Empire's territorial limits.
