UPSC CSE Prelims
Gupta Administration Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for Gupta Administration with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
Solved Previous Year Questions
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With reference to the history of India, the terms “kulyavapa” and “dronavapa” denote
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — measurement of land
The terms kulyavapa and dronavapa were units of land measurement used in ancient India, particularly during the Gupta period. These measurements were based on the quantity of seed required to sow a specific area of land—'vapa' means 'to sow', while 'kulya' and 'drona' were volumetric measures of grain.
📝 Short Notes: Ancient Indian Land Measurement Systems
| Term | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Kulyavapa | Area of land requiring one kulya (larger measure) of grain to sow | Commonly found in Gupta-era copper-plate inscriptions (Damodarpur plates, etc.) recording land grants and transactions |
| Dronavapa | Area of land requiring one drona (smaller measure) of grain to sow | |
| Adhavapa | Area requiring one adha of grain to sow | |
| Pataka | Another unit of land measurement |
- Vapa literally means 'to sow', indicating these were seed-based measurements
- These units reflect an agricultural economy where land value was tied to productivity
- The Gupta period (c. 320-550 CE) saw systematic land revenue administration using these measures
- Land grants to Brahmanas and temples were often recorded using these units
- This system differed from modern area-based measurements, instead using functional agricultural capacity
With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
During the Gupta period, Vishti (forced labour) was recognized as a legitimate fiscal obligation where subjects rendered compulsory labour services to the State in lieu of tax payment. The Junagadh inscription explicitly lists Vishti alongside other revenue sources like Bali (tribute) and Bhaga (share of produce), confirming its status as a state income mechanism.
✅ Option 1 – Correct: Vishti was indeed regarded as a tax-in-kind, a compulsory labour service that constituted a revenue source for the State during the Gupta administration.
❌ Option 2 – Incorrect: Vishti was prevalent across the Gupta Empire, including Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions, as evidenced by inscriptional records from Junagadh (Kathiawar).
❌ Option 3 – Incorrect: Being a form of forced extraction, Vishti did not entitle labourers to any wages; it was an unpaid compulsory service obligation.
❌ Option 4 – Incorrect: There is no historical evidence suggesting that the burden of Vishti was specifically assigned to the eldest son; it was a general obligation imposed on the subject population.
📝 Short Notes: Taxation System in Gupta Period
| Tax/Revenue Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Bhaga | King's share of agricultural produce (usually 1/6th of the produce) |
| Bali | Religious tribute or offering paid to the king |
| Vishti/Visti | Forced labour service; compulsory unpaid work for the State |
| Hiranya | Tax paid in cash instead of kind |
| Udranga | Periodic tax or additional levy |
| Uparikara | Extra cess or additional tax on land |
- The Gupta revenue system was largely agrarian-based, with land revenue being the primary source of state income.
- Taxes were collected both in kind (grain, produce) and in cash depending on regional practices.
- Forced labour (Vishti) was particularly burdensome on lower social strata and peasant communities.
- The Allahabad Pillar Inscription and various land grant records provide detailed insights into Gupta fiscal administration.
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