Generally, what portion of the crop was collected as tax by the state during the Mahajanapada period?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. 1/6th.
During the Mahajanapada period (circa 600–300 BCE), the state typically collected one-sixth (1/6th) of the total crop as tax. This system, called Bhaga, required farmers to give a fixed portion of their agricultural produce to the ruler or local officials. The collected tax was primarily used to maintain the king’s household, administration, and defence, as well as to fund public works like irrigation and roads. Payment was usually made in kind rather than money, reflecting the agrarian economy of the period. This method ensured that farmers retained most of their produce while the state received a stable and predictable revenue to run its functions effectively.