The Guptas established an elaborate administrative system with the kingdom divided into provinces, districts, cities and villages, each with their own officials to manage local administration under the oversight of higher authorities. Key departments included revenue collection, finance, judiciary, and military, and the system drew upon precedents from the Mauryan empire while further developing aspects like autonomous administration in cities by guilds and traders. Overall the stable administrative framework established under the Guptas contributed to the economic prosperity of the period.

1. Administrative system under
the Guptas
Dr. Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
Center for Advanced Studies
Department of A.I.H.C. & Archaeology,
Banaras Hindu University

2. Administrative system under the Guptas

3. Introduction
• Biggest central empire after Mauryas
• Covered vast geographical territory
• Area divided into direct command and feudal states
• Nature of state: Kingship
• Period of innovation in various fields

4. Geographical territory of Gupta period

5. Sources
1. Inscription:
a) Stone
b) copper plates
c) clay seals
2. Contemporary literature
a) Religious
b) Dramas
3. Foreign travellers: Fahien

6. Nature of King
• The King remained the central figure of administration.
• Considerable change in the character of monarchy
• Divinity of kingship was prevailed
• Gupta monarchs adopted high sounding titles like:
a) Paramabhattaraka,
b) Paramadaivata,
c) Paramesvara, etc.
d) In Prayagraj Prasasti of Samudragupta describes him as
"equal to the gods: Dhanada (Kubera), Varuna (Sea-God), Indra and
Antaka (Vama).

7. Duties of the King
• King was a supreme leader of the State.
• King was the custodian of all land in the Empire.
• Chief of political, administrative, military, and judicial departments.
• Decide the policy of the state during war and peace.
• The King was to lead the army in war.
• Selection of Ministers
• King appoints central and provincial officers.
• The appointment of successor to the throne.
• To handle safety and security the citizens.
• Handle the foreign affairs
• Policy of War and Peace

8. Role of King
King
Supreme
executive
Legislative
Ministers Officers
Judicial
powers
Military

9. Mantrimandal
• Kings appointed Ministers and distributed portfolios
• However, it seem that the minister’s were perhaps hereditary.
• He was also select Governors
• Selection of military and civil officials was generally done by king
• The Gupta inscriptions are not very clear about the hierarchy of ministers.
• The Prime Minister known, as MukhyaMantri
• Different ministers known, as
1. Mahasandhivigrahaka: Foreign Minister
2. Amatya,
3. Mahabaladhikrita,
4. Mahadandnayaka: Military
5. Baladhikruta
• Ministers of each department has number of officials

10. Gupta Administration
King
Central
Administration
Provincial
Administration
District
Administrations
City
Administration
Village
Administration

11. Central Administration
• There were many ministers who owns various departments
• Each department has his own seal
• Seal of Kumaramatya, Dandnayaka, Baladhikruta, Yuvraj has been found.
• Frequent meetings were called
• The King issued order
• His secretary wrote kings instructions and issued
• Kings Private Secretary called as “ Rahasi Niyukt” रह#स िनयु)
• Though the King is supreme Judge, he appointed the Mahanandanayaka
(Chief Justice).
• In the provinces this work was entrusted to the Uparikas and in districts to the
Vishayapatis.
• In villages, the headman and the village elders used to decide the petty cases.
• The Chinese traveller Fa-Hien states that capital punishment was not given at
all.

12. Administrative divisions
Central Govt
(Capital)
•King
Desh/
Madal (State)
Commissionerate
Districts
(Vishay)
•Vishaypati
Cities
(Non-official
body)
•(Bhukti)
Villages
(Gramadhaks
hya)

13. Provincial Administration
• The Guptas organized a system of provincial administration.
• Province was call as Desh or Mandal
• Gupta Province: Sourshatra, Malawa and Antarvedi (Ganga-Yamuna
Doab)
• Junagad Inscription: King himself appointed the Governors
• Duties of Governor
• Maintain Law and Order
• Collect tax and revenues
• Protect the people
• Construction of roads, ponds and irrigation works
• Governors had right to appoint sub ordinates
• Governors also had separate Mantrimandal
• Nature and duties of Mantrimandal was similar to Central Government

14. Commissionerate
• The Province was divided into Commissionerate
• Commissionerate was known as Bhukti.
• Head of the Bhukti was Uparika
• Uparika were also called as “ Maharja”
• Uparika was appointed by King
• Bhukti probably contain three-four districts
• Bhukti of Gupta period
1. Magadh,
2. Tirubhuktu
3. Pundravardhan
• Magadh Bhukti includes: Gaya and Pataliputra
• Pundravardhan Bhukti includes: Dijanapur, Bogra & Rajshahi
• Seals of Bhukti were found.
• Duties:
a) To maintain law and order
b) Safety of the citizens
c) Judicial set up
d) Construction and repair work
e) Collect revenue and tax
f) Eye on district administartion

15. District Administration
• The Bhuktis were divided into districts
• District were called as Vishaya
• Head of the Vishaya were known as Vishayapati
• He was also called Ayuktaka
• The Vishayapatis were generally members of royal family.
• Hence were appointed by kings
• Uparik also had power to select Vishayapati.
• Duties:
• To maintain law and order
• Safety of the citizens
• Judicial arraignments
• Construction and repair work
• Collect revenue and tax
• Seals of Vishaya were found.

16. City Administration
• City was well established center of administration
• City administration was govern by “Purpal”
• He often belonged to the cadre of “Kumaramatya”
• He was assisted by council
• Duties:
• To maintain law and order
• To maintain hygiene and sanitation syatem
• Safety of the citizens
• Judicial arraignments
• Construction and repair work
• Collect revenue and tax
• Look after traders

17. Village Administrations
• The village was the smallest unit of administration.
• Villages were called as Gramika.
• Gramadhakshya or Grameyak was the head of the villages.
• He was a sub ordinate employee known as Lekhadik
• Gramika was assisted by a village assembly (पंचायत).
• Village assembly called as Janapad
• These rural bodies comprised of the headman and Grama-vriddhas or village elders of the
villages.
• Duties of Village assembly :
1. Welfare of villagers.
2. Collected revenue
3. Keep records of agriculture
4. Sort out the local disputes
• Hence, one can construe that the Guptas promoted local participation at all levels of the
administration.
• Other officials known, as Dutas or messengers, headman, and Kartri were also there.

18. Non-official district Council
• This is new administrative set-up in Gupta period.
• The city was governed by a Parishad or Committee
• The member of the committee were
1. Pratham-Shreshthi: Heads of the Trader
2. Pratham-Sarthvaha: Caravan-leader
3. Pratham-Kulika: Head of the artisan community and
4. Pratham-Kayastha: Head of the Kayastha community
• According to Faridfur copper plate: Members of committee were 20.
• These members were call as Vishay-Mahhatar
• Seals of Vishay-Mahhatar has been found in Nalanda
• These members seem to be Guilds, artisans, merchants, and bankers
• Duties:
• To maintain law and order
• Safety of the citizens
• Judicial arraignments
• Construction and repair work

19. Officer Function
Mahabaladhikrita महाबला&धक
ृ त Commander-in-Chief
Mahadandanayak महदंडनायक Chief Justice
Mahapratihara महा0ितहार Maintenance of Royal Palace
Mahasandhivigrahak महासं &धिव5हक Foreign/ Post-war conciliation
Dandapashika दंडप&शक Head of Police department
Bhandagaradhikreta भांडागार&ध:े< Head of Royal treasury
Mahapaksha-patalik महाप= पातालीक Head of account department
Vinayasthitisansathapak िवनय?@ितसं@ापक Head of education department
Sarvadhyaksha सवAध= Inspector for all central department
Mahashwapati महाBपित Controller of cavalry
Mahamahipilapati महािपलुपित Controller & executor of elephantry
Vinayapura िवनयपुर Official to present different guests at the King’s court
Yuktapurusha युDपुEष Office to keep account of war booty
Khadyatpakika ख
ं Hापिकक Inspector of Royal Kitchen
Ranabhandagarika रणभंडागJरक Officer in charge of Army Stores
Mahanarpati महानारपित Head of infantry

20. Revenue Administration
• Land revenue was the main source of the state's income.
• 18 different types of taxes were levied during the Gupta period.
• Samaharta was chief officer
• An officer Gopasramin working as Akshapataladhikrita.
• His duty was to enter numerous matters in the accounts registers, recover
royal dues from the sureties of servants, to check embezzlement and
recover fines for loss due to neglect or fraud.
• Another prominent high official was Pustapala (record-keeper).
• It was his duty to make enquiries before recording any transaction.
• Kamandaka in the Nitisara suggests that a King should take special care of
his treasury, for the life of the state depends solely on it.

21. Judicial Administration
• Judicial system was more developed than in earlier times.
• Several books on law were compiled during this period.
• Civil and criminal laws were clearly demarcated.
• Both civil and criminal courts were regulated
• Court were known as :
1. Nyayadhikaran
2. Dharmadhikaran
3. Dharm shasanadhikaran
• Chief Judge was situated in capital and known as “ Pradvivak”
• Theft and adultery came under criminal law and disputes regarding various
types of property came under civil law.
• King was the highest court of appeal.
• The guilds of artisans, merchants, and others were governed by their own laws.

22. Military
• The Guptas must have had a big army.
1. Infantry: Padati / Narapati
2. Cavalry: Ashvapati
3. War Chariots: Mahaashvapati
4. War Elephants: Pilupati/ Mahapilupati
• Army was assisted by: Medical team, Engineer, Architect, labors,
• At the time of war the King led his army.
• A minister called 'Sandhi-Vigrahika' (Minister in charge of peace and war)
• Sandhi-Vigrahika was helped by a group of officials.
• The official title Mahabaladhikrita occurs in many inscriptions.
• Ranabhandagarika: To look after the supply of weapons.

23. Military Administration
• They maintained a standing army
• The military officers, referred in inscriptions were the
1. Senapati,
2. Mahasenapati,
3. Mahadandnayaka
4. Baladhikrita,
5. Mahabaladhikrita,
6. Dandanayaka,
7. Sandhivigrahika, and
8. Ran-Bhandagarik :
• Solders wore Armor
• The main weapons of war were bows and arrows, swords, axes, and spears.

24. Conclusion
• Good administrative systems prevalent in the Gupta kingdoms.
• Gupta central administration was divided in provincial, District, cities
and village administration was
• Important departments like revenue, financial, judicial, and military
administrative have been dealt with utmost care.
• Guilds and trader communities enjoys autonomous administration.
• Guilds were strong to run city administrations.
• Stable and good administration help for the economic prosperity.
• Guptas follows the trail of Mauryan administrations and with some
additions laid the foundation for subsequent periods administrative
system.