This presentation is prepared for the Graduation students to get basic idea and general information’s regarding the topic. Overall content of presentations is not through and complete, also required further additions.

1. Aims and Functions
of the States
Dr. Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
Center for Advanced Studies
Department of A.I.H.C. & Archaeology,
Banaras Hindu University
virag@bhu.ac.in

2. Aims and
Functions of the States

3. State At Early Stage
• States were small in size.
• Political outlook was limited at early stage.
• Monarchy was popular kind of state.
• Proper advisors surrounded the the person of the
ruler.
• The king is described as the guardian of the people,
their ruler, guards of mighty everlasting order.
• The people met in their assemblies on important
occasions.

4. Next Stage
• Subsequently state expands and political ideas
changes.
• Monarchy is no more elective.
• According to Brahmana and the Dharmasutras
Kingship becomes hereditary and
• Consequence, the king is conceived of as almost
divine.
• The King is more than a human being, for almost
divine powers are attributed to him.
• His victories over his enemies were attributed to the
divine help of Indra

5. Aim of the State
• The main Aim of the state was to maintain Law and
order.
• Maintain “Dharma”: practice by the King first and
citizens afterwards
• Security: internal & external
• Safety: State and the Public
• Enhance the Social life: whole society,
• Enhance the Economic condition: good taxation
• Encourage Cultural growth: donation, ammusments
• People Welfare was chief duty of the ruler

6. The functions of the state
• The functions of the state have been divided into two
categories: constituent and ministrant.
• Constituent functions:
1. Defence against foreign aggression,
2. Protection of property and people,
3. Maintenance of law and order.

7. The functions of the state
• Ministrant activities:
1. To promote people's welfare thereby adding to the
amenities of their life.
2. Education,
3. Trade regulations,
4. Transport and communications,
5. Development of mines and forests,
6. Care of the poor etc under the ministrant functions
of the state.

8. Functions
• The activity of the state relates to social, economic and
religious life of the people.
• The state was to embrace the whole of human life.
• The state was supposed to offer facilities to religions
and sects to develop.
• To improve the social order and encourage learning,
education and art by extending patronage to scholars
and artists.
• Construct the charity halls and hospitals were
maintained in order to relieve the distress due to
floods, locusts, famines and earthquakes.
• It was ensured that the population is evenly distributed
and colonisation of fresh lands was encouraged.

9. State’s Duty
• It was the state's duty to enrich the resources of the
country.
1. Developing forests,
2. working mines and
3. constructing dams and canals in order to make
agriculture independent of rain.
• State offered help to trade and industry as well as
protected the population against capitalistic
egocentricity.
• State regulated the vices of the community by
appointing its own officers to supervise over wine
booths, gambling houses as well as prostitutes.

10. King is the servant
• The Dharmasastras repeatedly proclaim that “the
king is the servant of the people”.
• Taxes were the wages for his service to society and
state.
• Kalidass in Sakuntala has pointed out, that an ideal
king is one who is indifferent to his own pleasures,
but who toils for the happiness of his subjects.
• The Dharma of the king consisted in making the life
of the people happy and contented.
• Asoka practice of Dharma.
• The duties of kingship were such that the citizens
welfare in this world and their life in the other world

11. King as a Decoit
• When a king begins to oppress be ceases to be divine.
• Sukra calls him a decoit, not a king.
• No one was to support such a ruler not even the
army.
• That is how the last Maurya King and the last Sunga
King were deposed with the intervention of the army.
• The Jataka stories and Manu quote several cases of
wicked rulers, who were forcibly removed from
power.
• The purpose of kingship was good government.

12. Conclusion
• Main aim of the state was to provide safe, secure and
healthy environment.
• State should be protected from inside and outside
• State should maintain law and order
• State should act according to the Dharma
• Maximum well-being of the people in every segment of
life.