Officer of weights and measures during Mauryan period was :

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:

The Mauryan administration, heavily documented in Kautilya’s *Arthashastra*, was highly centralized and bureaucratic, with numerous superintendents (*Adhyakshas*) managing various departments of the economy. The officer responsible for standardizing and regulating weights and measures throughout the empire was the **Pautavadhyaksha**. The term 'Pautava' is derived from the Sanskrit word for measurement and standardization. This officer ensured that all trade and commerce used accurate, uniform weights and measures, which was crucial for maintaining fair market practices, preventing fraud, and accurately collecting state dues, thereby ensuring economic stability and state control over commercial activities across the vast empire.

The incorrect option is 1: **Panyadhyaksha**. The Panyadhyaksha was the Superintendent of Commerce. His role was to regulate trade, fix prices of state goods, and ensure the supply of commodities, but he was not directly responsible for the standards of weights and measures.

The incorrect option is 2: **Sulkadhyaksha**. The Sulkadhyaksha was the Superintendent of Tolls or Taxes. His primary duty was to collect tolls and customs duties on all goods entering or leaving the city or state, a fiscal role distinct from setting physical standards for measurement.

The incorrect option is 4: **Sitadhyaksha**. The Sitadhyaksha was the Superintendent of Agriculture (or Crown lands). This officer managed state farms, supervised the cultivation of crops, and regulated irrigation, making his function purely agricultural.