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Q71 (IAS/2020) History & Culture › Modern India (Pre-1857) › British administrative reforms Official Key

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs : 1. Aurang - In-charge of treasury of the State 2. Banian - Indian agent of the East India Company 3. Mirasidar - Designated revenue payer to the State Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 2 (2 and 3 only). This is based on the administrative and economic terminology of medieval and colonial India.

  • Pair 1 is incorrect: An Aurang was a Persian term for a warehouse or a place where goods were manufactured and stored before shipment. It was not a designation for a treasury officer. The in-charge of the treasury was typically known as the Khazanadar.
  • Pair 2 is correct: A Banian (or Banyan) acted as a crucial intermediary, interpreter, and Indian agent for the British East India Company or individual British officials. They managed local trade, logistics, and financial transactions.
  • Pair 3 is correct: Under the Ryotwari and earlier systems in South India, a Mirasidar was a hereditary proprietor of land who held the "Mirasi" right. They were the designated revenue payers responsible for providing the state's share of produce.

Since pairs 2 and 3 are accurately described, Option 2 is the right choice.

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Q. With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs : 1. Aurang - In-charge of treasury of the State 2. Banian - India…
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 0/10
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This is a classic 'Glossary Trap'. UPSC extracts specific technical terms from the economic history chapters of standard texts (NCERT/Spectrum). 'Banian' is standard, 'Aurang' is a deceptive Persian term often confused with a name, and 'Mirasidar' is a regional revenue term. The key is to study the 'italicized' words in history textbooks, not just the stories.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In the history of India, was "Aurang" a term used for the in-charge of the state's treasury?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 9: Cultural Development in South India > Pallava Administration > p. 123
Strength: 5/5
“Rahasyadhikrita was a private secretary of the king. Manikkappandaram-Kappan was an officer in charge of the treasury (Manikka - valuables; Pandaram - treasury; Kappan - keeper). Kodukkappillai was the officer of gifts. They were central officers under the Pallava king. Kosa-adhyaksa was the supervisor of Manikkappandaram-Kappan. Judicial courts were called Adhikarna Mandapa and judges called Dharmadhikarins. The governor of a province was advised and assisted by officers in charge of districts who worked in close collaboration with local autonomous institutions, largely in an advisory capacity. They were built on local relationships of caste, guilds, craftsmen and artisans (such as weavers and oil-mongers), students, ascetics and priests.”
Why relevant

Gives a concrete example that historical Indian polities used specific, often compound native titles (e.g., Manikkappandaram-Kappan, Kosa-adhyaksa) for officers who ran the treasury.

How to extend

A student could use this pattern to expect a distinct, recorded title for a treasurer and then check whether 'Aurang' appears in lists of such treasury offices.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Emergence of State and Empire > Provincial Administration > p. 55
Strength: 4/5
“judicial administration and the bureaucracy of the Mauryan state was replicated to achieve a uniform system of governance. Revenue collection was the responsibility of a collectorgeneral (samaharta) who was also in charge of exchequer that he was, in effect, like a minister of finance. He had to supervise all the provinces, fortified towns, mines, forests, trade routes and others, which were the sources of revenue. The treasurer was responsible for keeping a record of the tax revenues.”
Why relevant

Describes a clear administrative vocabulary (samaharta, treasurer) at the Mauryan level showing the state had established, named financial offices.

How to extend

One could compare known historical treasurer titles (samaharta, etc.) with the word 'Aurang' to see if it fits established nomenclature.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > Administration under the Delhi Sultanate > p. 53
Strength: 4/5
“The Delhi Sultanate introduced a political system centred on the sultan, who possessed absolute authority as the political and military head, and whose duties, according to contemporary chronicles, included "defending the territories of Islam against possible aggression," "collecting fees and taxes" and "keeping in touch with public affairs and the condition of the people by personal contact." The sultan was however assisted by a council of ministers who were in charge of the various departments of the Sultanate. One instrument of the administration was the iqta system, in which territories were assigned to nobles (iqtadars) to collect taxes which, minus expenses, were supposed to go to the Sultan's treasury; they were needed, in particular, to maintain the army.”
Why relevant

Explains that the Sultanate had a council of ministers each 'in charge of the various departments' including revenue collection, implying specialized office-names for fiscal roles.

How to extend

Use this general rule to search whether 'Aurang' is listed among ministerial or departmental titles in Sultanate or later records.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 5: Land Reforms > 5.1 Land Rights before Independence > p. 190
Strength: 4/5
“In India, during the Mughal period (before 1765), zamindars or "revenue collectors" collected revenue on behalf of the Mughal Emperor, whose representatives or Diwan supervised their activities. The zamindar served as an intermediary who procured economic rent from the cultivator and after withholding a percentage for his own expenses, made available the rest, as revenue to the State. Under the Mughal system, the land itself belonged to State (People, Territory, Government and Sovereignty) and not to the zamindar, who could transfer only his right to collect rent. The Nawabs of Bengal ruled the area under the Mughal Empire through their feudal chiefs.”
Why relevant

Notes that under the Mughals zamindars collected revenue while Diwan supervised — showing the term for financial supervisors (Diwan) is known and distinct.

How to extend

Compare the well-attested title 'Diwan' with 'Aurang' to judge whether 'Aurang' fits patterns of fiscal-supervisor titles or is absent.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > 14.8 Aurangzeb (1658-1707 > p. 210
Strength: 3/5
“His wars in the northwest and northeast drained the treasury. Already under his father, the revenue of the crops had been raised from a third Aurangzeb To a half, and the extensive and the prolonged military campaigns he waged required him to keep the peasantry heavily taxed. Aurangzeb retained Shah Jahanabad as his capital, but after some two decades the capital was shifted to wherever Aurangzeb would set up camp during his long military campaigns. In the north there were three major uprisings against Aurangzeb. The Jats (Mathura district), the Satnamis (Haryana region), and 210 The Mughal Empire”
Why relevant

Contains repeated use of 'Aurangzeb' (a personal name) and discussions of imperial treasury issues, illustrating that 'Aurang' appears in personal names rather than presented as an office in these sources.

How to extend

A student could note the occurrence of 'Aurang' inside a ruler's name and weigh whether it is used as an administrative title elsewhere in the same corpus.

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