Arthashastra, the classical work of Indian political thought, focuses primarily on
- (a)economy
- (b)culture
- (c)statecraft
- (d)monarchy
Correct — C, statecraft. The Arthashastra, attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya), is a treatise on rajaniti and danda-niti — the practical art of running a state: administration, law and justice, taxation, diplomacy, espionage, war and internal security. It discusses the economy in detail, but as an instrument of state power, so its primary subject is statecraft.
- (a)economy — The text deals extensively with revenue, trade and taxation, but treats them as tools for sustaining the state; economics is a means within it, not its central subject, which is governance and statecraft.
- (b)culture — The Arthashastra is a manual of practical politics and administration, not a study of art, religion or cultural life.
- (d)monarchy — It assumes a monarchical state and advises the king, but its focus is how to govern a state effectively (statecraft), not an analysis of monarchy as an institution.
The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy, traditionally ascribed to Kautilya (also called Chanakya or Vishnugupta), the minister credited with helping Chandragupta Maurya establish the Mauryan empire. It systematically advises the ruler on administration, law, revenue, diplomacy and war.
The word artha means material well-being and the resources of the state, but the book's purpose is to teach a king how to acquire, protect and expand power — so its heart is statecraft. Options like 'economy' are tempting because it covers taxation and trade, but those are treated as levers of state control.
- The Arthashastra is attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya), adviser to Chandragupta Maurya.
- It is a manual of statecraft — administration, justice, taxation, diplomacy, espionage and war.
- Its economic content (revenue, trade) is framed as a means to strengthen the state.
- It reflects the idea of a centralised, well-administered monarchical state in ancient India.
- Reading 'artha' as purely 'economy' and picking option (a).
- Confusing the book's subject (statecraft) with the form of government it assumes (monarchy).
A direct 'what is the Arthashastra about' recall question — the trap is the literal meaning of 'artha'.
According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of the following are correct? 1. A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment. 2. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free. 3. If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master's son. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer(b) 2 and 3 only
Same source — Kautilya's Arthashastra. That UPSC item tests specific provisions of the text (on slavery), while this NDA question tests its overall subject (statecraft); both reward knowing what the Arthashastra is and covers.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Arthashastra is traditionally attributed to which of the following?
- (a)Kalidasa
- (b)Kautilya (Chanakya)
- (c)Panini
- (d)Vishakhadatta
Answer(b) Kautilya (Chanakya) — the minister of Chandragupta Maurya.
- practice — not a real PYQ
In Kautilya's Saptanga theory, the state is described as being composed of
- (a)three elements
- (b)five elements
- (c)seven elements
- (d)nine elements
Answer(c) seven elements — the Saptanga (king, minister, territory, fort, treasury, army and ally).