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Prelims 2016 · Q9 · Regional kingdoms

Regarding the taxation system of Krishna Deva, the ruler of Vijayanagar, consider the following statements :

  1. 1.The tax rate on land was fixed depending on the quality of the land.
  2. 2.Private owners of workshops paid an industries tax.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Show answer

Answer: C. Statement 1 is correct: under Krishnadeva Raya, land revenue depended on the quality (fertility) of the land, so better land paid more. Statement 2 is correct: the state also taxed crafts and trades, and owners of private workshops paid an industries tax. So both 1 and 2.

Watch for: Students assume a medieval kingdom taxed only land and not crafts or industries.

Why the other options are wrong
  • A. Wrong because private workshops also paid an industries tax.
  • B. Wrong because land tax did vary with the quality of land.
  • D. Wrong because both statements are recorded features of Vijayanagar taxation.

Source to check: Satish Chandra, History of Medieval India (Orient Blackswan), chapter on the Vijayanagara Empire; NCERT Class 12 Themes in Indian History Part II, Chapter 7 'An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara'

Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.