Previous Year Question

This question requires careful interpretation because the functions of the Agronomai were not confined to a single activity. In the account of the Greek writer Megasthenes, they were officials associated with rural or district administration.

The duties of the Agronomai included collection of revenue, supervision of irrigation facilities, functions connected with land and rural administration, judicial responsibilities and supervision of roads.

They had important responsibilities relating to roads. They supervised roads and caused distance-marking pillars to be erected at specified intervals so that travellers could obtain information about distances and routes. For this reason, the initial UPPSC answer key accepted (c) Construction of roads.

However, the Agronomai were not merely road-construction officers. INFLIBNET material on Mauryan administration describes them as officials entrusted with multiple administrative functions, including revenue collection, irrigation, judicial administration and maintenance of roads. Their sphere of work was therefore broader rural administrative management.

The answer to this question was subsequently revised by UPPSC. The Commission had initially accepted Construction of roads, but in the revised answer key it changed the accepted answer to Administrative management.