In many respects, the Gupta administration constitutes the watershed between India‘s past and

future traditions of polity and government. After mauryan period, there was gradual erosion of the
government‘s centralized power with

1. Satavahanas and the Kushans entering into feudatory relations with the smaller kingdoms.

2. Second, land-grants, which began from this time, created administrative pockets in the
countryside managed by the religious beneficiaries.

3. A third factor which contributed to the process of decentralization was the existence of
autonomous governments in several cities of northern India. Guilds of traders from these cities even
issued coins, which was normally the prerogative of the sovereign power.

Gupta rulers adopted several elements of administrative systems of earlier empires and added new
elements according to contemporary times.

King: The king was the head of the state as well as that of administration. The theory of the divinity
of kings was popular due to which the royal power and prestige had increased. The Guptas adopted
the high-sounding titles like 'Maharaja-dhiraja' Paramaraja-dhiraja 'Eka-dhiraja', 'Pramdevata',
'Parambhattarka', 'Samrat', and 'Chakravartin'. The Gupta Kings enjoyed a large number of powers
including political, administrative, military and judicial fields. The Gupta Kings appointed all the
governors and important military and civil officers whose main work was to Aid and Advice the King.

Council Of Ministers: It consisted of princes, high officials and feudatories and assisted the king.
Kalidas refers to the "Mantri-Parishad" or council of ministers. Decisions of the council were
conveyed to the King through an "Amatya". The "Council of Ministers" had to advise the king but
followed the verdict of the King. Prime Minister - Mantri Mukhya/ war and peace- 'Mahasandhi
Vigrahaka/ military forces and law and order – Mahadandanayaka . Dandaparsadhikarna - police.
Vinayasthiti-Sthapaka, office of minister in charge of law and order. According to Kalidas, there were
three ministers foreign-minister, finance minister and the law-minister. The ministers were expected
to be experts in their spheres of works

Civil Officers: They continued the traditional machinery of bureaucracy that was borrowed or
adopted from Mauryans. Some of the important officers of the royal court were known a
"Mahapratihara", "Rajamatya", "Rajapurusha","Mahasamanta", "Mahakumaramatya" etc.

Revenue And Police Officers: The duties of revenue and police administration were not separate and
were run by officials like 'Uparika', 'Dashparadhika', 'Dandapashika', 'Angarakshka' , 'Rajuka' etc.

Military Officers: The military officers referred to in the inscriptions are the 'Senapati',
'Mahasenapati', 'Baladhikrita' 'Mahabaladhikrita', 'Dandanayaka', 'Sandhivigrahika',
Mahasandhivigrahika', Gopta etc. They were the key functionary in the Gupta army. The Gupta army
had four wings such as- informatory, cavalry, elephant and the navy.

Judicial Officers: Inscriptions of Gupta's refer to such judicial officers as 'Mahadandanayal - Great
keeper of Records". Other officers might have had their own Offices where land transactions and
judicial matters were also decided there. According to Fa-Hien, punishments were very lenient and
capital punishment was very rare which is contradictory to what Kalidas, Visakhadatta that
punishments were pretty harsh in the Gupta period-such as death, death by elephant, execution etc.
 The empire was called as "Rajya", Rashtra", "Desha". It was divided into provinces which were
called as, "Bhukti", Pradesha" and "Bhoga". Provinces were divided into "Vishayas" and put under
the control of "Vishaya Patis". "Vishaya" were divided in "Nagaras" and "Nagares" were divided into
villages. A part of a "Vishaya" was called "Vithi ." Smaller units or divisions of a village were
"Agrahara" and "Patta".

The head of the province was known as "Uparika", Bhogika", "Bhogapati. In certain cases, the son of
the King or "Rajaputra" was appointed the Governor. The minister in attendance on the royal
Governor was called "Kumaramatya".

The head of the "Vishaya" administration was the "Vishayapati" or District Magistrate'. The District
Magistrate or "Vishayapati" was assisted in his work by the "Mahattaras" or "Village elders".
"Gramikas" or "Village Headmen", Agarharikas and others.

The head of the city administration was known as the "Nagara-Rakshaka" or"Purapala". "Purapala
Uparika" was another officer who controlled the heads of the various cities. A city was governed by a
"Parishad".

The village was the smallest unit of the administration. "Gramika" was the head of the village but
there were other officials also but due to lack sources, we don’t know much about it. The
administrative and judicial business of villages were carried on by the Gramikas.

In order to meet the vast expenditure, the king levied different types of tax. Land revalue was one of
the primary source of the income of the Guptas and they helped in increasing agricultural
production and provided security to the cultivators. Waste lands was brought under cultivation and
pasture land was also protected and increased. The government increased the man-made means of
irrigation at both-capital and provincial levels. "Uparika" or "land- tax", which was levied on
cultivators who had no property rights on soil, it was one sixth of the total produce. Income tax
known as "Bhaga" also on customs, mint, inheritance and presents etc.

Under the Guptas, the scope and functions of royal authority underwent a significant change. The
Guptas left a number of conquered states in a position of subordinate independence. The presence
of these feudatories must have severely restricted the Guptas‘ royal authority. Feudal lords used to
supply troops during war time. Gupta bureaucracy was less organized and elaborate than the
Mauryan administration (seen in Kautilya‘s Arthasastra) as several offices were under the same
person and also become hereditary. Village affairs were now managed by leading local elements
who conducted land transactions. Similarly in cities, organized bodies enjoyed considerable
autonomy. The law-codes provide detailed information about the guilds, even entrusted these
corporate bodies with an important share in the administration of justice. With the innumerable jatis
governing a large part of the activities of their members, very little was left for central government.
Finally, the Gupta kings had to take account of the brahman donees, who enjoyed absolute
administrative privileges over the inhabitants of the donated villages. Thus in spite of the strength of
the Gupta kings, institutional factors working for decentralization were far stronger during this
period.

Fa-hien‘s account useful information on the Gupta administration. Fa-hien characterises the Gupta
administration as mild and benevolent. There were no restrictions on people‘s movements and they
enjoyed a large degree of personal freedom. There was no state interference in the individual‘s life.
Punishments were not severe. Imposing a fine was a common punishment. There was no spy
system. The administration was so efficient that the roads were kept safe for travelers, and there
was no fear of thieves. He mentioned that people were generally prosperous and the crimes were
negligible. Fahien had also appreciated the efficiency of the Gupta administration as he was able to
travel without any fear throughout the Gangetic valley. On the whole the administration was more
liberal than that of the Mauryas.

On the whole, the Gupta administration was well organised. Peace and prosperity of the subjects
and the progress achieved by them in practically all walks of their life was its proof. It is to be
observed that the designation of Gupta officials continued even after the passing away of the Gupta
empire. The early Kalacuriyas were the first to be influenced by the Gupta administrative system.
Likewise the Chalukyas of Badami, the Rashtrakutas of Malkhed and the Western Chalukyas of
Kalyani were also accepted the Gupta administrative system.