With reference to the Ayagar System in the Vijayanagara Empire, consider the following statements:

The Ayagar system was a form of village administration, where a set of officials were assigned hereditary roles to manage local governance.
Each village had 12 Ayagars, who were responsible for administrative, revenue, and judicial functions.
The Ayagars were paid fixed salaries by the Vijayanagara king from the royal treasury.

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

Question

With reference to the Ayagar System in the Vijayanagara Empire, consider the following statements:


	The Ayagar system was a form of village administration, where a set of officials were assigned hereditary roles to manage local governance.
	Each village had 12 Ayagars, who were responsible for administrative, revenue, and judicial functions.
	The Ayagars were paid fixed salaries by the Vijayanagara king from the royal treasury.

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

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is correct: The Ayagar System was a unique village administrative structure in the Vijayanagara Empire. It involved 12 hereditary village functionaries responsible for various aspects of local governance, including revenue collection, record maintenance, and administrative duties. These officials acted as intermediaries between the villagers and higher authorities.

Statement 2 is correct: Under this system, 12 functionaries (Ayagars) handled key administrative, revenue, and judicial duties in each village. 

Statement 3 is not correct: Instead of receiving fixed salaries from the royal treasury, Ayagars were compensated through tax-free land grants (manyams), which they held in perpetuity for their services. These positions were hereditary, and Ayagars even had the right to sell or mortgage their offices.

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