Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Mahajanapadas:
1. According to Buddhist and Jaina traditions, there were twenty mahajanapadas.
2. Only monarchy nature of polity prevailed in mahajanapadas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: D
Notes:
According to Puranic, Buddhist and Jaina traditions, there were sixteen mahajanapadas.
- The proto-states of the Gangetic region were known as janapadas and comprised chiefdoms, republics and small kingdoms.
- There were also ganasanghas or oligarchies, which were centred on clans. The Vrijjis were one of the best known of the gana-sanghas, and Vaishali was their capital in the Mithila region.
- The mahajanapadas on the Gangetic plains were all monarchies. Vedic orthodoxy was an established practice in these kingdoms.
Source: Old NCERT
