According to Megasthenes’ Account (Indika) and Kautilya’s Arthashastra, the Mauryan capital city of Pataliputra was admi...

A committee of thirty members organized along kinship or tribal lines known as Janas. The into six five-member boards Rajan served as the tribal chief whose authority The administration of the Mauryan capital, was held in check by popular assemblies including Pataliputra, was managed by a dedicated the Sabha, Samiti, Vidatha, and Gana. These municipal commission comprising thirty assemblies performed important administrative, members. As recorded by Megasthenes in his legislative, military, and religious functions, account Indika, this governing body was divided while facilitating collective decision-making and into six specialized boards of five members each. preventing absolute monarchical power. These boards oversaw industrial arts, foreign visitors, vital statistics, trade and commerce,