Question

Study the text given below and answer the question. Choose the most appropriate option.
% Text Material Text Material:
Kautilya’s \textitArthaśāstra pays great attention to water management and irrigation techniques. Anyone leasing, hiring, sharing or accepting a water-work as a pledge, with the right to use them, shall keep them in good condition. Owners may give water to others (in return for a share of the produce grown in the fields, parks or gardens). In the absence of the owner, either charitable individuals or the people of a village acting together, shall maintain water-works. We can infer that:
(a) Sharing of water was done by building suitable structures / channels.
(b) Barter system was prevalent.
(c) Under certain circumstances, management of water-work was done by community.
(d) Water-works was free.

• (a) and (d)
• (a) and (b)
• (b) and (c)
• (c) and (d)

Hint:

Kautilya's Arthashastra shows that even in ancient times, water was managed through responsibility-sharing and resource exchange—not taken for granted.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

From the text, it is clear that water distribution was often conditional and involved agreements such as leasing, hiring, or sharing in exchange for a share of agricultural produce. This implies the use of a barter-like system, confirming option (b). Moreover, in the absence of a private owner, responsibility for maintenance could shift to either charitable individuals or the community (village), validating option (c). Why other options are incorrect:

(a) While the text talks about usage and maintenance, it doesn’t explicitly state how the sharing was implemented (like via channels or structures).
(d) The water-works were not free; there was an expectation of return, such as a share of produce.