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RAS question

Consider the following statements about the Arthashastra: I. The Arthashastra by Kautilya (Chanakya) is a comprehensive treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy. II. The Arthashastra advocates that a king must always follow dharma (righteousness) even if it conflicts with rajaniti (political necessity). Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Correct answer: (A) I only.

Only Statement I is correct: Kautilya's Arthashastra is a broad treatise on statecraft, political economy and military power, but it does not require the king always to follow dharma over political necessity.

  1. (A)

    I only

  2. (B)

    II only

  3. (C)

    Both I and II

  4. (D)

    Neither I nor II

Explanation

The Arthashastra is correctly described as a comprehensive work on statecraft. eGyanKosh, Unit 7: Kautilya State and Duties of Kingship says Kautilya's famous work is studied across political science, diplomacy, security studies, economics, management and public administration, and covers politics, economy and diplomacy. It also describes the text as having 15 books, with sections on the king, officers, state functions, calamities, conquest, forts, secret practices and method. Statement II fails because the text is not a simple moralist manual that always places dharma above rajaniti. The unit distinguishes Dharmashastra from Arthashastra, calls Arthashastra more political and economic in nature, and says Kautilya separated polity from religion while giving artha independent importance.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (B) Statement II alone cannot be correct because the Arthashastra is framed as political and economic statecraft, not as an instruction that dharma must always defeat political necessity.
  • (C) This option wrongly accepts Statement II, although Arthashastra is distinguished from Dharmashastra and presented as a pragmatic treatise on polity and artha.
  • (D) Statement I is correct because Arthashastra is Kautilya's major work across politics, diplomacy, security studies, economics and public administration.

Concept

This tests the ancient Indian political thought part of the RAS syllabus, especially Kautilya's statecraft and the distinction between Arthashastra and Dharmashastra. It recurs because RAS often asks statement-based questions where one statement is broadly factual and the other overstates a moral or ideological claim.

Source

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