RAS question
The Arthashastra describes how many types of forts (durga)?
Correct answer: (A) Four.
The Arthashastra describes four types of natural fortification: water, mountain, desert and forest forts.
Explanation
In the fortification passage, the Arthashastra lists defensive works to be built on grounds naturally suited for war: a water fortification, a mountainous fortification, a desert fortification and a forest fortification. That makes the answer four. The passage also explains the logic behind the classification. Water and mountain fortifications are treated as better suited to defending populous centres, while desert and forest fortifications are linked with habitations in the wilderness. The list is therefore a terrain-based classification of natural defensive bases. It does not support expanding this specific passage to six by adding mud/earth or human/army forts.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Three leaves out one of the four natural bases named in the passage: water, mountain, desert and forest.
- (C) Six adds mud/earth and human/army forts, but the cited Arthashastra passage gives only the four terrain-based categories of water, mountain, desert and forest.
- (D) Eight overstates the classification because the relevant passage does not list eight durga types; it identifies four natural defensive bases.
Concept
This tests the ancient Indian polity and military-administration part of the RAS history syllabus. Arthashastra classifications recur because exam questions often ask for precise textual categories rather than broad impressions of Mauryan administration.