Which one of the following was NOT a way in which kings in ancient India attempted to claim a higher status ?
[amp_mcq option1=”Identifying with a variety of deities” option2=”Assuming pompous titles” option3=”Imposing high taxes” option4=”Conquests and annexation of territories” correct=”option3″]
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2023
Ancient Indian kings used various methods to elevate their status and legitimize their rule. Identifying with deities (e.g., claiming divine lineage or being representatives of gods) was a common way to reinforce authority. Assuming grand and pompous titles (like Maharajadhiraja, Samrat, Chakravartin) directly proclaimed their power and superiority. Conquests and annexation of territories demonstrated military strength and expanded their influence, bringing prestige and validating their claim to a higher status. Imposing high taxes, while a means of extracting resources and exercising power, was primarily an administrative and economic function rather than a method for *claiming* higher inherent status. High taxes could even lead to resentment rather than being a source of popular legitimacy for elevated status.
Claiming higher status often involved symbolic actions, assertions of divine connection, military prowess, and grand pronouncements, distinguishing it from the practical exercise of administrative power like taxation.