UPSC Prelims 2020 Q21: Modern History – British Administration & Economic Policies
With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:
1. Aurang - In - charge of treasury of the State
2. Banian - Indian agent of the East India Company
3. Mirasidar - Designated revenue payer to the State
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Explanation
Terms from the Company era
| Term | Given meaning | Actual meaning | Matched? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurang | In charge of the State treasury | A warehouse or workshop where goods (especially textiles) were collected before sale | No |
| Banian | Indian agent of the East India Company | Indian agent, broker or moneylender who handled the Company's and its officials' business | Yes |
| Mirasidar | Designated revenue payer to the State | Holder of hereditary land rights (mirasi) in south India, recognised as the revenue payer under the ryotwari system | Yes |
Aurang comes from Persian and appears in records of the Company's weavers' settlements in Bengal.
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Aurang was a warehouse or workshop, not the official in charge of a treasury.
- (b) CORRECT. Banians were the Company's Indian agents and mirasidars were designated revenue payers.
- (c) Incorrect. Pair 2 is also correct; banians were the Company's Indian agents and brokers.
- (d) Incorrect. Pair 1 is wrong: an aurang was a place for goods, not a treasury officer.
Key point
Aurang = warehouse or workshop for goods; Banian = Indian agent or broker of the Company; Mirasidar = hereditary landholder and designated revenue payer.
Remember
Aurang = warehouse, not treasury.
Common mistakes
- Treating aurang as an official because it sounds like a Mughal title.
- Not linking mirasidars to south Indian (Madras) land revenue arrangements.
- Forgetting that banians often became wealthy as Company intermediaries.
Exam tip
Learn colonial economic terms in groups: aurang (warehouse), banian (agent), gomastha (paid agent who supervised weavers), mirasidar (landholder).
Sources
- NCERT Class VIII — Our Pasts III, Ch 3 (Ruling the Countryside) and Ch 7 (Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners)
- UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2020 — Official Answer Key, GS Paper I