With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?
- A It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
- B It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire.
- C The forced labourer was entitled to weekly wages.
- D The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced labourer
Show Answer
The correct answer is A.
During the Gupta period land taxes increased considerably. The land tax called bali varied from 1/4th to 1/6th of the total produce. Two new agricultural taxes that appear in Gupta inscriptions are uparikara and udranga. However, their exact nature is not clear. In addition, the peasants had to meet the demands of the feudatories. They also had to feed the royal army when it passed from the villages. The villagers were also subjected to forced labour (vishti).
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