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 ?
Show answer
Answer: B. Pair 1 is wrong: 'aurang' is a Persian word for a warehouse or workshop where goods (especially cloth) were collected, not a treasury officer. Pair 2 is correct: a banian was an Indian agent or middleman of the East India Company. Pair 3 is correct: under the ryotwari system in Madras, mirasidars were landholders recognised as revenue payers to the State. So 2 and 3.
Watch for: The unfamiliar word 'aurang' looks official, so students accept the treasury meaning.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because aurang means a warehouse or workshop, not a treasury officer.
- C. Wrong because pair 2 on banian is also correct.
- D. Wrong because pair 1 is mismatched.
Source to check: NCERT Class 8 Our Pasts III, Chapter 7 (Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners); NCERT Class 12 Themes in Indian History Part III, Chapter 10 (Colonialism and the Countryside)
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.