Ministry

• In modern governance, the Central Government consists of the King or President, the Central Legislature, Ministers, heads of departments, and the central secretariat.
• The importance of the ministry or Council of Advisers is emphasized by ancient Indian political thinkers.
• The Mahabharata likens the king’s dependence on ministers to animals depending on clouds and other essential elements.
• Arthaśāstra asserts that a king needs competent councillors for success, as a single wheel cannot move a carriage.
• Manu suggests that complex administration requires assistance from ministers, while Sukra notes that different individuals possess unique aptitudes.
• Political thinkers in Hindu tradition deemed the ministry essential for the king’s governance.
• In the Rigveda and Atharvaveda, there is no mention of ministers, possibly due to the absence of a need for them at that time.
• The Yajurveda and Brahmana literature mention high functionaries known as ratnins (jewels), likely forming the king’s council, although their specific functions vary across sources.
• The ratnins likely included royal relatives, ministers, departmental heads, and courtiers.
• Key figures among the ratnins included the Crowned Queen and Favourite Queen, indicating that queens had roles in administration beyond being consorts.
• The Purohita, or royal chaplain, was critical for ensuring the king’s offerings to the gods were accepted, linking religious duties to governance.
• Departmental heads among the ratnins included the sendai (commander-in-chief), sūta (commander of chariot corps), grāmani (village headman), bhāgudhuk (tax collector), and sangrahita (treasurer).