The Maurya era regime was largely the one adopted by Chandragupta and Ashoka, which was so robust and efficient that its basic elements are still maintained in almost all regimes today.
Kautilya was the chief minister and ardent statesman of Chandragupta who formulated the best aspect of Maurya era administration.
The regime was started by Chandragupta Maurya.
It continued in the time of Bindusara.
In the time of Emperor Ashoka, the previous system continued with the changes made to implement religious and moral ideals.
Kautilya's "Economics" is an important historical tool for understanding the Mauryan system of government.
Apart from this, Visakhadatta's "Mudrarakshas, and Deepavansh", "Kalpasutra" in Jain texts, and "Parishistparvan" and "Kathasarit Sagar" and "Brihat Kathamanjari" in Puranas give information about the Mauryan system.
Information about the Mauryan administration can also be gleaned from Ashoka's archives, stupas, monasteries, chaityas, relics of monuments and coins.
Main parts of Maurya era administration: Maurya era governance was divided into three main sections: $(1)$ Central Administration $(2)$ Provincial Administration $(3)$ and Regional Administration.
$1.$ Central Administration: There were four main organs of the Central Administration.
$(A)$ King $(B)$ Cabinet $(C)$ Military system and $(4)$ Judiciary.
$A.$ King: In the Maurya era, the king was at the center of the regime and he was omnipotent.
His power was absolute, but the Mauryan emperors were not arbitrary.
His monarchy was formed on the spirit of public welfare.
According to the rule given in "Arthashastra", they believed that "whatever the king likes, he should not consider himself good."
But whatever the public likes is to be considered good.
In addition to being the supreme head of the administration, the king was also the supreme commander and head of the judiciary.
The king divided the large empire into small and large divisions and administered it with the help of his cabinet and officials.
Although his position was paramount, he respected the advice of the cabinet.
From the schedule given to the king by Kautilya, it can be inferred that the Mauryan king worked from four in the morning till ten o'clock at night.
Yuvraj, the Chief Minister and other ministers were constantly helping the king in his tasks.
The king appointed the chief minister and other ministers.
The king's main task was to maintain peace and security in various parts of the empire.
Its main goal was to make the people prosperous and happy.
The king led the army to listen, to administer justice, to bring out theologians, and so on.
The king's position was hereditary and usually only his eldest son came to the throne after the king.
$B.$ Cabinet: There were separate accounts in the central government as there are now.
A minister was appointed for the administration of each department.
Kautilya has identified as many as 18 central government accounts.
The main department and its ministers were as follows.
Charity Account: The head of this account was a "priest".
There were officials called "Dharmamahamatras" to help him.
Finance and Revenue Department: The head of this department was "Samaharta".
He collected state land revenue and other taxes.
Arranging irrigation for farming and keeping track of state revenue.
$3.$ Military Department: The head of this department was "Senani".
According to Megasthenes, there was a 30-member committee under the "fighters" to administer the entire military.
$4.$ Trade Department: The head of this department was "Panyadhyaksha".
This account was used to buy and sell goods, fix prices, monopolize trade, promote exports, etc. To assist the Panyadhyayaksha in his work, there were "Shulkadhyaksha","Sansthaadhyaksha","Seemapal", "Sutradhyaksha" etc.
$5.$ State Department: The head of this department was "Prasastri".
He obtained information about foreign lands with the help of angels and spies.
Kautilya has shown three types of angels.
There were officers who had full rights, limited rights and only exchanged messages.
Justice Department: The head of this department was "Pradeshatri".
There were two types of courts in the state, theological and thorny.
Prisons and the police were also departments of the judiciary.
$C.$ Military system: Under the direction of Megasthenes, a committee of $30$ members in the Mauryan regime handled the military system.
His leader was called "Senani".
The four main divisions of the army were infantry, cavalry, chariots, and cavalry.
Chandragupta Maurya's army had an infantry of $9$ lakhs, a cavalry of $30 $ thousand, a cavalry of $9$ thousand, and a chariot of $8$ thousand.
The infantry had various ranks such as medallions, generals, and heroes.
In addition to the four main forces, there were naval forces and allied engineering forces for each force.
There were 6 sections of the $30-$member committee for the management and regulation of all these forces.
Each section consisted of five subcommittees.
Forts and trenches were set up along the borders as well as around the main towns for the defense of the state.
The chairman of the ammunition depot handled the management of weapons and equipment.
The army of the Mauryan era was strong and powerful.
However, after Ashoka's renunciation of arms as well as acceptance of the ideals of Dharmavijaya and non-violence, the army became weak.
Judiciary: The supreme head of the judiciary in the Mauryan regime was the king and the minister in charge of the judiciary was "Pradeshatri".
There was a system of courts in the small and big towns of the state and its functioning was carried out according to certain rules and regulations.
There were mainly two types of courts.
$(1)$ Dharmasthiya: It deals with matters of land, marriage, divorce, remarriage, divorce, property, inheritance, debt and interest.
$(2)$ Thorn Search: It deals with fights, rapes, murders, hoarding, and artisans.
Judges who administer justice are called "righteous".
State intelligence assisting judges in the investigation.
Apart from this the private courts of the unions were found.
According to Megasthenes, $18$ types of torture were used to force criminals to confess.
The crime rate was very low in the Mauryan Empire due to strict penalties.
The work of giving justice in the villages was done by the Gram Sabha.
It had a "rural" chief justice officer.