Ashoka's high officers went on 'Nirikshatan' (administrative inspection tours) from Ujjayini and Taxila every ______ years.

Correct answers: (b) 3 or (d) 5

Explanation

Ashoka sent his officers on regular tours of inspection to check that justice was done and to teach the dhamma.

• Rock Edict III: the yuktas, rajukas and pradeshikas were to go on tour every five years.
• First Separate (Kalinga) Edict: Ashoka himself would send out a gentle officer (mahamatra) every five years, and the princes at Ujjayini and Taxila were to send out such officers at least every three years.

Ujjayini (in the west) and Taxila (in the north-west) were provincial capitals ruled by princes, like Tosali (Kalinga) and Suvarnagiri (in the south).

The book's key is (d), five years, the period in Rock Edict III. The Kalinga edict sets three years for the officers sent out from Ujjayini and Taxila, the two cities in the question, so (b) is also accepted.