Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow:

"The Arthashastra, Greek accounts and Ashokan inscriptions give us a good idea about the administrative system. The administrative structure involved a division of the empire into provinces."

(Source: https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/64794/1/Unit16.pdf)

(a) Who managed these provinces, and to whom were they accountable?

(b) What were the main responsibilities of the Mantri Parishad in the Mauryan Empire?

(a) These provinces were governed by Kumaras (royal princes) or Governors, who were accountable to the Emperor and supported by ministers and subordinate officials.

(b) The main responsibilities of the Mantri Parishad in the Mauryan Empire were:

1. To advise and assist the Emperor and the Kumaras in administration.
2. Each minister was individually responsible for his department like revenue and tax collection, military and defense, trade and commerce, etc.