The head of a district (Ahara), the principal coordinator of the revenue and the officer in charge of general and military functions in his jurisdiction during Mauryan Empire was known as

In the Mauryan administrative hierarchy, the Rajuka was the head of the district (Ahara). Originally mentioned in Ashokan edicts, the Rajukas were high-ranking officials responsible for surveying land and assessing revenue, effectively serving as the principal coordinators of revenue within their jurisdiction [t2][t5]. Over time, their authority expanded to include judicial, general, and military functions, making their role comparable to that of a modern-day District Collector [t5]. While the Samaharta acted as the collector-general at the central level overseeing the exchequer [c1], the Rajuka managed the district-level administration. Other options like Krori and Foujdar are associated with the Mughal administrative system, and Chirastadar (Sheristadar) is a later revenue official term. The Mauryan bureaucracy was highly centralized, ensuring uniform governance from the village level up to the provincial capitals [c3][c5].

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Emergence of State and Empire > Provincial Administration > p. 55
2. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Emergence of State and Empire > 4.6 The Mauryan State and Polity > p. 53
3. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Emergence of State and Empire > SUMMARY > p. 61