Consider the following statements : 1. The Arthashastra is the first Indian text to define a State. 2. The main concerns of the Arthashastra are theoretical issues like the origins of the state. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ? '

The correct answer is Option 1. Kautilya’s Arthashastra is widely recognized by historians as the first Indian treatise to provide a formal, systematic definition of the State through its Saptanga Theory. This theory conceptualizes the State as an organic entity comprising seven vital limbs (Angas): Swami (King), Amatya (Ministers), Janapada (Territory/Population), Durga (Fort), Kosha (Treasury), Danda (Army), and Mitra (Ally).

Statement 2 is incorrect because the primary focus of the Arthashastra is practical statecraft and administrative governance rather than abstract theoretical debates. While it briefly touches upon the origin of kingship (referencing a social contract to avoid Matsyanyaya or the law of the jungle), its core objective is "Yogakshema"—the acquisition, protection, and management of territory. It serves as a manual for a ruler to expand power and ensure the welfare of the subjects through rigorous internal administration and strategic foreign policy.