In the Mauryan Empire of Ashoka, which important official post with wide-ranging responsibilities for supervising moral conduct and welfare was specially created by the emperor?

Introduction / Context:
Ashoka, one of the greatest Mauryan emperors, is renowned not only for his military conquests but also for his emphasis on dharma (righteous conduct) and welfare of his subjects after the Kalinga war. To implement his moral and administrative policies, he created certain special posts. This question asks which official post, with broad responsibilities, was specially created by Ashoka for promoting dharma and public welfare.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The context is the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka.
• Ashoka issued rock and pillar edicts emphasising dhamma (dharma).
• He created new offices to ensure that these ethical policies reached people across the empire.
• The options list different Mauryan officials such as rajuka, yukta, and others.

Concept / Approach:
We must recall which officer is explicitly mentioned in Ashokan inscriptions as being responsible for promoting dhamma, overseeing the moral life of people, looking after prisoners, and ensuring justice and welfare. These are the 'Dhamma Mahamatras' (often spelled Dharamamahamatya in some texts), appointed by Ashoka in the fourteenth year of his reign to propagate his ethical code.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Rajukas were Mauryan officials associated with revenue and judicial functions, similar to modern district officers, but they were not uniquely created by Ashoka.2. Yuktas were general officials, often associated with accounting and record-keeping functions in the Mauryan system.3. Prativedakas functioned as informers or reporters, bringing local information to the higher authorities.4. In contrast, Dhamma Mahamatras (here given as Dharamamahamatya) were a new class of high officials created by Ashoka to look after moral welfare, supervise adherence to dhamma, attend to the needs of different communities, and ensure humane treatment of prisoners.5. Ashoka's edicts specifically mention the appointment of Dhamma Mahamatras, describing their widespread jurisdiction over different parts of the empire.6. Therefore, the correct answer is Dharamamahamatya.

Verification / Alternative check:
Inscriptions such as Rock Edict V and others mention that Ashoka appointed Dhamma Mahamatras to oversee the moral upliftment of his subjects, supervise charitable works, and promote non-violence and compassion. These officers travelled to different regions and interacted with various religious communities. No other office among the options is described in the sources as being newly created by Ashoka with such broad, explicitly ethical responsibilities.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Rajuka: Already part of the Mauryan administrative structure, responsible for revenue and justice, not uniquely created by Ashoka.
• Yukta: An established official category dealing with accounting and records, not specifically introduced to propagate dhamma.
• Prativedaka: Mainly functioned as a reporter or messenger, without the broad moral and welfare mandate associated with Ashoka's reforms.
• Mahamatya of finance: A plausible-sounding but generic post; the question clearly points to the distinctive Dhamma Mahamatras.

Common Pitfalls:
Examinees often confuse different Mauryan designations because they all sound similar. Another frequent error is to choose a more familiar-sounding term like rajuka, ignoring the question's emphasis on a special post created by Ashoka for ethical, not purely administrative, purposes. Remember that Dhamma Mahamatras are directly tied to Ashoka's post-Kalinga moral policy.

Final Answer:
The special post created by Ashoka with wide responsibilities for moral and welfare administration was that of the Dharamamahamatya (Dhamma Mahamatra).