Q: Which of the following was the primary language of administration in ancient India during the Maurya Empire?  

During the Maurya Empire, which ruled from 322 to 185 BCE, the primary language used for administration and inscriptions was Prakrit. Although Sanskrit was highly regarded and used in scholarly texts, Prakrit was more commonly used in daily affairs and inscriptions due to its simplicity and accessibility to the general populace. Emperor Ashoka, in particular, used Prakrit for his edicts to ensure that they could be understood by the common people across the vast empire. Pali was also used in religious texts and is associated with Theravada Buddhism. Tamil, while a significant ancient language, was primarily used in the southern part of India and not widely adopted for administrative purposes in the Maurya Empire.