Explanation: The mahajanapadas on the Gangetic plains were all monarchies. Vedic orthodoxy was an established practice in these kingdoms.

• The priestly class enjoyed a preeminent status in the mahajanapadas unlike in the gana-sanghas.
• The kingdoms were governed by kings and the administration was centralised. The brahman priests provided legitimacy to the king through various rituals.
• The kingship was hereditary and the succession was in most cases based on the law of primogeniture.
• The king was assisted by councils called parishad and sabha. The councils were advisory in nature.
• The king appropriated the agricultural surplus through land revenue apart from a few other taxes. Bali was a tax imposed based on the area of cultivable land.
• Bhaga was obtained as a share of the produce. Kara and Shulka were some of the other taxes collected during this period.

Source: Tamil Nadu NCERT