Duties of a state as per Kautilya’s Arthashastra: 

In Arthashastra, Kautilya has described in vivid datails, the range of duties of a state, which are as follows:

1. Safety of people: 

It is the most important task of a king to ensure safety to his people from internal and external invasions. In the context of internal crises, he should deal with the persons of criminal records and eliminate them and in respect of external threats, a king should protect his people. 

2. Public welfare: 

Kautilya has expected a king to undertake welfare schemes. A state should render all possible help towards the aged, children, women and helpless people. It is the responsibility of a state to take proper care of the agricultural system, irrigation system and employment, etc. Besides rendering help in the times of drought famines, epidemic, etc., it is also the responsibility of a state to maintain hygienic system, medical system, water reservoirs and their construction and cleaning as a part of its welfare schemes. 

3. Regulation and control of economy: 

According to Kautilya, a state should ensure regulation and control of the economy in such a way that the economic resources do not get centralised and the economic interests of all the classes are well-protected. The state should have a control on all the businesses and the activities of their owners, price control of the produce. It should also see that no business or businessman enjoys monopoly in the economy. 

4. Judicial responsibility of state: 

Kautilya has termed judicial responsibilities as the most important obligation a state has to discharge and termed it as the basis of the state. Kautilya describes two aspects of justice. One is distributive justice, that is to say that a state has to ensure that no section of the people suffers from paucity so that there is an equitable distribution of resources in accordance with justice and principle. The second aspect of justice is remedial, that is to say that a state should protect the rights of the people and should punish those who may dare to disobey the rules of the state. The culprits should be suitably punished. 

5. Maintenance/Subsistence of social system: 

According to Kautilya, a state should ensure that the social system of the state is carried on in accordance with recognized system of ‘Classes’ and Varnas’ described in Vedas and other epics and literature. All the people should perform their duties in the light of their ‘classes’ and ‘Varnas’. The king should also organise and regulate mutual relations of different classes and also their marital system. 

6. Execution of administrative ststem: 

According to Kautilya, a state should have a competent administative system for fulfilling its wide range of responsibilities. The state sets up various departments and it should appoint in them able officers and officials. The state should have control on gazetted officers and should also ensure that these officers and officials are not exploiting the people of the state. 

7. Policy of foreign relations: 

Kautilya expects a mature and skill full attitude of a state in relation to foreign policy of a state or otherwise the state may be in danger. A state should try to avoid unnecessary wars in international arena, and it should try to increase the number of allies and decrease the number of enemies.