Archaeologists have excavated a number of settlements in janapadas, such as Purana Qila in Delhi, Hastinapur near Meerut, and Atranjikhera, near Etah (the last two are in Uttar Pradesh). They found that people lived in huts, and kept cattle as well as other animals. 

People in janapadas made earthen pots. Some of these were grey in colour, others were red. One special type of pottery found at these sites is known as Painted Grey Ware. As is obvious from the name, these grey pots had painted designs, usually simple lines and geometric patterns. Perhaps these were used on special occasions, for important people, and to serve special food.

About 2500 years ago, some janapadas became more important than others, and were known as mahajanapadas. Most mahajanapadas had a capital city, many of these were fortified. 

The Janapadas were the realms, republics and kingdoms of the Vedic period on the Indian subcontinent. The Vedic period reaches from the late Bronze Age into the Iron Age: from about 1500 BCE to the 6th century BCE. 

The core of the kingdom was the area of Bihar south of the Ganges; its first capital was Rajagriha, then Pataliputra. Rajagriha was initially known as 'Girivrijja' and later came to be known as so during the reign of Ajatashatru.

Udayin was the Indian ruler of Haryanka dynasty who ruled over Magadha from 460 BCE to 440 BCE. He was the son of Ajatashatru and grandson of king Bimbisara. King Udayin laid the foundation of the city of Pataliputra at the confluence of two rivers, the Son and the Ganges. He shifted his capital from Rajgriha to Patliputra because of the latter's central location in Magadha empire. 

Nanda Dynasty ruled India at the time when Alexander,the Great was trying to fight with the rulers in the north west part of India.To be specific ,the ruler was Dhannand,the last ruler of this dynasty .

Beginning from the early Buddhist period and continuing through the modern period, this concept of forming closed and organized groups called "shrenis"  is really interesting. The people with the same occupations organized themselves into groups and were called shreni. Every Shreni had its own professional code, duties and obligations, working arrangements and even religious observances.  

The janapadas called 'Ashmak' occupied a part of today's Maharashtra. The names of these janapadas can be found in Sanskrit, Pali and Arshamagadhi literature. One can also find information about them in the writing of Greek historians.

The period from about 1000 BC to 600 BC is considered to be the post-Vedic period. It is in this period that the Janapadas came into existence. Janapadas were the many small States that spread from today's Afghanistan which is to the northwest of the Indian subcontinent to Bengal and Odisha in the east and to the Maharashtra in the south.

Also known as Vrjii, Vajji was an alliance of neighbouring clans including Licchavis and one of the principle Mahajanpadas. They ruled the Mithila region in the Northern Bihar and had Vaishali as their capital. Their administration was called "Vajji Sangha" or "Vajji Gana Parishad". Eminent people were chosen from each district, called "Khanda" as the representatives of the government. They were called "gana mukhyas", and the chairman of the council was called "ganapramukh" but often was referred to as the king. 

Nanda dynasties was ruling over North India at the time of Alexanders invasion. The Nanda dynasty immediately preseded the dynasty of the Mauryas.

Nanda Dynasty ruled India at the time when Alexander, the Great was trying to fight with the rulers in the north west part of India. To be specific ,the ruler was Dhannanda, the last ruler of this dynasty .

Licchavi was an ancient kingdom in Nepal, which existed in the Kathmandu Valley from approximately 400 to 750 CE. The Licchavi clan originated from Vaishali in modern northern Bihar and conquered Kathmandu.

Some janapadas had a gana-parishad of senior citizens. Members of the gana-parishad came together for discussions and made decisions regarding administrative issues.

The Nandas ruled the Magadha Empire between 364 BCE and 324 BCE. They had set up a good administrative system necessary to run the huge empire. They had a huge four-column army of infantry, cavalry, chariots and elephant. They were succeeded by the Mauryans.

Some janapadas which gradually became stronger and expanded their geographical boundaries were known as mahajanapadas. From the literature of that period, it is clear that up to the sixth century BCE, sixteen mahajanapadas had acquired special importance.

As the rulers of the mahajanapadas were, building huge forts, maintaining big armies, they needed more resources. And they needed officials to collect these. So, instead of depending on occasional gifts brought by people, as in the case of the raja of the janapadas, they started collecting regular taxes.

The rulers of mahajanapadas were engaged in building forts, maintaining huge armies for the protection of their territory and the subjects. They needed more resources which could be obtained from taxes. Crafts persons, farmers, hunter-gatherers, herders were liable to pay these taxes in one form or the other. Hunter-gatherers provided forest produce to the raja as a tax.

Surasena was part of 16 Mahajanapadas of 6th Century B.C. It was located in modern Braj region of Uttar Pradesh. Surasena's capital was Mathura. The name of Surasena is mentioned in Ramayana and in the writings of Greek ambassador Megasthenes.  

During the 6th Century BCE 16 kingdoms and republics flourished in the ancient Indian subcontinent. These 16 city states are known as Mahajanapadas. These were Anga, Asmaka, Avanti, Chedi, Gandhara, Kashi, Kamboja, Kosala, Kuru, Magadha, Malla, Machha, Panchala, Surasena, Vriji, and Vatsa. Avanti kingdom was in the territory of present Madhya Pradesh state. Ujjain was the capital of Avanti.

Answer - (C) - Puranas

The core of the kingdom was the area of Bihar south of the Ganges; its first capital was Rajagriha (modern Rajgir) and later it was Pataliputra (modern Patna). 

During the age of Mahajanapadas, the kings ruled with the help of officials, both high and low. Purohit was the post given to the main priest in the king's court. Senapati was the military commander and the tax collectors were known as Bandagarikas. The tolls were collected by officers known as Shoulkik during that period and Amatya was the chief minister. 

Out of 16 Mahajanapadas, four were very powerful. These included Magadha, Vatsa, Avanti and Koshala. These four Mahajanpadas engaged in the struggle for supremacy from 6th Century BC to 4th Century BC. The enmity between Magadha and Avanti rose to its zenith when Udaiyn, the successor and son of Ajatshatru was murdered upon the instigation of the king of Avanti. Finally, the hundred years of enmity between the two ended when the Shishuganga dynasty of Magadha destroyed the Prayota dynasty of Avanti and captured it. 

Ajat Shatru the son of Bimbisara continued with the policy of expansion of the Magadha Empire. He successfully conquered many republics of the east. The kingdom of Magadha prospered during the reign of Ajat Shatru.

In the northern part of the country, the village headman was known as the grama bhojaka. Usually, men from the same family held the position for generations. In other words, the post was hereditary.

Pataliputra or modern Patna was originally built by Udayin in 490 BCE.  It was a small fort near river Ganga. Udayin was son and successor of Haryanka king Ajatshatru.  

In 322 BC BCE, Chandragupta Maurya of Magadha founded the Maurya Empire in India and conquered the Macedonian satrapies during the Seleucid–Mauryan war (305–303 BCE).

Nanda Dynasty ruled India at the time when Alexander, the Great was trying to fight with the rulers in the northwest part of India. To be specific, the ruler was Dhannand, the last ruler of this dynasty. 

It was Chandragupta Maurya who conquered Magadha defeating the Nandas

Warriors and priests, i.e., the Kshatriyas and the Brahmanas, were exempted from payment of taxes, and the burden fell on on the peasants who were mainly vaishyas or 'grihapatis'. During the period of Mahajanapadas. It seems that one-sixth of the produce was collected as tax by the king from the peasants.

Vajji was the earliest democracy in India. Vajji was composed of eight clans and among them, the Lichchavis clan was the most important. It is known that in Lichchavis, 7707 Rajas ruled together at a time and each one of them maintained his storehouse and apparatus of administration. Hence the given statement is true.

During the age of Mahajanapadas hereditary monarchy was practiced and the king enjoyed the highest official status and special protection of his person and property. The kings ruled with the help of officials, both high and low.   

Anga and Magadha were located in the eastern and northern part, or the lower Gangetic valley, which was conducive to paddy cultivation for its wet climate. The upper areas of the Gangetic valley, namely north India, is drier and is conducive to wheat cultivation. Thus, Anga and Magadha were located in the rice-growing area of the Gangetic Valley. Another name for a wheat crop is winter crop and winter crops or spring harvest while another name for rice crop is monsoon crops or autumn harvest. Since India has a predominantly monsoon climate, it is more favorable for rice production than wheat.

The word Janapada literally means the land. Archaeologists have excavated a number of settlements in these Janapadas, such as Purana Qila in Delhi, Hastinapur near Meerut, and Atranjikhera, near Etah (the last two are in Uttar Pradesh).

Magadh  was the most powerful city state of India in the 6th century, it was nucleus for many big kingdoms like Mauryas and Guptas between 6th and 8th century.