Administration

Pair 1 is correctly matched: In South India, especially during the Pallava and Chola periods, Eripatti (tank land) was land donated by individuals or the state, the revenue of which was strictly used for the maintenance and repair of the village irrigation tank (eri). Pair 2 is INCORRECTLY matched: The description "Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins" refers to Brahmadeya (or Agrahara). Taniyurs (or Taniyur) were a specific administrative unit in the Chola empire. They were exceptionally large villages or settlements that were granted the status of an independent revenue unit, meaning they were not subject to the jurisdiction of the local Nadu (district). Pair 3 is correctly matched: Ghatikas were prestigious institutions of higher learning in ancient South India. They were often located within or attached to temples and served as centers for Vedic and religious studies (notably the famous Ghatika of Kanchipuram).

The correct answer is **C. Rajendra I (Chola).** Rajendra Chola I, son of Rajaraja Chola I, led a famous naval expedition against the Srivijaya kingdom around 1025 CE. Srivijaya was a powerful maritime empire controlling the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and nearby islands. Rajendra I’s campaign asserted Chola naval dominance in the region and secured control over important sea trade routes. The other rulers listed did not conduct campaigns against Srivijaya: * Amoghavarsha (Rashtrakuta) focused mainly on the Deccan region. * Prataparudra (Kakatiya) ruled much later and was centered in the Deccan. * Vishnuvardhana (Hoysala) focused on South Indian affairs.