Before Vedic Period ( 1500-600 b.c ), the uniform town planning of various cities of Indus valley civilization ( 3500-1500 b.c ) suggest there might be a strong centralized government. During Vedic period, the society was mainly tribal and the head of the tribe was supposed to be a raja or king, though the concept of king had not developed. In every tribe there used to be a Sabha and Samiti - an assembly or council of people which limit the power of raja and played an important role in the governance of people. By 6th b.c large kingdoms called mahajanapadas started to grow where king was head of all forms of government. Along with mahajannapadas there existed many small republics which had some elements of democracy in their administration.
During the Mauryan period (322-185 b.c ) , the administration and governance become more rational. The king was assisted by a no. of ministries and officers who used to maintain the record of population, income and expenditure, land revenue, public works, etc. There was also a standing army and espionage system. The kingdom was divided into many provinces governed by a governor who was appointed by king and was responsible to him.
The administration and governance of Gupta period (319-522 C.E ), was more or less like Mauryan period but more decentralized unlike mauryans as the governors of provinces were more independent.