Q. What was the Bara Balutedar system traditionally practiced in rural Maharashtra?
Answer: The hereditary system involving twelve village service castes, each performing specific trades
Notes: Bara Balutedar system comprised twelve hereditary occupational groups providing essential services in Maharashtra villages. Each group, called a balutedar, had specific roles—like barber, blacksmith, or water-carrier—paid in grain or produce. It sustained the rural economy and maintained social hierarchy for centuries.