UPSC Exam  >  UPSC Notes  >  History for UPSC CSE  >  Shivaji's Administration: The Maratha Kingdom & Confederacy

Shivaji's Administration: The Maratha Kingdom & Confederacy | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Shivaji's Administration

  • Shivaji was the master of extensive territories expanding upto Maharastra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
  • His empire was divided into two parts: swaraj (own kingdom) or mulk-i-qadim (old territory).
  • And an undefined belt of land legally part of the Mughal empire which paid chauth but was not subject to Shivaji's administration.
  • A dictionary of official terms, entitled Raja Vyavahara Kosa, was prepared by a panel of experts under the supervision of Raghunath Pandit Hanumante.

Central Administration

  • Helped by Ashtapradhan (Eight Ministers) - not a council of ministers, for there is no collective responsibility, but only individual responsibility, i.e., each minister was directly responsible to Shivaji.

(i) Peshwa: Finances and general administration (later he became Prime Minister and very important);
 (ii) Sar-i-Naubat: Senapati or military commandar, only a honorary post with on real military powers;
 (iii) Majumdar or Amatya: Accountant General (but during the reign of the Peshwas, he became Revenue and Finance Minister);
 (iv) Waqanavis: Intelligence, posts and household affairs (Similar to those of Home Minister of today);
 (v) Surunavis or Sachiv: Also called "Chitnis" looked after correspondence.
 (vi) Dabir Or Sumanta: Master of ceremonies;
 (vii) Nyayadhish - Justice;
 (viii) Panditrao - Charities and Religious Affairs.
 Most of the administrative reforms of Shivaji are based on Malik Ambar's (Ahmednagar) reforms.

  • All ministers except the Panditrao and the Nyayadhish had to serve in war whenever necessary.

Revenue Administration

  • Assessment of land revenue based on mea

Points To Be Remembered

  • Sumant was also known as dabir. Similarly asta pradhans was also known as surunavis or chitnis.
  • The Maratha artillery in the third battle of Panipat was commanded by Ibrahim Khan Gardi.
  • The commander-in-chief of the Maratha troops in the third battle of Panipat was Viswas Rao.
  • An eyewitness account of the Third battle of Panipat has been provided by Kashiraj Pandit.
  • Baji Rao II became pensioner of the British and lived for more than thirty years at Bithur near Kanpur was Baji Rao II.
  • Holkar was the last Maratha chief to enter into a subsidiary alliance with the English.

surement; adoption of ‘Khathi’ of Ambar as the measuring rod. 

  • Increase of land revenue from 33% to 40% in later years.
  • Division of “Swarajya” (own kingdom) into number of revenue divisions, called “prants” consisting of 2 or more districts.
  • Changes in the position of the hereditary revenue officials, variously called Deshmukhs, Deshpandes, Patils, Kulkarnis, etc.
  • Though he did not completely do away with these officials, he considerably reduced their powers by close supervision and strict collection of revenue from them.
  • Appointment of his own revenue officials (Subahdars or Karkuns in charge of revenue administration of prants).
  • Chauth and Sardeshmukhi: Both were collected not on his “Swaraja” but on an undefined belt of land which was legally part of the Mughal empire or the Deccan States; Chauth-1/4th of the land revenue of this unspecified belt of land paid to Marathas so that land would not be subjected to Maratha raids.
  • Saradeshmukhi - an additional levy of 10% on the lands of Maharasthra over which Marathas claimed hereditary rights, but which formed part of the Mughal Empire.

Military Administration

  • Payment of ordinary soldiers in cash, but of big chiefs and military commanders through the grant of revenues of "saranjam” or “mokasa” (Jagirs).
  • Participation of all ministers, except the last two (Nyayadhish and Panditrao), in war.
  • Heirarchy of army officials : Sar-i-Naubat (Senapati), Panch Hazari, Jumladar, Havaldar and Naik.
  • Army consisted of Infantry (Mavali footsoldiers played the most important role); cavalry (consisting of Bargis and Silahdars; the former were provided with horses and equipment by the state, while the latter maintained their own) and navy (consisted of two squadrons, each under a Muslim and a Hindu). 
  • Forts-occupied an important position. Each fort was put under the charge of 3 officers of equal rank as a precaution against treachery, and frequently

Points To Be Remembered

  • Shivaji’s conquest of Javli, which commanded the Mavala area, was the beginning of his rise into prominence.
  • Shaista Khan was the maternal uncle of Aurangzeb.
  • Baji Rao-I assigned different territories to the prominent Maratha chiefs as their “Sphere of Influence”.
  • Shivaji killed Afzal Khan after eliciting information from the latter’s Brahmin envoy called Krishnai Bhaskar.
  • Shivaji’s greatest military feat was the invasion of Karnatik in 1677-78.
  • Tarf was a Maratha administrative division.
  • Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadava were enterprising Maratha generals and defeated the Mughal armies a number of times.
  • Shivaji II is better known as Shahu.
  • Zulfiqur Khan was responsible for the release of Shahu from Mughal imprisonment.
  • Baji Rao I compelled the Nizam of Hyderabad to submit to the dictated treaty of Mungi-Shevagaon in 1728.
  • Baji Rao II was the last Peshwa of the Marathas.
  • Mirasdars were the collective names for deshmukhs and deshpandes.
  • After the third battle of Panipat, the lost fortunes of the Maratha empire were restored by Peshwa Madhav Rao I

transferred them (by the end of his reign, Shivaji had 240 forts under him).

The document Shivaji's Administration: The Maratha Kingdom & Confederacy | History for UPSC CSE is a part of the UPSC Course History for UPSC CSE.
All you need of UPSC at this link: UPSC
127 videos|503 docs|181 tests

Up next

FAQs on Shivaji's Administration: The Maratha Kingdom & Confederacy - History for UPSC CSE

1. How did Shivaji administer the Maratha Kingdom?
Ans. Shivaji administered the Maratha Kingdom through a decentralized system of governance. He established a council of ministers known as the Ashtapradhan, who were responsible for various aspects of administration such as finance, military, justice, and intelligence. Shivaji also implemented a system of revenue collection and land administration, known as the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi, respectively. He emphasized meritocracy and appointed capable individuals irrespective of their caste or religious background.
2. What was the role of the Ashtapradhan in Shivaji's administration?
Ans. The Ashtapradhan, or the Council of Ministers, played a crucial role in Shivaji's administration. Each minister was responsible for a specific department, such as finance, military, justice, intelligence, and foreign affairs. They advised Shivaji on various matters and implemented his policies. The Ashtapradhan acted as a check and balance system, ensuring efficient governance and preventing any one minister from gaining excessive power. They were appointed based on their capabilities, and Shivaji valued their expertise and loyalty.
3. How did Shivaji ensure revenue collection in the Maratha Kingdom?
Ans. Shivaji implemented a system of revenue collection known as Chauth and Sardeshmukhi. Chauth referred to the levy of one-fourth of the land revenue collected from territories under his control. Sardeshmukhi, on the other hand, was an additional levy of 10% on territories that were not directly under his administration but paid tribute to him. Shivaji appointed revenue officers known as Karkuns to oversee the collection and proper utilization of revenue. This system helped Shivaji strengthen his finances and build a strong military force.
4. How did Shivaji ensure justice in the Maratha Kingdom?
Ans. Shivaji implemented a robust system of justice in the Maratha Kingdom. He established courts called Nyayalayas, where disputes were resolved and justice was dispensed. Shivaji appointed qualified and impartial judges known as Nyayadhish to preside over these courts. He emphasized the importance of fair and equitable justice and ensured that people from all sections of society had access to the courts. Shivaji himself acted as the final court of appeal, and he personally reviewed important cases to ensure justice was served.
5. How did Shivaji's administration impact the Maratha Confederacy?
Ans. Shivaji's efficient administration laid the foundation for the Maratha Confederacy's growth and expansion. The decentralized governance system, meritocracy, and revenue collection mechanisms established by Shivaji were followed by his successors, enabling the Confederacy to maintain a strong administrative structure. This helped the Marathas consolidate their power, expand their territories, and emerge as a formidable force in India. Shivaji's administrative policies also fostered a sense of unity and loyalty among the Maratha nobles, contributing to the success and longevity of the Maratha Confederacy.
127 videos|503 docs|181 tests
Download as PDF

Up next

Explore Courses for UPSC exam
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev
Related Searches

past year papers

,

Shivaji's Administration: The Maratha Kingdom & Confederacy | History for UPSC CSE

,

Exam

,

Semester Notes

,

ppt

,

Important questions

,

shortcuts and tricks

,

Viva Questions

,

MCQs

,

mock tests for examination

,

Shivaji's Administration: The Maratha Kingdom & Confederacy | History for UPSC CSE

,

Summary

,

study material

,

Objective type Questions

,

practice quizzes

,

Sample Paper

,

Free

,

pdf

,

Shivaji's Administration: The Maratha Kingdom & Confederacy | History for UPSC CSE

,

Previous Year Questions with Solutions

,

Extra Questions

,

video lectures

;