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

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

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