‘Ashtapradhan’ was a Council of Ministers
- AIn the Gupta administration
- BIn the Chola administration
- CIn the Maratha administration
- DIn the Vijayanagara administration
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: (c) In the Maratha administration
Explanation
For the administration of the Maratha state, Shivaji created the Ashtapradhan system at the central level, under which eight ministers were appointed. These included Peshwa, Amatya, Mantri, Sachiv, Sumant, Senapati, Panditrao, and Nyayadhish. They functioned like modern-day secretaries in Shivaji’s administration. Their role was only to advise the king. It cannot be called a council of ministers in the real sense. Each minister was responsible to the king. Details are as follows—
- (i) Peshwa – Prime Minister of the king.
- (ii) Amatya or Mazumdar – Minister of Finance and Revenue.
- (iii) Waqia Navis or Mantri – Kept records of the king’s daily work and the day-to-day proceedings of the court.
- (iv) Sachiv or Shurunavis – Looked after official correspondence.
- (v) Sumant or Dabir – Foreign Minister.
- (vi) Senapati or Sar-e-Naubat – Managed recruitment, organization, supplies, etc., of the army.
- (vii) Panditrao – Responsible for grants to scholars and for religious works.
- (viii) Nyayadhish – Chief Justice.