Quick Revisi n
Module #54
Maratha Empire
Political, Economic and Social life
Political Structure of the Maratha Empire
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was one of the most remarkable administrators
in Indian history. He established a well-organized governance system that
emphasized centralized authority, efficient revenue management, military
discipline, and public welfare.
Central Administration: The Ashta Pradhan Mandal
The Ashta Pradhan Mandal was an eight-member council of ministers that assisted Shivaji in state
administration. Each member had a specific portfolio and was responsible for both civil and military
duties (except judicial and religious heads).
AHMEDABAD | BENGALURU | BHOPAL | CHANDIGARH | DELHI | GUWAHATI | HYDERABAD | JAIPUR | JODHPUR | LUCKNOW | PRAYAGRAJ | PUNE | RANCHI 1/6
, Quick Revisi n
Module #54
Ashta Pradhan Council – Roles & Responsibilities
Title (Traditional/
Designation Duties & Responsibilities
Alternate Name)
Peshwa (Mukhya Prime Minister Head of the council; managed civil affairs and
Pradhan) acted as king’s deputy.
Amatya (Mazumdar) Finance Minister Oversaw state revenue, budget, audits, and
treasury.
Mantri (Waqia-Navis) Interior/Home Maintained court records, supervised internal
Minister intelligence and daily reports.
Sumant (Dabir) Foreign Minister Handled diplomacy, alliances, and foreign
negotiations.
Sachiv Chief Secretary Managed official correspondence, documentation,
(Surnavis/Shurunavis) and seals.
Senapati Commander-in Supreme head of the military; oversaw strategy,
(Sar-i-Naubat) -Chief training, and defense.
Nyayadhish Chief Justice Administered civil and criminal justice; supervised
legal procedures.
Panditrao Religious & Charity Oversaw religious activities, rituals, charitable
Head grants, and ethics.
Important Note on the Ashta Pradhan System
Advisory in Nature: The Ashta Pradhan was an advisory body. Its
recommendations were not binding; the Chhatrapati held
supreme decision-making authority.
Inspired, Not Invented: The concept of a ministerial council was
not originally created by Shivaji. It drew inspiration from earlier
models such as:
Bahmani and Deccan Sultanates, which had ministerial
bodies with similar portfolios.
Adilshahi (Bijapur) and Nizamshahi (Ahmadnagar), whose
Persian-influenced bureaucracies served as templates.
Shivaji’s Innovations: Shivaji restructured and indigenized this framework to create a distinct
Maratha-Hindu polity:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed
Replaced Persian-Islamic titles with Sanskritized/Hindu administrative terms.
diam nonummy nibh Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecte-
infocompanyname.com
Assigned military responsibilities to all ministers (except Nyayadhish
tuer adipiscing and Panditrao),
elit, sed diam nonummy nib.
+57 12 345 667
reinforcing martial readiness and loyalty.
Your city address merit-based appointments and discouraged hereditary succession, ensuring
Introduced
competence and centralized authority.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam
Replaced the Jagir system with fixed cash salaries
nonummy to ipsum
nibh Lorem curbdolor
feudalism and enhance
sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing state
control.
Lorem ipsum dolorsitamet. elit, sed diam nonummy nib.
AHMEDABAD | BENGALURU | BHOPAL | CHANDIGARH | DELHI | GUWAHATI | HYDERABAD | JAIPUR | JODHPUR | LUCKNOW | PRAYAGRAJ | PUNE | RANCHI 2/6
Module #54
Maratha Empire
Political, Economic and Social life
Political Structure of the Maratha Empire
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was one of the most remarkable administrators
in Indian history. He established a well-organized governance system that
emphasized centralized authority, efficient revenue management, military
discipline, and public welfare.
Central Administration: The Ashta Pradhan Mandal
The Ashta Pradhan Mandal was an eight-member council of ministers that assisted Shivaji in state
administration. Each member had a specific portfolio and was responsible for both civil and military
duties (except judicial and religious heads).
AHMEDABAD | BENGALURU | BHOPAL | CHANDIGARH | DELHI | GUWAHATI | HYDERABAD | JAIPUR | JODHPUR | LUCKNOW | PRAYAGRAJ | PUNE | RANCHI 1/6
, Quick Revisi n
Module #54
Ashta Pradhan Council – Roles & Responsibilities
Title (Traditional/
Designation Duties & Responsibilities
Alternate Name)
Peshwa (Mukhya Prime Minister Head of the council; managed civil affairs and
Pradhan) acted as king’s deputy.
Amatya (Mazumdar) Finance Minister Oversaw state revenue, budget, audits, and
treasury.
Mantri (Waqia-Navis) Interior/Home Maintained court records, supervised internal
Minister intelligence and daily reports.
Sumant (Dabir) Foreign Minister Handled diplomacy, alliances, and foreign
negotiations.
Sachiv Chief Secretary Managed official correspondence, documentation,
(Surnavis/Shurunavis) and seals.
Senapati Commander-in Supreme head of the military; oversaw strategy,
(Sar-i-Naubat) -Chief training, and defense.
Nyayadhish Chief Justice Administered civil and criminal justice; supervised
legal procedures.
Panditrao Religious & Charity Oversaw religious activities, rituals, charitable
Head grants, and ethics.
Important Note on the Ashta Pradhan System
Advisory in Nature: The Ashta Pradhan was an advisory body. Its
recommendations were not binding; the Chhatrapati held
supreme decision-making authority.
Inspired, Not Invented: The concept of a ministerial council was
not originally created by Shivaji. It drew inspiration from earlier
models such as:
Bahmani and Deccan Sultanates, which had ministerial
bodies with similar portfolios.
Adilshahi (Bijapur) and Nizamshahi (Ahmadnagar), whose
Persian-influenced bureaucracies served as templates.
Shivaji’s Innovations: Shivaji restructured and indigenized this framework to create a distinct
Maratha-Hindu polity:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed
Replaced Persian-Islamic titles with Sanskritized/Hindu administrative terms.
diam nonummy nibh Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecte-
infocompanyname.com
Assigned military responsibilities to all ministers (except Nyayadhish
tuer adipiscing and Panditrao),
elit, sed diam nonummy nib.
+57 12 345 667
reinforcing martial readiness and loyalty.
Your city address merit-based appointments and discouraged hereditary succession, ensuring
Introduced
competence and centralized authority.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam
Replaced the Jagir system with fixed cash salaries
nonummy to ipsum
nibh Lorem curbdolor
feudalism and enhance
sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing state
control.
Lorem ipsum dolorsitamet. elit, sed diam nonummy nib.
AHMEDABAD | BENGALURU | BHOPAL | CHANDIGARH | DELHI | GUWAHATI | HYDERABAD | JAIPUR | JODHPUR | LUCKNOW | PRAYAGRAJ | PUNE | RANCHI 2/6
