Maratha State and Confederacy

1. Which naval forts were erected by Shivaji ? 1. Suvarnadurg 2. Vijay

Which naval forts were erected by Shivaji ?

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  • 1. Suvarnadurg
  • 2. Vijayadurg
  • 3. Sindhudurg
  • 4. Kolaba

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1, 2, 3 and 4
1, 2 and 4 only
3 and 4 only
2 and 3 only
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UPSC CAPF – 2024
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Shivaji Maharaj recognized the strategic importance of naval power and coastal defense for his burgeoning Maratha kingdom, which had a long coastline. He built and strengthened numerous forts along the Konkan coast. All four listed forts are historically associated with Shivaji’s efforts to establish a strong navy and protect his territory from maritime threats, particularly from the Siddi of Janjira, the Portuguese, and the English.
1. Suvarnadurg: A major sea fort built/strengthened by Shivaji.
2. Vijayadurg: Another crucial sea fort, known for its shipbuilding facilities and strong defense.
3. Sindhudurg: One of Shivaji’s most important island forts, built to be virtually impregnable.
4. Kolaba: An island fort near Alibaug, also developed by Shivaji.
Shivaji Maharaj was a pioneer in establishing a strong Maratha navy and constructing/fortifying strategically important naval forts along the Konkan coast.
These forts served multiple purposes: defending the coast from invasions, protecting trade routes, serving as naval bases for the Maratha fleet, and controlling access to rivers and inland areas. They were integral to Shivaji’s military strategy and his efforts to secure his kingdom’s western frontier.

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2. Who among the following ministers, in the eight-member council (Ashtap

Who among the following ministers, in the eight-member council (Ashtapradhan) of Shivaji, held the charge of finance?

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Peshwa
Amatya
Sumant
Pandit Rao
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The correct answer is B. In Shivaji’s Ashtapradhan council, the Amatya (also known as Majumdar) was responsible for finance and accounts.
– Shivaji’s Ashtapradhan was an eight-member council of ministers that assisted him in the administration of the Maratha kingdom.
– The roles were clearly defined: Peshwa (Prime Minister), Amatya (Finance Minister), Sachiv (Secretary), Mantri (Chronicler), Sumant (Foreign Minister), Senapati (Commander-in-Chief), Panditrao (Chief Priest), and Nyayadhyaksha (Chief Justice).
The Ashtapradhan council was not a cabinet in the modern sense, as the ministers were advisors to the King and their authority was derived from him. However, it provided a framework for efficient administration.

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3. Consider the following statements about the administrative measures of

Consider the following statements about the administrative measures of Shivaji:

  • 1. The scheme of Ashta Pradhan (eight ministers) was completed and announced at the time of Shivaji’s coronation with regulations and duties properly defined.
  • 2. Shivaji introduced Marathi in place of Persian and coined Sanskrit technical terms for administrative purposes.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2024
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Statement 1 is incorrect. The Ashta Pradhan Mandai (Council of Eight Ministers) system was in existence before Shivaji’s formal coronation in 1674. Their roles became more clearly defined and their positions gained greater prestige at the time of the coronation, which formalized Shivaji’s sovereignty, but the scheme itself was not initiated or completed *at* the coronation.
Statement 2 is correct. Shivaji actively promoted the use of Marathi in administration, replacing Persian, which was common under Mughal influence. He also commissioned the compilation of a dictionary, ‘Rajavyavaharakosha’, to replace Persian and Arabic terms with Sanskrit equivalents for administrative purposes.
Shivaji’s administrative system was well-organized, featuring a council of ministers (Ashta Pradhan) and a focus on local language for administration.
The Ashta Pradhan were advisors, not hereditary officers, and were accountable to Shivaji.
The eight ministers in the Ashta Pradhan included the Peshwa (Prime Minister), Amatya/Mazumdar (Finance Minister), Waqianavis (Superintendent), Sumant/Dabir (Foreign Secretary), Sachiv/Surunavis (Home Secretary), Pandit Rao (Ecclesiastical Head), Nyayadhish (Chief Justice), and Senapati (Commander-in-Chief).

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4. Which of the following statements is/are correct ? Shivaji sent an a

Which of the following statements is/are correct ?

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  • Shivaji sent an ambassador to Bombay to negotiate an agreement with the English.
  • His chief motive was to secure English aid against the Siddıs of Danda-Rajpuri.
  • He wanted a supply of grenades, mortars and other ammunition.

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1 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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UPSC CDS-2 – 2023
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The correct answer is D) 1, 2 and 3.
All three statements about Shivaji’s interactions with the English are correct.
1. Shivaji did send an ambassador to Bombay (then under English control) to negotiate various matters, including trade and potential military alliances.
2. A significant motive for Shivaji’s negotiations with European powers like the English was to secure support, particularly naval aid and modern weaponry, against his rivals, including the Siddhis of Janjira who controlled a formidable naval force and coastal fort.
3. Shivaji was keen to acquire modern artillery, grenades, mortars, and ammunition from the Europeans to strengthen his army and siege capabilities, which were essential against fortified locations held by the Mughals and the Siddhis. The treaty signed with the English in 1674 after negotiations included clauses for the supply of ammunition.
Shivaji Maharaj was a shrewd diplomat and military strategist who understood the importance of leveraging the presence of European powers for his own objectives against the larger forces of the Mughal Empire and other rivals. His interactions with the English often involved complex negotiations balancing trade interests, military support, and sovereign rights.

5. Arrange the following events associated with Shivaji in chronological

Arrange the following events associated with Shivaji in chronological order :

  • 1. Attack on Afzal Khan
  • 2. Capture of Torna
  • 3. Attack on Shaista Khan
  • 4. Annexation of Javli

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2, 4, 1, 3
4, 2, 1, 3
1, 2, 3, 4
3, 1, 2, 4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2023
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The correct chronological order of the given events associated with Shivaji is Capture of Torna, Annexation of Javli, Attack on Afzal Khan, and Attack on Shaista Khan.
The events occurred in the following approximate order:
1. Capture of Torna: 1646 (Considered Shivaji’s first fort capture).
2. Annexation of Javli: 1656 (Defeat of the Morey of Javli).
3. Attack on Afzal Khan: 1659 (Meeting and killing of Bijapuri general Afzal Khan).
4. Attack on Shaista Khan: 1663 (Raid on Mughal governor Shaista Khan in Pune).
These events mark crucial steps in Shivaji’s rise to power and consolidation of his kingdom, establishing him as a formidable challenge to both the Bijapur Sultanate and the Mughal Empire.

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6. The term Upari refers to which one of the following?

The term Upari refers to which one of the following?

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A category of proprietary tenure under the Mughal rule
A category of tenancy tenure under the Maratha rule
A soldier in the Maratha army
A village headman in the Mughal period
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The term ‘Upari’ refers to a category of tenancy tenure under the Maratha rule.
Under the Maratha revenue system, there were primarily two types of cultivators: Mirasidars and Uparis. Mirasidars were hereditary occupants or proprietors of land, holding permanent rights. Uparis were temporary tenants, often tenants-at-will or cultivating land in villages other than their own, and their rights were not hereditary or permanent. They were often brought in to cultivate vacant or fallow lands.
The distinction between Mirasidars and Uparis was significant in terms of social status, rights to land, and vulnerability to eviction or changes in revenue demands.

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7. In respect to Balutedars, which of the statements given below are corr

In respect to Balutedars, which of the statements given below are correct?

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  • 1. They were village servants and artisans.
  • 2. They were employed by individual peasant family.
  • 3. They existed in the Medieval Deccan and Maharashtra.

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1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2023
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Statement 1 is correct. Balutedars were village servants and artisans in the traditional village system of the Deccan and Maharashtra. They provided essential services and goods to the villagers.
Statement 3 is correct. The Balutedar system was a prominent feature of the village economy and social structure in the Medieval Deccan and Maharashtra regions.
Statement 2 is also considered correct in the context of how the system functioned. While Balutedars served the village community, their compensation (Baluta – a share of the harvest) was often tied to specific peasant families or households with whom they had customary relationships. This formed a sort of patron-client relationship, effectively meaning they were “employed by” or served individual peasant families in return for their share of the produce, alongside serving the broader needs of the village. Therefore, all three statements accurately describe aspects of the Balutedar system.
– Balutedars were integral to the traditional village economy and social structure in Maharashtra and the Deccan.
– They provided essential services (like carpentry, blacksmithing, pottery, etc.) and received payment, usually in kind (grain), known as Baluta.
– The system involved customary service relationships with village families.
The Balutedar system is often compared to or seen as a regional variant of the Jajmani system found in other parts of India, though with its own specific features and names for the service providers and their customary shares. The system ensured a degree of economic security for the Balutedars and provided necessary services for the agricultural community.

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