The administrative term 'Deshmukh' under the Maratha and Deccan sultanate systems referred to:

💡 Solution & Explanation

The term Deshmukh designated hereditary district-level revenue and administrative officials in Maharashtra under the Deccan sultanates and Maratha administrations, who performed crucial functions like land revenue collection and maintaining local order. Other administrative roles mentioned in the options, such as commander-in-chief or imperial mint superintendent, belonged to entirely different structural hierarchies. This institution formed the backbone of rural revenue administration across the Western Deccan region.