In the administrative hierarchy of the Maratha Swarajya under Chhatrapati Shivaji, the council of eight ministers responsible for assisting the monarch was designated by which of the following terms?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Ashtapradhan was the council of eight ministers established by Shivaji to manage various departments of state administration, with each minister reporting directly to the Chhatrapati. The Navaratnas were the literary luminaries adorning the court of Emperor Akbar and later Krishnadevaraya. The Barah Bhaiya was a confederacy council of Maratha Sardars in later times. The Durbar-i-Aam was the public audience hall in Mughal palaces. The Peshwa served as the head of the Ashtapradhan council.