- CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
The Central Administration of Shivaji had following features
- KING
The king was the supreme head of the state. He was assisted by a group of eight ministers known as the Ashtapradhan. It cannot be termed as the Council of Ministers, as there was no collective responsibility and each minister was directly responsible to Shivaji. The Council of Ministers could not initiate policy; its functions were purely advisory. All the ministers, except the Nyayadhish (Chief Justice) and Pandit Rao usually held military commands besides their civil duties. Shivaji did not allow the high offices to become hereditary
PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION
Shivaji divided the territory directly under his rule (Swaraj) into three provinces, each under a viceroy. He further divided the Provinces into Prants, each of which was sub-divided into parganas, tarafs, sarkar and subah. The lowest unit was the village and each village had its headman or Patel. The officers incharge the bigger divisions were called Mamlatdars; over the small divisions were placed the Kamavisdars.
They were directly subordinate to the huzur daftar, but in Khandesh, Gujarat, Karnataka the Kamavisdars were subordinate to Sarsubahdars. They were incharge of all branches of district administration. The officer incharge of a Prant was designated as Subahdar, Karkum or Mukhya Deshadhikari.
KATHI SYSTEM
The Revenue system seems to have been patterned on the Kathi system (unit of measurement) of Malik Ambar in which land was carefully measured with the help of a measuring rod or Kathi.
The assessment of revenue was made after a careful survey and classification of the lands according to their quality and yield. The share of the state was fixed at two-fifths of the gross produce.
The cultivator was given the option of paying either in cash or kind. A new revenue assessment was completed by Annaji Datto in 1679 AD. Land Revenue was fixed 1/3rd i.e. 33% of the gross produce (initially), 2/5th i.e. 40% of the gross produce (after reforms.)
REVENUE ADMINISTRATION
Shivaji abolished the Jagirdari system and replaced it with the Ryotwari system. Shivaji brought about changes in the position of hereditary revenue officials, called Deshmukhs, Deshpandes, Patels and Kulkarnis. Shivaji strictly supervised the Mirasdars i.e. those with hereditary rights in land.
Though he did not completely do away with these officials, he considerably reduced their powers by close supervision and strict collection of revenue from them. Appointment of revenue officials (subadars or karkuns, incharge of revenue. administration of prants) helped in establishing a strong revenue system.
Besides the land revenue, Shivaji had other sources of income, of which the most important were the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi, two most important taxes in Maratha Taxation. These taxes were levied on those living outside Maratha kingdom (swarajya), on an undefined belt of land which was legally part of the Mughal empire or the Deccan states.
The Chauth amounted to one-fourth of the standard revenue assessment of the place, paid to Marathas as a safeguard (a kind of protection money) against Shivaji’s forces plundering or raiding their territory, whereas the Sardeshmukhi was an additional levy of 10% demanded from areas outside his kingdom since he claimed to be the hereditary Sardeshmukh (chief headman) of the entire Maratha country.
MILITARY ADMINISTRATION
Shivaji organised a disciplined and efficient army. The ordinary soldiers were paid in cash, but the big chiefs and military commanders were paid through the grant of Jagirs (Saranjam or Mikasa). The army consisted of infantry (Mavali, foot soldiers playing the most important role), the cavalry (consisting of bargirs and silahdars, the former were provided with horses and equipment by the state, while the latter maintained their own) and the navy (consisting of two squadron each under a Hindu and a Muslim.
After the conquest of Konkan, Shivaji built a strong navy as well. His fleet was equipped with ghurahs (gunboats) and gallianats (rowboats with 2 masts and 40-50 ores). His fleet was mainly manned by Koli (sea-fearing tribe of Malabar coast.) He established 2 squadrons of 200 vessels each. A special feature of his military administration was the maintenance of a large number of forts.
Each fort was under the joint command of three officers of equal rank (qiladars) as a precaution against treachery and they were frequently transferred.
Detailed instructions were issued for the provision of stores and arms. Appointments were made after careful scrutiny and by Shivaji himself. By the end of his reign, Shivaji had 240 forts under him. The army depended for its salaries to a considerable extent on the plunder of the neighbouring areas. The army only rested during the rainy season.
For the rest of the year it was engaged in expeditions. Pindaris were allowed to accompany the army who were allowed to collect pal-patti, which was 25% of the war booty. The Peshwas tried to organise their army on the lines of European system called Kampus.