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 ?

Shivaji's administrative measures were formalized during his coronation in 1674 at Raigad. On this occasion, he officially announced the 'Ashta Pradhan' (council of eight ministers), defining their specific duties and administrative departments to guide the nascent state. This council included roles like the Peshwa (Prime Minister) and Amatya [3]. Furthermore, Shivaji actively promoted Marathi and Sanskrit to assert sovereignty and cultural identity. He commissioned the 'Rajya-Vyavahāra-Koṣha', a treatise that provided Sanskrit equivalents for Persian administrative and diplomatic terms [1]. This initiative significantly reduced the use of foreign loanwords in Maratha administration [1]. The ministerial designations themselves were drawn from Sanskrit, replacing the previously dominant Persian terminology. Thus, both statements regarding the formalization of the Ashta Pradhan at the coronation and the linguistic shift from Persian to Marathi/Sanskrit are historically accurate.

Sources

1. [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashta_Pradhan
2. [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: The Rise of the Marathas > Cultural Revival > p. 77