Which one of the following statements about Maratha administration is not correct ?

The correct answer is - Chougula was officer at Pargana level

Key Points

• Patil was officer at village level
  • The Patil served as the chief officer at the village level in the Maratha administration.
  • He was responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting revenue, and resolving disputes within the village.
  • This position was hereditary in many cases and played a crucial role in village governance.
• Peth was an urban center having non-agricultural professionals
  • Peth referred to a town or urban settlement under Maratha rule.
  • It typically had a concentration of non-agricultural professionals, such as traders, artisans, and other service providers.
  • These centers contributed to the economic and administrative activities of the Maratha empire.
• Hisars were existing or erstwhile forts
  • The term Hisar was used to describe existing or erstwhile forts in the Maratha administration.
  • Forts were pivotal in defense and served as administrative centers.
  • The Marathas maintained and strengthened such forts to ensure territorial security.
• Chougula was officer at Pargana level
  • This statement is incorrect. The Chougula was a subordinate officer at the village level, assisting the Patil in administrative and revenue-related tasks.
  • At the Pargana level, administrative officers such as the Deshmukh or Deshpande were responsible for governance and revenue collection.
  • The Chougula did not hold authority at the Pargana level.

Additional Information

• Maratha administrative structure
  • The Maratha administration was divided into three levels: Village, Pargana, and Subha.
  • Village-level officers included the Patil and Chougula.
  • Pargana-level officers included the Deshmukh, Deshpande, and Kulkarni.
  • Subha-level officers were responsible for broader governance and included the Subhedar.
• Revenue system
  • The Marathas followed the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi system for revenue collection.
  • Chauth: A tax amounting to one-fourth of the revenue collected from the territory.
  • Sardeshmukhi: An additional tax amounting to 10% of the revenue.
  • These taxes were collected to fund the administration and military campaigns.
• Importance of forts
  • Forts like Raigad, Shivneri, and Torna were strategically important for the Marathas.
  • They served as military bases, administrative centers, and symbols of power.
  • The Marathas fortified many existing forts to strengthen their territorial control.