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Ashta Pradhan: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Council of Eight Ministers:

Instituted at his royal coronation in 1674 at Raigad, the Ashta Pradhan (अष्ट प्रधान) was an advisory council of eight specialized ministers directly responsible to Shivaji:

1. 1. Peshwa (Pant Pradhan): Prime Minister; supervised general imperial administration and held custody of the royal seal.
2. 2. Amatya (Majumdar): Finance and Revenue Minister; maintained imperial income and expenditure accounts.
3. 3. Senapati (Sari Naubat): Commander-in-Chief of the Maratha armed forces.
4. 4. Waqia-Navis (Mantri): Home Minister & Chief of Intelligence, royal court proceedings, and internal security.
5. 5. Sachiv (Shuru-Navis): Minister in charge of Royal Correspondence and edicts.
6. 6. Sumant (Dabir): Foreign Affairs Minister handling diplomatic relations with Mughal and Deccani courts.
7. 7. Nyayadhish: Chief Justice administering civil and military justice.
8. 8. Panditrao (Danamadhyaksha): High Priest managing religious affairs, charities, and moral grants.

Rule: All ministers except Nyayadhish and Panditrao held military commands; offices were strictly non-hereditary.