Read the passage carefully. Attempt Question:
Shivaji's administrative measures were a marvel of his time and far in advance of his age. He strictly prohibited grants of land in lieu of military or other services, thereby avoiding the patent evils of the jagir system. While the Mughal administration continued blindly on the same old model built up by Akbar, Shivaji had created innovations in almost every branch. His division of official work among eight ministers. his system of forts for the defence of his realm, his organization of the navy, his army regulations including those for discipline and plunder. his compilation of the Raja-Vyavahara-kosa, his imposition of the system of chauth are all measures of his own creation, utterly unlike what was then in vogue. Shivaji spent money like water on repairing old forts and constructing new ones. about 250 in all, which particularly suited the geographical situation of the Maratha region. Each fort was a self-sufficient unit with plenty of water supply and corn-land enclosed, so that when besieged, each fort could stand defended by a small garrison for any length of time. The sonorous and significant names given to these forts reveal Shivaji's ingenuity even in this detail and remind us even today what their use and grandeur must have been at that time.
The annual revenue of Shivaji's dominions has been roughly calculated at seven crore rupees, possibly a lot lesser than in actual realization. It may be roughly put down that all the peninsular lands, south of the river Tapti, either wholly or partially owed allegiance to Shivaji.
Who owed allegiance to Shivaji?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → All the peninsular lands, south of the river Tapti, either wholly or partially owed allegiance to Shivaji.
The last line of the passage says that all the peninsular lands south of the river Tapti, either wholly or partially, owed allegiance to Shivaji. Allegiance means loyalty to a ruler.
Example: The soldiers swore allegiance to the new king.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: The Mughals owed allegiance to Shivaji. — Incorrect. Wrong link: the Mughals were a separate power whose administration is contrasted with Shivaji's; they did not owe him loyalty.
Option 2: His eight ministers only owed allegiance to Shivaji. — Incorrect. Too narrow: the eight ministers are mentioned only in connection with the division of official work, and the word "only" is contradicted by the last line.
Option 3: The whole of Maratha region owed allegiance to Shivaji. — Incorrect. Wrong link: the Maratha region is mentioned only for the forts that suited it; the passage gives the area of allegiance as the lands south of the Tapti.