Balaji Vishwanath to Bajirao I — Mains Questions

Analyze the transformation of the Maratha polity from a regional kingdom to an empire under the leadership of Balaji Vishwanath and Bajirao I. (250 words, 15 marks)

Evaluate Bajirao I's military strategies and administrative innovations that enabled the rapid expansion of the Maratha Empire. (250 words, 15 marks)

Discuss the significance of the Mughal Farman of 1719 and the Treaty of Mungi-Shevgaon (1728) in legitimizing Maratha claims and shaping 18th-century Deccan politics. (250 words, 15 marks)