Which factor best explains the political rise of Maratha chiefs like Scindias and Holkars?
The rise of the great Maratha houses was a direct result of the military autonomy granted to them by the Peshwas. These chiefs were given the freedom to lead their own expeditions and retain a portion of the conquered territories. This independence allowed them to build their own treasuries, armies and political legacies, eventually becoming kings in their own right within the broader confederacy. ANSWER: (C) Military autonomy under the confederacy
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The Peshwas, starting with Bajirao I, recognized that a single center could not govern the vast territories being captured. They delegated military authority to talented commanders, transforming them from mere generals into hereditary “Sardars.” Families like the Scindias (Gwalior) and Holkars (Indore) were allowed to manage the finances and defense of their assigned “spheres of influence.” This military autonomy was the engine of Maratha expansion, as it incentivized these chiefs to continuously push the empire’s boundaries further north and east to increase their own power and prestige.