Who among the following ministers, in the eight-member council (Astapradhan) of Shivaji, held the charge of finance ?

In the eight-member council of ministers known as the Ashta Pradhan, established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1674, the Amatya (also known as Mujumdar) held the charge of finance and accounts [t3, t4]. The Amatya was responsible for managing the empire's income and expenditure, ensuring the financial stability of the nascent Maratha state [t4, t6]. Other members of the council included the Peshwa (Prime Minister) who oversaw general administration, the Sumant (Dabir) who managed foreign affairs, and the Pandit Rao who handled religious matters and charities [t3, t4]. The council was designed to formalize a sovereign bureaucracy, with each minister heading a specific administrative department [t4]. While the Peshwa was the foremost minister, the Amatya's role was critical for the fiscal management of the kingdom [c3, t6].

Sources

1. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashta_Pradhan
2. [2] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ashta-Pradhan
3. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 15: The Marathas > 15.5 Rule of the Peshwas (1713 - 1818) > p. 231