Aspirant Academy
ENHI

RAS question

Shivaji was crowned as Chhatrapati at:

Correct answer: (D) Raigad.

Shivaji was crowned as Chhatrapati at Raigad Fort on June 6, 1674.

  1. (A)

    Satara

  2. (B)

    Pune

  3. (C)

    Sinhagad

  4. (D)

    Raigad

Explanation

Raigad Fort is the coronation location because Shivaji's coronation as Chhatrapati took place there on June 6, 1674, and the Ministry of Tourism's Utsav.gov.in page records Shivaji Maharaj as crowned king on that date at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Raigarh Fort. The date matters because the coronation is linked with the beginning of Hindavi Swarajya, alongside the exam-relevant details that Pandit Gaga Bhatt from Varanasi performed the coronation and that Shivaji established the Maratha Empire with the Ashta Pradhan, the council of eight ministers. Raigad therefore marks the formal sovereign coronation, not merely an associated fort name.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) Satara is wrong because it became a later capital under Rajaram, not the site of Shivaji's coronation.
  • (B) Pune is wrong because, although important to the Marathas, Shivaji's coronation took place at Raigad Fort.
  • (C) Sinhagad is wrong because it is associated with Tanaji Malusare's capture of the fort, not with Shivaji's coronation.

Concept

In medieval Indian history, Shivaji's coronation belongs to the Maratha state-formation theme, especially the symbols of sovereignty. RAS frequently connects this area with chronology, political centres and administrative terms like Ashta Pradhan.

Source

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