Consider the following statements regarding the expansion of the Maratha empire: 1. By the 1730s, the Maratha king was reduced to a puppet of the…

The correct option is (b).

Explanation

The expansion of the Maratha Confederacy during the 18th century, specifically under the Peshwas. This period marked the transition of the Marathas from a regional kingdom to a pan-Indian power, filling the political vacuum created by the decline of the Mughal Empire.

Statement-wise Analysis:

• Statement 1 is Incorrect. By the 1730s, the Maratha King (Chhatrapati Shahu) was not a puppet of the Nizam of Hyderabad. While the actual administrative and military power had shifted from the Chhatrapati to the Peshwa (Prime Minister) based in Pune, the Nizam was a rival power. The Marathas, under Peshwa Baji Rao I, engaged in frequent conflicts with the Nizam (e.g., Battle of Palkhed, 1728) and consistently defeated or contained him. The King was never a subordinate to the Nizam.
• Statement 2 is Correct. Between 1720 and 1761, the Maratha empire expanded rapidly. Malwa and Gujarat were seized from the Mughals by the 1720s. By the 1730s, the Maratha king was recognized as the overlord of the entire Deccan peninsula. In the subsequent decades (1740s and 1750s), Maratha domination extended into the north (Rajasthan and Punjab) and the east (Bengal and Orissa).
• Statement 3 is Incorrect. While the Marathas established dominance over Rajasthan, Punjab, Bengal, and Orissa, these regions were not formally included in the Maratha empire, nor were they directly administered by the Peshwa. Instead, they were made to pay tribute (Chauth and Sardeshmukhi) as a way of accepting Maratha sovereignty. Local rulers often retained their internal autonomy subject to these payments, or the regions were managed by semi-independent Maratha chiefs (Sardars) like the Scindias, Holkars, and Bhonsles, rather than the central administration in Pune.

Key Takeaway:
The Maratha expansion in the 18th century created a distinction between Swarajya (territories directly administered) and Mughlai (territories paying Chauth/tribute but not directly administered). Peripheral regions like Punjab and Bengal fell into the latter category.