Who among the following Peshwas was popularly known as Nana-Saheb ?

1. Evolution of the Peshwaship: From Minister to Monarch (basic)

To understand the Maratha Empire, we must first look at the unique transformation of the office of the Peshwa. Originally, the term Peshwa is a Persian word meaning 'Prime Minister.' Under the founder, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Peshwa was merely one of the eight ministers (Ashta Pradhan) appointed to serve the king. At this stage, the king held absolute authority, and the Peshwa was a loyal civil servant whose position was neither hereditary nor supreme History, Tamilnadu state board, Chapter 15, p.239.

The real shift began in the early 18th century during the reign of Chhatrapati Shahu. He appointed Balaji Vishwanath as Peshwa, and for the first time, the office became hereditary. Power began to flow from the royal capital at Satara to the Peshwa’s seat in Poona (Pune). Under the legendary Baji Rao I, the Marathas expanded rapidly across India, organized into a Confederacy of powerful families like the Scindias and Holkars, all theoretically serving the King but practically led by the Peshwa Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum: A Brief History of Modern India, Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.101.

The transformation from 'Minister' to 'Monarch' (de facto ruler) was completed during the tenure of Balaji Baji Rao, also known as Nana Saheb (1740–1761). Following the death of King Shahu in 1749, the Sangola Agreement effectively shifted all executive powers to the Peshwa. While the Chhatrapati remained the nominal head, Nana Saheb became the actual sovereign, managing finance and administration with great expertise History, Tamilnadu state board, Chapter 15, p.231. It is vital for your exams to distinguish this 18th-century ruler from the later Nana Saheb (Dhondu Pant), who was a leader in the Revolt of 1857 Bipin Chandra, Modern India (Old NCERT), Chapter 8, p.144.

Sources: History (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 15: The Marathas, p.231, 239; Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum: A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.101; Bipin Chandra, Modern India (Old NCERT 1982 ed.), Chapter 8: The Revolt of 1857, p.144

2. The Era of Baji Rao I: Expansion and Guerrilla Warfare (intermediate)

When we speak of the Maratha Empire's transition from a regional kingdom to a pan-Indian power, the credit belongs largely to Baji Rao I (1720–1740). Appointed as Peshwa at the young age of 20 by Chhatrapati Shahu, he was a visionary military commander who famously advocated for striking the "trunk of the withering Mughal tree" so that the branches would fall off on their own History, Chapter 15, p. 231. His era marked the shift of power from the Chhatrapati to the Peshwa, transforming the office into the hereditary and de facto executive head of the state.

Baji Rao I was a master of Guerrilla Warfare, evolving the tactics of Shivaji Maharaj to suit the vast plains of Northern India. His military philosophy relied on extreme mobility; he used light cavalry that could travel 40–50 miles a day, outmaneuvering the slow, heavy artillery-bound Mughal and Nizam armies. His greatest tactical victory was the Battle of Palkhed (1728), where he forced the Nizam-ul-Mulk into a trap by cutting off his water and food supplies, compelling a surrender without a full-scale pitched battle. To manage the vast territories he conquered, he encouraged the rise of military commanders, leading to the formation of the Maratha Confederacy involving families like the Scindias (Gwalior), Holkars (Indore), and Gaekwads (Baroda) History, Chapter 15, p. 235.

Campaign/Event	Significance
Battle of Palkhed (1728)	Humbled the Nizam of Hyderabad; established Maratha supremacy in the Deccan.
Malwa & Gujarat	Secured the right to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi, filling the Maratha treasury History, Chapter 15, p. 231.
Bundelkhand (1729)	Rescued Raja Chhatrasal from Mughals; received one-third of his kingdom in gratitude.
Treaty of Warna (1731)	Resolved the internal conflict with the Kolhapur branch of the Marathas History, Chapter 15, p. 231.

Sources: History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 15: The Marathas, p.231; History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 15: The Marathas, p.235

3. The Maratha Confederacy and Decentralized Administration (intermediate)

The transition of the Maratha state from a centralized monarchy under Chhatrapati Shivaji to a decentralized confederacy was a pragmatic response to its rapid territorial expansion. Under Baji Rao I (1720–1740), the Marathas moved beyond their homeland into North and Central India. To manage these vast territories and appease the military chiefs (Saranjamdars), Baji Rao I initiated a system where prominent Maratha families were assigned specific spheres of influence. These chiefs were expected to conquer and administer these regions in the name of the Maratha King, Shahu Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.101. After the death of King Shahu in 1749, the political center of gravity shifted decisively. Balaji Baji Rao, also known as Nana Saheb (not to be confused with the 1857 rebel Dhondu Pant), became the de facto ruler of the Maratha state. Under his leadership (1740–1761), the office of the Peshwa became the supreme executive head of the confederacy, operating from Poona. While this decentralized structure allowed for incredible military reach, it also meant that the central authority in Poona had to constantly balance the competing interests of powerful semi-independent chiefs History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 15: The Marathas, p.231. The Confederacy was primarily composed of five major houses, each carving out its own administrative niche. While they nominally recognized the Peshwa as their head, they often acted independently in their local governance and external diplomacy. This arrangement is summarized below:

Maratha Family	Seat of Power	Region of Influence
Peshwas	Poona	Overall coordination / Western India
Scindias (Sindhias)	Gwalior	North India / Malwa
Holkars	Indore	Malwa / Central India
Gaekwads	Baroda	Gujarat
Bhonsles	Nagpur	Orissa / Berar

This decentralized nature was both a strength and a weakness. It allowed the Marathas to be present in multiple theaters of war simultaneously, as seen when Sadasiva Rao led the main army to Panipat while Holkar and Scindia joined him along the way History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 15: The Marathas, p.233. However, the lack of a strong, unified command eventually made them vulnerable to the British policy of 'divide and rule,' leading to the final dissolution of the confederacy in 1818 Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.107.

Sources: A Brief History of Modern India (Spectrum), Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India, p.101, 107; History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 15: The Marathas, p.231, 233

4. The Third Battle of Panipat (1761): Causes and Impact (exam-level)

The Third Battle of Panipat, fought on January 14, 1761, is one of the most significant turning points in Indian history. To understand why it happened, we must look at the collision of two expanding empires: the Marathas pushing north from the Deccan and the Afghans under Ahmad Shah Abdali pushing south from Central Asia. Under the leadership of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb), the Maratha influence had reached its zenith, even extending into Punjab. This expansionism directly challenged Abdali’s interests, especially after the Maratha chief Raghunath Rao expelled Abdali's agent, Najib-ud-Daula, from Delhi and captured Punjab in 1758 Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), India on the Eve of British Conquest, p.60. In response, Abdali returned to India in 1759 to seek revenge and re-establish Afghan dominance.

The battle itself was a tactical and human catastrophe for the Marathas. Led by Sadashiv Rao Bhau and the Peshwa’s son, Vishwas Rao, the Maratha army was eventually surrounded and routed by the superior cavalry and artillery of the Afghans. The loss of life was staggering; almost every Maratha family lost a member, and prominent commanders like Scindia and Holkar either perished or were forced to flee History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 15, p.233. When the news reached Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao, he was so devastated that he died broken-hearted just months later in June 1761. Unlike the first two battles of Panipat, which established or consolidated the Mughal Empire, the third battle effectively shattered the dream of a pan-Indian Maratha Empire Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), India on the Eve of British Conquest, p.61.

The true historical weight of this battle lies in its long-term impact. Historians often remark that the battle did not decide who would rule India, but rather who would not. By weakening the Marathas and leaving the Mughal Empire as a mere shell (with Shah Alam II recognized only as a titular head by Abdali), a massive power vacuum was created in Northern India History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 15, p.233. This vacuum allowed the British East India Company, which was already consolidating power in Bengal, to expand with much less resistance. While the Marathas did manage a remarkable recovery within a decade under Peshwa Madhav Rao I, they never again held the undisputed claim to succeed the Mughals as the masters of the entire subcontinent.

Sources: History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 15: The Marathas, p.232-233; Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.), India on the Eve of British Conquest, p.60-61

5. The Two 'Nana Sahebs' of History: Avoiding Confusion (intermediate)

In the study of Indian history, the name Nana Saheb often causes a double-take. This is because it refers to two distinct Maratha leaders separated by nearly a century of history. To master this topic, we must distinguish between the 18th-century Peshwa who expanded the Maratha Empire and the 19th-century rebel leader who became a face of the 1857 Uprising.

The first Nana Saheb was Balaji Baji Rao (reigned 1740–1761). He was the son of the legendary Baji Rao I and succeeded him at the young age of 18. Under his leadership, the Maratha State reached its territorial zenith, but it also saw a fundamental shift in power: after the death of King Shahu in 1749, the office of the Peshwa became the de facto sovereign ruler of the Marathas History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 15, p. 231. While he was a brilliant financial administrator, his reign ended in the tragedy of the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), a shock from which he never recovered, dying shortly after Modern India, Bipin Chandra, Chapter 2, p. 31.

The second Nana Saheb, born Dhondu Pant, appears much later in the timeline. He was the adopted son of the last Peshwa, Baji Rao II. His conflict with the British was personal and political: the British refused to continue his father’s pension, leading him to join the Revolt of 1857. Based in Kanpur, he proclaimed himself Peshwa and acknowledged the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah as the sovereign of India Modern India, Bipin Chandra, Chapter 8, p. 144. Along with his loyal commander Tantia Tope, he became a symbol of resistance before eventually retreating toward Nepal as the rebellion was suppressed Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, The Revolt of 1857, p. 177, 186.

Feature	Nana Saheb I (Balaji Baji Rao)	Nana Saheb II (Dhondu Pant)
Era	Mid-18th Century (1740–1761)	Mid-19th Century (1857 Revolt)
Relation	Son of Baji Rao I	Adopted son of Baji Rao II
Key Event	Third Battle of Panipat	Siege of Kanpur (1857)
Role	Effective ruler of the Maratha Empire	Leader of the anti-British rebellion

Sources: History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 15: The Marathas, p.231; Modern India, Bipin Chandra (NCERT 1982 ed.), Chapter 2: Indian States and Society in the 18th Century, p.31; Modern India, Bipin Chandra (NCERT 1982 ed.), Chapter 8: The Revolt of 1857, p.144; Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (Spectrum), The Revolt of 1857, p.177, 186

6. Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao: Reign and Achievements (exam-level)

At the young age of 18, Balaji Baji Rao succeeded his father, the legendary Baji Rao I, in 1740. While he is often overshadowed by his father’s military brilliance, Balaji Baji Rao—popularly known as Nana Saheb—was a highly capable administrator and an expert in financial matters History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), The Marathas, p.231. Under his leadership, the Maratha Empire reached its greatest territorial extent, stretching from the borders of Mysore in the south to the Indus in the north.

A defining characteristic of his reign was the formalization of the Peshwa as the de facto ruler of the Maratha state. This transition culminated in 1749 following the death of King Shahu. Shahu's will entrusted the entire management of state affairs to the Peshwa, effectively turning the Chhatrapati (the King) into a figurehead and making the office of the Peshwa the supreme executive authority Modern India, Bipin Chandra, Indian States and Society in the 18th Century, p.31. This shift moved the center of power permanently to Poona.

Despite these achievements, historians like Bipin Chandra point out a strategic weakness in Nana Saheb's governance. While he successfully expanded the empire, he failed to lay firm administrative foundations in the newly conquered territories. The Maratha Sardars (chiefs) were often more interested in revenue collection and extracting Chauth and Sardeshmukhi than in establishing a stable government or winning over the local population Modern India, Bipin Chandra, Indian States and Society in the 18th Century, p.31. This lack of administrative depth eventually made the empire fragile when faced with external shocks like the Afghan invasion.

Feature	Baji Rao I (Father)	Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb)
Nature	Energetic military commander; "Warrior Peshwa."	Capable diplomat and financial expert; more sedentary.
Authority	Served under King Shahu; office became hereditary.	Became de facto ruler after Shahu's death in 1749.
Legacy	Expanded Maratha power into North India.	Empire reached its peak but faced the disaster of Panipat (1761).

Sources: History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 15: The Marathas, p.231; Modern India, Bipin Chandra (NCERT 1982 ed.), Chapter 2: Indian States and Society in the 18th Century, p.31

7. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Now that you have mapped out the lineage of the Maratha leadership, this question tests your ability to connect specific regnal titles to the chronological succession of the Peshwas. You’ve learned how the Peshwa's office evolved from a ministerial position to the de facto ruler of the Maratha state. By integrating the timeline of King Shahu’s reign with the administrative shift toward Pune, you can identify Balaji Baji Rao as the pivotal figure who bridged the gap between the military expansionism of his father and the complex financial administration of a vast empire.

To arrive at the correct answer, think chronologically. After the death of the legendary warrior Baji Rao I in 1740, his son succeeded him at the young age of 18. According to History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) and Modern India, Bipin Chandra (Old NCERT), this son was Balaji Baji Rao, who was popularly addressed as Nana Saheb. Under his leadership, the Maratha power reached its greatest territorial extent, and the Sangola Agreement of 1750 officially established the Peshwa as the supreme head of the Maratha Confederacy. Therefore, (C) Balaji Baji Rao is the correct identification.

UPSC often uses similar-sounding names to create traps for the unprepared student. Balaji Vishwanath (A) was the first hereditary Peshwa and the architect of Maratha recovery, while Baji Rao I (B) was the "Fighting Peshwa" famous for his cavalry tactics. Madhav Rao I (D) was the great restorer who came after the Third Battle of Panipat. A critical trap to avoid is confusing this 18th-century Peshwa with the Nana Saheb (Dhondu Pant) of the 1857 Revolt; while the latter is famous in Modern History, the title specifically refers to Balaji Baji Rao in the context of the peak Maratha Empire era.