Q. Which of the following initiated the system of confederacy among the Maratha chiefs? Answer:
Baji Rao I
Notes: Baji Rao I established a confederacy among Maratha chiefs, allowing autonomous regional governance. This led to the rise of influential families like the Scindias, Holkars, Gaekwads, and Bhonsles. His alliances and military campaigns expanded Maratha power, challenging the declining Mughal Empire in 18th-century India.