In the Maratha administration, the Peshwa’s secretariat at Poona (Pune), which acted as the central office and pivot of the Maratha government, was known by which name?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to Maratha administrative history. As the Peshwas gradually became the de facto heads of the Maratha Empire, their secretariat at Poona turned into the main centre of government. The name of this secretariat is a standard fact often asked in examinations dealing with Maratha polity and administrative institutions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The administrative setup is that of the Maratha Empire.
• The location is Poona (present day Pune), the seat of the Peshwas.
• The office is the central secretariat or main government record office under the Peshwa.
• The options offer names such as Huzur Daftar, El Beriz Daftar, Chalte Daftar, Peshwa Daftar and Sarkar Daftar.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is the terminology used for Maratha record offices. The main secretariat at Poona, where central records and correspondence were maintained, was known as the Huzur Daftar. Other terms like Chalte Daftar could refer to mobile or camp offices, but the fixed central secretariat that served as the pivot of Maratha administration under the Peshwas was Huzur Daftar. Therefore, when the question refers to the Peshwa’s secretariat at Poona, you should identify it with this name.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Poona was the political and administrative headquarters of the Peshwas.Step 2: Recall that the main record office and secretariat of the Peshwa government was called the Huzur Daftar.Step 3: Understand that this office maintained important state documents, revenue records and correspondence.Step 4: Compare this with other possible names offered in the options, which do not match the standard term used in historical accounts.Step 5: Select Huzur Daftar as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• El Beriz Daftar: Not commonly cited in standard histories as the name of the main Peshwa secretariat.
• Chalte Daftar: Could refer to a moving or camp office but not to the main central secretariat at Poona.
• Peshwa Daftar: Sounds descriptive but is not the historical term used for the principal secretariat.
• Sarkar Daftar: A generic sounding phrase and not the specific historically attested name for the Peshwas central office.

Common Pitfalls:
Because several Persian derived administrative terms end with Daftar, it is easy to be confused by plausible sounding options. Students who rely only on guesswork may pick Peshwa Daftar or Sarkar Daftar, thinking that the simpler phrase must be correct. The safest approach is to memorise Huzur Daftar as the specific traditional name of the Peshwa’s secretariat at Poona.

Final Answer:
The Peshwa’s secretariat at Poona, which acted as the pivot of the Maratha government, was known as the Huzur Daftar.