In the context of Maratha history, Pune was once known as the capital of which powerful group of leaders who served as the head of the Maratha administration.

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the topic of Maratha history, which forms an important part of Indian medieval and early modern history. Pune developed from a small town into a major political and administrative centre under the Marathas. It became closely associated with the office of the Peshwa, who functioned as the chief minister and gradually the real head of the Maratha confederacy. Understanding which group made Pune their capital helps students connect geography with political institutions and remember how Maratha power was organised before British control.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The city mentioned is Pune in western India. • The time frame relates to the period of Maratha power. • Pune served as a capital for a particular group or family in the Maratha system. • Options list different Maratha houses and one key office, including Scindias, Holkars, Bhosales, Peshwas, and Gaekwads.

Concept / Approach:
The concept tested is knowledge of Maratha political structure. Although the Maratha king, or Chhatrapati, belonged to the Bhosale family of Satara, real power in the eighteenth century increasingly rested with the Peshwas. The Peshwas established Pune as their main seat of authority. Other powerful Maratha families such as the Scindias of Gwalior, Holkars of Indore, and Gaekwads of Baroda controlled different regions but did not make Pune their capital. Therefore the correct approach is to recall that Pune is famously associated with the Peshwas and their administration.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Maratha kingdom originally centred on Satara under the Bhosale dynasty. Step 2: Remember that the Peshwa was the chief minister, and later virtually the head of the Maratha confederacy. Step 3: The Peshwas shifted the centre of power to Pune, which became the de facto capital of Maratha politics in the eighteenth century. Step 4: Examine the answer choices and relate each to its main seat. Scindias are linked with Gwalior, Holkars with Indore, Gaekwads with Baroda, and Bhosales with Satara or Nagpur. Step 5: Conclude that Pune as a capital is most accurately associated with the Peshwas.

Verification / Alternative check:
History texts on the Marathas clearly discuss the role of the Peshwas at Pune. The term Peshwa Daftar is often used for the administrative secretariat located there. Important Peshwas such as Balaji Vishwanath, Baji Rao I, Balaji Baji Rao, and Nana Saheb operated from Pune, and the city contains many historical sites linked to them. Other Maratha houses had their own centres in different parts of India and did not treat Pune as their capital, which independently confirms that the Peshwas are the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Scindias: This family controlled Gwalior and surrounding territories in central India; their capital was not Pune. Holkars: The Holkar family is associated with Indore in present day Madhya Pradesh and is not linked to Pune as a capital. Bhosales: While Chhatrapati Shivaji and his successors were Bhosales, their main centres included forts like Raigad and later Satara, not Pune as a dynastic capital. Gaekwads: The Gaekwad family is associated with Baroda in present day Gujarat, again different from Pune.

Common Pitfalls:
A common confusion occurs when students think of the famous Maratha king Shivaji and automatically mark Bhosales as the answer for any question about Maratha capitals. However, this question is specifically about Pune in the period when the Peshwas dominated the confederacy. Another mistake is assuming that any powerful Maratha family, such as the Scindias or Holkars, might have ruled from Pune, but each of these families had distinct regional bases. Keeping a mental map of Maratha power centres helps avoid such confusion.

Final Answer:
In Maratha history, Pune was once known as the capital of the Peshwas.