[Solved] Modi Script: The Administrative Script of Marathas

The 'Modi script' was employed in the documents of the:

[UPSC CSE Pre. 1995]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Scripts in India often evolved for speed and administrative convenience. The Modi script was a 'shorthand' version of Marathi for rapid writing.

Authentic Source Evidence

Modi was used exclusively by the Marathas and the Peshwas for revenue and state correspondence until the 20th century.

Analytical Breakdown

Option D is Correct: While Devanagari was used for religious and literary texts, Modi was the script of the 'Daftar' (office).

Analytical Note: It is characterized by its cursive nature, allowing the pen to move without being lifted frequently from the paper.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Why did the use of Modi script decline?"

The British administration promoted the use of Devanagari for standardization, and the printing press favored the blocky Devanagari characters over cursive Modi.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The Modi script is the primary key for historians today to unlock the vast administrative archives of the Maratha Empire."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Peshwa Administration 2 Devanagari 2 Marathi Language 2

Analysing authentic UPSC CSE Pre.previous year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to Indian Paleography helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Modi script Maratha and Peshwa records builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →