Shivaji’s administration owed its origin to the principles laid down by

Correct option is A

Shivaji's administration owed its origin to the principles laid down by Kautilya in his book Arthashastra.
 Kautilya was a scholar and minister in the Mauryan Empire, and his book is a treatise on statecraft and military strategy.
 Shivaji adopted many of Kautilya's principles, such as the importance of a strong military, the need for a centralized bureaucracy, and the use of espionage.
 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India in the 17th century. In 1674, he was formally crowned the Chhatrapati of his realm at Raigad Fort.