Delhi Sultanate | History for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


Delhi Sultanate
Page 2


Delhi Sultanate
Administration
The Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic state with its religion Islam. The Sultans considered 
themselves as representatives of the Caliph.
They included the name of the Caliph in the khutba or prayer and inscribed it on their coins
Iltutmish, Muhammad bin Tughlaq and Firoz Tughlaq obtained mansur or letter of permission 
from the Caliph.
Sultan was the ultimate authority for military, political and religious matters.
There was no clear law of succession during this period. All the sons had equal claim to the 
throne.
Sometimes ulemas played crucial role in accepting the succession to the throne.
Page 3


Delhi Sultanate
Administration
The Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic state with its religion Islam. The Sultans considered 
themselves as representatives of the Caliph.
They included the name of the Caliph in the khutba or prayer and inscribed it on their coins
Iltutmish, Muhammad bin Tughlaq and Firoz Tughlaq obtained mansur or letter of permission 
from the Caliph.
Sultan was the ultimate authority for military, political and religious matters.
There was no clear law of succession during this period. All the sons had equal claim to the 
throne.
Sometimes ulemas played crucial role in accepting the succession to the throne.
Central Government
The post of Naib was the most powerful one. The Naib practically enjoyed all the powers of the Sultan and 
exercised general control over all the departments. 
Next to him was the Wazir who was heading the finance department called Diwani Wizarat.
The military department was called Diwani Ariz. It was headed by Ariz-i-mumalik. He was responsible for 
recruiting the soldiers and administering the military department. He was not the commander-in-chief of the 
army.
The military department was first set up by Balban and it was further improved by Alauddin Khalji under whom 
the strength of the army crossed three lakh soldiers.
Diwani Rasalat was the department of religious affairs. It was headed by chief Sadr. Grants were made by this 
department for the construction and maintenance of mosques, tombs and madrasas. 
The head of the judicial department was the chief Qazi. Other judges or qazis were appointed in various parts of 
the Sultanate.
Muslim personal law or sharia was followed in civil matters, and Hindu law for matters involving Hindus with 
cases being disposed off by the village panchayat.
The criminal law was based on the rules and regulations made by the Sultans. 
The department of correspondence was called Diwani Insha.
Page 4


Delhi Sultanate
Administration
The Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic state with its religion Islam. The Sultans considered 
themselves as representatives of the Caliph.
They included the name of the Caliph in the khutba or prayer and inscribed it on their coins
Iltutmish, Muhammad bin Tughlaq and Firoz Tughlaq obtained mansur or letter of permission 
from the Caliph.
Sultan was the ultimate authority for military, political and religious matters.
There was no clear law of succession during this period. All the sons had equal claim to the 
throne.
Sometimes ulemas played crucial role in accepting the succession to the throne.
Central Government
The post of Naib was the most powerful one. The Naib practically enjoyed all the powers of the Sultan and 
exercised general control over all the departments. 
Next to him was the Wazir who was heading the finance department called Diwani Wizarat.
The military department was called Diwani Ariz. It was headed by Ariz-i-mumalik. He was responsible for 
recruiting the soldiers and administering the military department. He was not the commander-in-chief of the 
army.
The military department was first set up by Balban and it was further improved by Alauddin Khalji under whom 
the strength of the army crossed three lakh soldiers.
Diwani Rasalat was the department of religious affairs. It was headed by chief Sadr. Grants were made by this 
department for the construction and maintenance of mosques, tombs and madrasas. 
The head of the judicial department was the chief Qazi. Other judges or qazis were appointed in various parts of 
the Sultanate.
Muslim personal law or sharia was followed in civil matters, and Hindu law for matters involving Hindus with 
cases being disposed off by the village panchayat.
The criminal law was based on the rules and regulations made by the Sultans. 
The department of correspondence was called Diwani Insha.
Local Administration
The provinces under the Delhi Sultanate were called iqtas. The governors of the provinces were 
called the muqtis or walis.
The provinces were divided into shiqs and the next division was pargana. 
The shiq was under the control of shiqdar. 
The pargana comprising a number of villages was headed by amil. 
The village remained the basic unit of the administration. 
The village headman was known as muqaddam or chaudhri. 
The village accountant was called patwari.
Page 5


Delhi Sultanate
Administration
The Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic state with its religion Islam. The Sultans considered 
themselves as representatives of the Caliph.
They included the name of the Caliph in the khutba or prayer and inscribed it on their coins
Iltutmish, Muhammad bin Tughlaq and Firoz Tughlaq obtained mansur or letter of permission 
from the Caliph.
Sultan was the ultimate authority for military, political and religious matters.
There was no clear law of succession during this period. All the sons had equal claim to the 
throne.
Sometimes ulemas played crucial role in accepting the succession to the throne.
Central Government
The post of Naib was the most powerful one. The Naib practically enjoyed all the powers of the Sultan and 
exercised general control over all the departments. 
Next to him was the Wazir who was heading the finance department called Diwani Wizarat.
The military department was called Diwani Ariz. It was headed by Ariz-i-mumalik. He was responsible for 
recruiting the soldiers and administering the military department. He was not the commander-in-chief of the 
army.
The military department was first set up by Balban and it was further improved by Alauddin Khalji under whom 
the strength of the army crossed three lakh soldiers.
Diwani Rasalat was the department of religious affairs. It was headed by chief Sadr. Grants were made by this 
department for the construction and maintenance of mosques, tombs and madrasas. 
The head of the judicial department was the chief Qazi. Other judges or qazis were appointed in various parts of 
the Sultanate.
Muslim personal law or sharia was followed in civil matters, and Hindu law for matters involving Hindus with 
cases being disposed off by the village panchayat.
The criminal law was based on the rules and regulations made by the Sultans. 
The department of correspondence was called Diwani Insha.
Local Administration
The provinces under the Delhi Sultanate were called iqtas. The governors of the provinces were 
called the muqtis or walis.
The provinces were divided into shiqs and the next division was pargana. 
The shiq was under the control of shiqdar. 
The pargana comprising a number of villages was headed by amil. 
The village remained the basic unit of the administration. 
The village headman was known as muqaddam or chaudhri. 
The village accountant was called patwari.
Economy
The lands were classified into three categories: 
i. iqta land – lands assigned to officials as iqtas instead of payment for their services. 
ii. khalisa land – land under the direct control of the Sultan and the revenues collected were 
spent for the maintenance of royal court and royal household. 
iii. inam land – land assigned or granted to religious leaders or religious institutions.
The system of coinage had also developed during the Delhi Sultanate. Iltutmish issued several 
types of silver tankas