2010
Q10. Which medieval ruler introduced the Iqta system in the Delhi Sultanate in an organized form?
[UPPCS Prelims – 2010]
(a) Iltutmish
(b) Balban
(c) Alauddin Khalji
(d) None of these
Answer: (a) Iltutmish
Explanation: Iltutmish institutionalized the Iqta system by allocating territorial revenue assignments to officials and commanders, giving the Sultanate an effective framework for provincial administration and military financing.
2008
Q9. Which pair is NOT correctly matched?
[UPPCS Mains – 2008]
(a) Diwan-i-Mustakhraj — Alauddin Khalji
(b) Diwan-i-Amir Kohi — Muhammad bin Tughlaq
(c) Diwan-i-Khairat — Firoz Shah Tughlaq
(d) Diwan-i-Riyasat — Balban
Answer: (d) Diwan-i-Riyasat — Balban
Explanation: Diwan-i-Riyasat was associated with Alauddin Khalji’s market regulations. Mustakhraj recovered revenue arrears, Amir-Kohi promoted agriculture and Khairat administered charitable activities under Firoz Shah.
2004
Q8. Who was regarded as the supreme rural official connected with land revenue during the Sultanate period?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2004]
(a) Chaudhary
(b) Rawat
(c) Malik
(d) Patwari
Answer: (a) Chaudhary
Explanation: Chaudharis occupied an important position in rural revenue administration and acted as intermediaries between local cultivating communities and state revenue machinery, particularly at the pargana or locality level.
Q7. The transfer of the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad was ordered by:
[UPPCS Prelims – 2004]
(a) Firoz Tughlaq
(b) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
(c) Mubarak Shah
(d) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
Answer: (d) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
Explanation: Muhammad bin Tughlaq attempted to create a strategically located administrative centre at Daulatabad. The compulsory movement of population caused severe hardship, and the transfer was ultimately reversed.
2002
Q6. Why did historian Ziauddin Barani not regard the Delhi Sultanate as a completely Islamic state?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2002]
(a) Majority of the population did not follow Islam
(b) Theologians were always disregarded
(c) Sultans never framed regulations
(d) No taxes were imposed on non-Muslims
Answer: (a) Majority of the population did not follow Islam
Explanation: The Sultanate governed an overwhelmingly non-Muslim population and practical political considerations frequently shaped administration. Sultanate laws also combined Islamic principles with royal regulations and existing Indian practices.
2001
Q5. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2001]
(a) Diwan-i-Bandagan — Tughlaq
(b) Diwan-i-Mustakhraj — Balban
(c) Diwan-i-Kohi — Alauddin Khalji
(d) Diwan-i-Arz — Muhammad Tughlaq
Answer: (a) Diwan-i-Bandagan — Tughlaq
Explanation: Firoz Shah Tughlaq established Diwan-i-Bandagan to supervise his enormous slave establishment. The other departments are associated respectively with Alauddin, Muhammad bin Tughlaq and Balban.
Q4. Which were the two principal currencies of the Delhi Sultanate?
[UPPCS Prelims – 2001]
- Dam
- Jital
- Rupiya
- Tanka
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 2 and 4
Answer: (d) 2 and 4
Explanation: Iltutmish introduced the silver Tanka and copper Jital on a systematic basis. These coins formed the fundamental monetary denominations of the Sultanate economy for a considerable period.
1998
Q3. What did ‘Fawazil’ mean during the Delhi Sultanate?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 1998]
(a) Extra payment to nobles
(b) Revenue assignment in lieu of salary
(c) Surplus revenue remitted by Iqtadars to the central treasury
(d) Illegal exactions from peasants
Answer: (c) Surplus revenue remitted by Iqtadars to the central treasury
Explanation: After meeting authorized administrative and military expenses, an Iqtadar was expected to transfer excess revenue, called Fawazil, to the Sultan’s treasury, helping maintain central financial supervision.
1997
Q2. ‘Zawabits’ in the administrative vocabulary of the Delhi Sultanate referred to:
[UPPCS Prelims – 1997]
(a) State regulations or royal laws
(b) Mansab regulations
(c) Mint laws only
(d) Agricultural taxes
Answer: (a) State regulations or royal laws
Explanation: Zawabit were secular regulations issued by the Sultan to meet administrative necessities. Alauddin Khalji especially emphasized the ruler’s authority to frame practical state laws alongside religious jurisprudence.
1996
Q1. ‘Sharb’ was a tax imposed on:
[UPPCS Prelims – 1996]
(a) Trade
(b) Irrigation
(c) Non-Muslims
(d) Industries
Answer: (b) Irrigation
Explanation: Firoz Shah Tughlaq imposed an irrigation charge on cultivators benefiting from state canals. His reign saw extensive canal construction intended to expand cultivation and improve agricultural revenues.
