Q90. Which Sultan is associated with an exalted theory of kingship resembling divine-right monarchy?
[BPSC Prelims, 2017]
A. Balban
B. Aibak
C. Jalaluddin Khalji
D. Ibrahim Lodi
Answer: A. Balban
Explanation: Balban projected the Sultan as God’s shadow and used ceremonial hierarchy to make nobles accept the political supremacy of the crown.
Q89. Ibn Battuta’s Rihla is an important source for the reign of:
[UPSC NDA, 2017]
A. Iltutmish
B. Alauddin Khalji
C. Muhammad bin Tughlaq
D. Bahlul Lodi
Answer: C. Muhammad bin Tughlaq
Explanation: Ibn Battuta lived at Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s court and recorded detailed observations on the Sultan’s administration, court and political conditions.
Q88. Which Tughlaq ruler is credited with early canal construction for agricultural purposes?
[UPPCS Mains, 2017]
A. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
B. Muhammad bin Tughlaq
C. Nasiruddin Mahmud
D. Abu Bakr
Answer: A. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
Explanation: Ghiyasuddin is credited with early Sultanate canal initiatives, while Firoz Shah later developed irrigation canals on a substantially larger scale.
Q87. Which official was NOT associated with the reign of Iltutmish?
[MPPSC Prelims, 2017]
A. Ain-ul-Mulk Multani
B. Members of the Chahalgani
C. Malik Alauddin Jani
D. Turkish slave nobles
Answer: A. Ain-ul-Mulk Multani
Explanation: Ain-ul-Mulk Multani belonged to a later political setting, whereas the other names and groups are directly associated with Iltutmish’s administrative consolidation.
Q86. The Lodi rulers were ethnically of which origin?
[UPPCS Mains, 2016]
A. Afghan
B. Mongol
C. Arab
D. Rajput
Answer: A. Afghan
Explanation: The Lodis were Pashtun/Afghan chiefs. Their political traditions differed from earlier Turkish dynasties and emphasised greater equality among tribal nobles.
Q85. Who was the first Sultan to firmly establish Delhi as the capital of the Sultanate?
[UPPCS Mains, 2016]
A. Qutbuddin Aibak
B. Iltutmish
C. Balban
D. Jalaluddin Khalji
Answer: B. Iltutmish
Explanation: Aibak often operated from Lahore, while Iltutmish firmly established Delhi as the principal political centre of the new Sultanate.
Q84. Who was called the “slave of a slave”?
[UPPCS Prelims, 2016]
A. Balban
B. Muhammad Ghori
C. Iltutmish
D. Razia
Answer: C. Iltutmish
Explanation: Iltutmish had been enslaved and was purchased by Qutbuddin Aibak, who himself had earlier been a slave of Muhammad Ghori.
Q83. The capital of Iltutmish’s Sultanate was:
[UP RO/ARO, 2016]
A. Lahore
B. Delhi
C. Daulatabad
D. Agra
Answer: B. Delhi
Explanation: Iltutmish decisively strengthened Delhi’s position as the administrative and political capital of the Sultanate.
Q82. Diwan-i-Arz dealt primarily with:
[BPSC Prelims, 2016]
A. Military administration
B. Royal correspondence
C. Charity
D. Religious grants
Answer: A. Military administration
Explanation: The Arz department supervised recruitment, inspection and organisation of troops and became especially important under strong centralising rulers such as Balban and Alauddin.
Q81. Which Mamluk ruler was not herself originally a slave?
[WBCS Prelims, 2015]
A. Qutbuddin Aibak
B. Iltutmish
C. Razia
D. Balban
Answer: C. Razia
Explanation: Razia was born into the royal household as Iltutmish’s daughter, unlike Aibak, Iltutmish and Balban, all of whom had experienced enslavement.
