Firoz Shah Tughlaq: Administrative Policies, Revenue Reforms and Public Works in the Delhi Sultanate – MCQs

Introduction

Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388 CE) was the third major ruler of the Tughlaq Dynasty and succeeded Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1351 CE. His long reign was marked by a comparatively conservative approach to administration, emphasis on revenue stability, expansion of irrigation, construction of cities and public buildings, and the establishment of several welfare-oriented institutions.

Unlike Muhammad bin Tughlaq, who is associated with ambitious administrative experiments, Firoz Shah generally preferred continuity, hereditary arrangements and administrative stability. He repaired and constructed canals, built cities such as Firozabad, Hisar Firoza and Jaunpur, established gardens and public facilities, and commissioned the repair and relocation of ancient Ashokan pillars.

His reign is also important for understanding the iqta system, revenue administration, jizya, irrigation taxation, charitable institutions and architectural developments of the later Tughlaq period. At the same time, some of his policies, including the increasing hereditary character of offices and iqtas, contributed to the decentralization of political authority in the longer term.

20 MCQs with Answers and Explanations

1. When did Firoz Shah Tughlaq rule the Delhi Sultanate?

A. 1320–1325 CE
B. 1325–1351 CE
C. 1351–1388 CE
D. 1388–1414 CE

Correct Answer: C. 1351–1388 CE

Explanation:
Firoz Shah Tughlaq ruled from 1351 to 1388 CE. He succeeded his cousin Muhammad bin Tughlaq after the latter died in 1351 CE. His nearly four-decade reign was considerably longer and administratively more stable than that of his predecessor. Firoz Shah concentrated on maintaining the existing Sultanate, developing agriculture, constructing public works and organizing welfare institutions rather than pursuing extremely ambitious expansion.

2. Who succeeded Muhammad bin Tughlaq?

A. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
B. Firoz Shah Tughlaq
C. Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah
D. Khizr Khan

Correct Answer: B. Firoz Shah Tughlaq

Explanation:
Firoz Shah Tughlaq succeeded Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1351 CE. Muhammad died during his campaign in Sindh, after which Firoz Shah was selected as Sultan. Firoz Shah inherited a large but politically weakened Sultanate and adopted a comparatively conciliatory and conservative administrative approach.

3. Which feature best distinguishes Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s administrative approach from that of Muhammad bin Tughlaq?

A. Greater emphasis on administrative stability and continuity
B. Complete abolition of the iqta system
C. Introduction of token currency
D. Transfer of the capital to Daulatabad

Correct Answer: A. Greater emphasis on administrative stability and continuity

Explanation:
Firoz Shah generally avoided the type of radical administrative experimentation associated with Muhammad bin Tughlaq. He emphasized stability, continuity and reconciliation with the nobility. He also strengthened hereditary tendencies in offices and iqtas. His approach reduced immediate political tensions but also encouraged the growth of decentralized and hereditary interests within the Sultanate.

4. Which sector received particular attention under Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s public works programme?

A. Irrigation
B. Oceanic exploration
C. Printing technology
D. Railway construction

Correct Answer: A. Irrigation

Explanation:
Irrigation was one of the most important areas of Firoz Shah’s public works. He constructed and repaired canals to improve agricultural productivity and extend cultivation into areas dependent on rainfall. Major canal projects connected rivers and agricultural regions, helping strengthen the economic base of the Sultanate. Irrigation works therefore had both economic and administrative significance.

5. Which river was associated with one of Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s important canal projects?

A. Yamuna
B. Narmada
C. Krishna
D. Kaveri

Correct Answer: A. Yamuna

Explanation:
Firoz Shah developed canal networks drawing water from rivers including the Yamuna. One major canal carried water from the Yamuna toward the Hissar region. These irrigation projects helped bring additional land under cultivation and provided more reliable water supplies. Canal construction is one of the most notable features of Firoz Shah’s public works programme.

6. What was the principal economic objective of Firoz Shah’s canal construction?

A. To promote agriculture and increase cultivated land
B. To eliminate all agricultural taxes
C. To stop interregional trade
D. To establish naval bases

Correct Answer: A. To promote agriculture and increase cultivated land

Explanation:
Firoz Shah recognized that agriculture was the principal foundation of state revenue. By improving irrigation, he sought to make cultivation more productive and extend agricultural activity. Irrigation could also provide greater stability in areas affected by uncertain rainfall. Thus, canal construction served both agricultural development and the fiscal interests of the Sultanate.

7. Which tax was particularly associated with irrigation water supplied through Firoz Shah’s canals?

A. Haq-i-Shurb
B. Kharaj-i-Jizya
C. Zakat al-Fitr
D. Ushr-i-Tijarat

Correct Answer: A. Haq-i-Shurb

Explanation:
Haq-i-Shurb, generally understood as an irrigation or water tax, was associated with the use of water from state-built irrigation works. Firoz Shah’s canal system therefore had a fiscal dimension in addition to its agricultural purpose. This is an important examination term connecting his public works with revenue administration.

8. Which of the following was an important city founded or developed under Firoz Shah Tughlaq?

A. Firozabad
B. Fatehpur Sikri
C. Agra
D. Vijayanagara

Correct Answer: A. Firozabad

Explanation:
Firozabad was one of the important cities associated with Firoz Shah Tughlaq. He founded and developed several urban centres during his reign. Other places associated with his building activity include Hisar Firoza and Jaunpur. These urban projects demonstrate the importance he placed on administration, settlement and public infrastructure.

9. Which of the following was another settlement associated with Firoz Shah’s urban development?

A. Hisar Firoza
B. Pataliputra
C. Rajgir
D. Hampi

Correct Answer: A. Hisar Firoza

Explanation:
Hisar Firoza, in present-day Haryana, was founded by Firoz Shah and became an important centre associated with his irrigation and urban-development policies. Its development was closely connected with the construction of canals and agricultural expansion. The name itself reflects its association with Firoz Shah.

10. Which institution was established by Firoz Shah for charitable assistance to needy Muslims?

A. Diwan-i-Khairat
B. Diwan-i-Arz
C. Diwan-i-Riyasat
D. Diwan-i-Kohi

Correct Answer: A. Diwan-i-Khairat

Explanation:
The Diwan-i-Khairat was a department established for charitable and welfare-related purposes, particularly assistance to deserving Muslims. Firoz Shah established several institutions intended to provide social support. His welfare policies included assistance for poor people and arrangements connected with marriages of poor Muslim women.

11. Which department was associated with the welfare and management of slaves under Firoz Shah?

A. Diwan-i-Bandagan
B. Diwan-i-Kohi
C. Diwan-i-Riyasat
D. Diwan-i-Insha

Correct Answer: A. Diwan-i-Bandagan

Explanation:
The Diwan-i-Bandagan was associated with the administration and welfare of slaves under Firoz Shah. He maintained a very large number of slaves and organized their management as a distinct administrative concern. The large slave establishment became a notable feature of his reign and reflects both his administrative practices and the social structure of the medieval Sultanate.

12. Which department was associated with providing financial assistance or support to deserving persons?

A. Diwan-i-Istihqaq
B. Diwan-i-Arz
C. Diwan-i-Wizarat
D. Diwan-i-Insha

Correct Answer: A. Diwan-i-Istihqaq

Explanation:
The Diwan-i-Istihqaq was associated with grants and assistance to deserving groups and individuals. Together with the Diwan-i-Khairat, it reflects Firoz Shah’s emphasis on welfare and charitable administration. These institutions are important examples of the expansion of specialized departments under the later Tughlaqs.

13. Which religious tax did Firoz Shah Tughlaq impose more systematically on Brahmins?

A. Jizya
B. Zakat
C. Kharaj
D. Khams

Correct Answer: A. Jizya

Explanation:
Firoz Shah enforced jizya more strictly and extended its collection to Brahmins, who had often been treated differently in earlier practice. Jizya was a tax historically imposed on non-Muslim subjects under Islamic states. Firoz Shah’s religious policy was more orthodox than that of some earlier Delhi Sultans, and the extension of jizya to Brahmins is an important examination point.

14. Which ancient monuments did Firoz Shah take special interest in preserving and relocating?

A. Ashokan pillars
B. Gupta cave temples only
C. Chola bronzes
D. Mughal tombs

Correct Answer: A. Ashokan pillars

Explanation:
Firoz Shah Tughlaq showed considerable interest in ancient Ashokan pillars. He arranged for the relocation of pillars from Topra Kalan and Meerut to Delhi. The transport and re-erection of these massive monolithic pillars represented a remarkable engineering undertaking. At the time, the Brahmi inscriptions on the pillars could not yet be deciphered, so their original Mauryan significance was not fully understood.

15. Where was the Ashokan pillar from Topra Kalan relocated during Firoz Shah’s reign?

A. Firoz Shah Kotla in Delhi
B. Agra Fort
C. Red Fort
D. Qutb Minar

Correct Answer: A. Firoz Shah Kotla in Delhi

Explanation:
Firoz Shah ordered the transportation of the Topra Ashokan pillar to Delhi, where it was erected at his palace complex now known as Firoz Shah Kotla. The relocation required sophisticated logistical planning. The pillar is now an important archaeological and heritage feature associated with both the Mauryan and Tughlaq periods.

16. Which monument is particularly associated with Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s Delhi building programme?

A. Firoz Shah Kotla
B. Alai Darwaza
C. Humayun’s Tomb
D. Buland Darwaza

Correct Answer: A. Firoz Shah Kotla

Explanation:
Firoz Shah Kotla was a major palace-fort complex established by Firoz Shah in Delhi. Its remains include the famous Ashokan pillar, palace structures and other architectural remains. The complex reflects the ruler’s interest in urban construction and monumental architecture. It is an important heritage site for studying Tughlaq-period architecture.

17. What was one important characteristic of Firoz Shah’s policy toward iqtas and administrative offices?

A. He strengthened hereditary tendencies in offices and iqtas
B. He completely abolished iqtas
C. He introduced modern civil-service examinations
D. He transferred all iqtas to European merchants

Correct Answer: A. He strengthened hereditary tendencies in offices and iqtas

Explanation:
Firoz Shah increasingly allowed hereditary succession in administrative offices and iqtas. This helped him maintain the loyalty of nobles and officials and reduced some immediate conflicts over succession to offices. However, in the longer term, hereditary arrangements could weaken central control because local officials and military elites developed stronger independent interests.

18. Which statement best describes Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s public works?

A. They focused only on military fortifications
B. They included canals, cities, gardens, roads, bridges and public buildings
C. They consisted entirely of religious monuments
D. They were limited to the Deccan

Correct Answer: B. They included canals, cities, gardens, roads, bridges and public buildings

Explanation:
Firoz Shah was a major builder. His public works included irrigation canals, cities, gardens, bridges, roads, mosques, educational institutions and other public facilities. His projects served practical, administrative, economic and cultural purposes. The extensive building programme is one reason his reign occupies an important place in the architectural history of the Delhi Sultanate.

19. Which of the following best explains the long-term administrative limitation of Firoz Shah’s policies?

A. Hereditary arrangements could weaken central control over time
B. He completely eliminated the nobility
C. He abolished provincial administration
D. He ended the agricultural revenue system

Correct Answer: A. Hereditary arrangements could weaken central control over time

Explanation:
Firoz Shah’s conciliatory policies helped produce political stability during much of his reign. However, granting hereditary rights in offices and iqtas strengthened the position of nobles and provincial officials. Over time, such decentralizing tendencies reduced the Sultan’s ability to exercise direct control over the administration. This became particularly significant after Firoz Shah’s death in 1388 CE, when succession disputes and factionalism weakened the Tughlaq state.

20. Which statement provides the most accurate overall assessment of Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s reign?

A. His reign was characterized by public works, welfare measures, irrigation development and administrative conservatism
B. His reign completely abandoned agriculture
C. His principal achievement was the introduction of token currency
D. He permanently conquered all of South India

Correct Answer: A. His reign was characterized by public works, welfare measures, irrigation development and administrative conservatism

Explanation:
Firoz Shah’s reign is best understood through its emphasis on stability, irrigation, agriculture, urban construction, welfare institutions and continuity in administration. He did not pursue the same type of radical experiments associated with Muhammad bin Tughlaq. His public works—including canals, cities and monumental construction—left a significant architectural and infrastructural legacy. However, his hereditary administrative policies also contributed to the weakening of central authority in the later Tughlaq period.

Major Administrative and Public Works of Firoz Shah Tughlaq

Important Public Works

1. Canals and Irrigation

Firoz Shah’s canal-building programme was among his most important economic initiatives. Canals associated with the Yamuna, Sutlej and other river systems helped provide irrigation to agricultural areas.

The projects served several purposes:

• Expanded cultivated land.
• Improved agricultural productivity.
• Provided more reliable water supplies.
• Strengthened the revenue base of the state.
• Encouraged settlement in newly irrigated areas.

2. Cities

Firoz Shah established or developed several important urban centres, including:

• Firozabad
• Hisar Firoza
• Jaunpur
• Firozpur

These settlements were connected with administrative expansion, agriculture, irrigation and royal construction.

3. Firoz Shah Kotla

The Firoz Shah Kotla complex in Delhi was an important royal architectural project. It included palatial and administrative structures and became particularly famous for the Ashokan pillar transported there during Firoz Shah’s reign.

4. Ashokan Pillars

Firoz Shah demonstrated remarkable interest in ancient monumental remains. He transported the Topra and Meerut Ashokan pillars to Delhi.

The inscriptions were written in Brahmi script, which had not yet been deciphered during Firoz Shah’s period. Their modern historical significance became clear much later after the decipherment of Brahmi in the nineteenth century.

Important Chronology

Quick Revision Table

Key Takeaway for Competitive Exams

For examinations, remember the following association:

Firoz Shah Tughlaq → Irrigation Canals → Agriculture → Public Works → Firozabad → Firoz Shah Kotla → Ashokan Pillars → Diwan-i-Khairat → Diwan-i-Bandagan → Hereditary Iqtas and Offices

The most important distinction is:

Muhammad bin Tughlaq = ambitious administrative experiments

Firoz Shah Tughlaq = stability, irrigation, welfare and public works

Firoz Shah’s policies produced considerable construction and agricultural development, but his accommodation of hereditary administrative interests also contributed to the longer-term weakening of central authority after his death.

Targeting Exams

CUET-UG / CUET-PG, UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, IBPS PO, SBI PO, RRB NTPC, RRB Group D, CDS, NDA & NA, CAPF, APSC CCE, All State Government Exams, Assam Government Grade III & IV, Assam Police Recruitment, CTET, UGC NET

FAQs

1. When did Firoz Shah Tughlaq rule?

Firoz Shah Tughlaq ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1351 to 1388 CE.

2. Who succeeded Muhammad bin Tughlaq?

Firoz Shah Tughlaq succeeded Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1351 CE.

3. What was Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s most important economic public work?

His extensive canal and irrigation programme was one of the most significant features of his economic administration.

4. What was Haq-i-Shurb?

Haq-i-Shurb was an irrigation-related tax associated with the use of water supplied through state irrigation works.

5. What was the Diwan-i-Khairat?

The Diwan-i-Khairat was a department associated with charitable and welfare activities, including assistance to deserving people.

6. What was the Diwan-i-Bandagan?

The Diwan-i-Bandagan was a department concerned with the administration and welfare of the large body of slaves maintained under Firoz Shah.

7. Which Ashokan pillars were relocated by Firoz Shah?

Firoz Shah arranged for the relocation of the Topra and Meerut Ashokan pillars to Delhi.

8. Which monument is associated with Firoz Shah’s Delhi?

Firoz Shah Kotla, also known as Kotla Firoz Shah, is one of the major architectural complexes associated with his reign.

9. What was significant about Firoz Shah’s policy toward iqtas?

He strengthened the hereditary character of iqtas and administrative offices, helping secure the loyalty of officials but contributing to decentralizing tendencies over time.

10. What happened after Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s death?

After his death in 1388 CE, succession disputes and factional struggles weakened Tughlaq authority. The dynasty continued for some time but gradually lost effective control before the Delhi Sultanate passed to the Sayyid Dynasty in 1414 CE.