Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with answers on “The Delhi Sultanate: Administration and Impact on Indian Society” tailored for the Civil Services Examination

1. The Delhi Sultanate was established in which year?

• A) 1206 CE
• B) 1192 CE
• C) 1320 CE
• D) 1290 CE
  Answer: A) 1206 CE

2. Who was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate?

• A) Alauddin Khalji
• B) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
• C) Balban
• D) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
  Answer: B) Qutb-ud-din Aibak

3. Which dynasty was the first to rule the Delhi Sultanate?

• A) Tughlaq Dynasty
• B) Khalji Dynasty
• C) Slave Dynasty
• D) Lodi Dynasty
  Answer: C) Slave Dynasty

4. The Iqta system, a key feature of Delhi Sultanate administration, was introduced by:

• A) Iltutmish
• B) Alauddin Khalji
• C) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
• D) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
  Answer: A) Iltutmish

5. Which Sultan introduced market reforms and price control measures in the Delhi Sultanate?

• A) Balban
• B) Alauddin Khalji
• C) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
• D) Sikandar Lodi
  Answer: B) Alauddin Khalji

6. Which of the following Sultans was known for his strict and centralized administration?

• A) Razia Sultana
• B) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
• C) Balban
• D) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
  Answer: C) Balban

7. Who was the only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?

• A) Razia Sultana
• B) Rani Durgavati
• C) Noor Jahan
• D) Mumtaz Mahal
  Answer: A) Razia Sultana

8. Which ruler of the Delhi Sultanate shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad?

• A) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
• B) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
• C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
• D) Alauddin Khalji
  Answer: C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

9. The Chihalgani, a group of forty Turkish nobles, was established by:

• A) Iltutmish
• B) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
• C) Balban
• D) Alauddin Khalji
  Answer: A) Iltutmish

10. The Delhi Sultanate’s administration was based on which of the following?

• A) Persian model
• B) Turkish tribal system
• C) Mongol governance system
• D) Arab caliphate system
  Answer: A) Persian model

11. Which Sultanate ruler is known for founding the city of Tughlaqabad?

• A) Alauddin Khalji
• B) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
• C) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
• D) Balban
  Answer: C) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq

12. The primary language of administration under the Delhi Sultanate was:

• A) Hindi
• B) Arabic
• C) Sanskrit
• D) Persian
  Answer: D) Persian

13. Who was the last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate before it was replaced by the Mughal Empire?

• A) Ibrahim Lodi
• B) Sikandar Lodi
• C) Babur
• D) Khizr Khan
  Answer: A) Ibrahim Lodi

14. The practice of granting land in return for military service during the Delhi Sultanate was called:

• A) Jagir system
• B) Iqta system
• C) Mansabdari system
• D) Zamindari system
  Answer: B) Iqta system

15. Which ruler introduced token currency during the Delhi Sultanate, causing a severe economic crisis?

• A) Alauddin Khalji
• B) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
• C) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
• D) Ibrahim Lodi
  Answer: B) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

16. The Delhi Sultanate faced repeated invasions from which Central Asian conqueror?

• A) Timur
• B) Genghis Khan
• C) Alexander the Great
• D) Kublai Khan
  Answer: A) Timur

17. Who was the Sultan known for constructing the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi?

• A) Alauddin Khalji
• B) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
• C) Balban
• D) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
  Answer: B) Firoz Shah Tughlaq

18. The Lodi dynasty, the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, was of which ethnic origin?

• A) Persian
• B) Afghan
• C) Turkish
• D) Arab
  Answer: B) Afghan

19. Which Delhi Sultanate ruler encouraged the translation of Sanskrit works into Persian?

• A) Iltutmish
• B) Sikandar Lodi
• C) Alauddin Khalji
• D) Ghiyasuddin Balban
  Answer: B) Sikandar Lodi

20. Who among the following was the ruler of the Khilji dynasty?

• A) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
• B) Alauddin Khalji
• C) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
• D) Ibrahim Lodi
  Answer: B) Alauddin Khalji

21. Which ruler of the Delhi Sultanate was instrumental in implementing an efficient espionage system?

• A) Balban
• B) Razia Sultana
• C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
• D) Alauddin Khalji
  Answer: D) Alauddin Khalji

22. What was the impact of the Delhi Sultanate on Indian society with regard to architecture?

• A) Introduction of Mughal gardens
• B) Emergence of Indo-Islamic architecture
• C) Decline in temple building
• D) Shift to rock-cut architecture
  Answer: B) Emergence of Indo-Islamic architecture

23. Which Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate established diplomatic relations with China?

• A) Iltutmish
• B) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
• C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
• D) Balban
  Answer: C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

24. Which social group gained prominence under the Delhi Sultanate’s administrative system?

• A) Rajputs
• B) Brahmins
• C) Turkish nobles
• D) Buddhist monks
  Answer: C) Turkish nobles

25. What was the nature of taxation under the Delhi Sultanate?

• A) Taxes were lenient
• B) Heavily based on land revenue
• C) Focused only on trade revenue
• D) No taxes were levied on the peasants
  Answer: B) Heavily based on land revenue

26. Which Delhi Sultan encouraged the establishment of irrigation systems and the building of canals?

• A) Iltutmish
• B) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
• C) Balban
• D) Alauddin Khalji
  Answer: B) Firoz Shah Tughlaq

27. The development of which new coin was a major feature of the Delhi Sultanate’s monetary system?

• A) Dinar
• B) Rupee
• C) Jital
• D) Dirham
  Answer: C) Jital

28. The concept of “Zawabit” introduced by the Delhi Sultans referred to:

• A) Religious edicts
• B) Customary laws
• C) Market regulations
• D) Military ranks
  Answer: B) Customary laws

29. Which dynasty introduced the practice of branding horses (Dagh) and maintaining a descriptive roll of soldiers (Chehra)?

• A) Tughlaq Dynasty
• B) Khalji Dynasty
• C) Lodi Dynasty
• D) Slave Dynasty
  Answer: B) Khalji Dynasty

30. What was the role of the “Wazir” in the Delhi Sultanate’s administration?

• A) Military commander
• B) Chief of the spy network
• C) Head of the judiciary
• D) Prime Minister and head of finance
  Answer: D) Prime Minister and head of finance

These MCQs cover key aspects of the Delhi Sultanate, focusing on its administration and the impact on Indian society, ensuring relevance for the Civil Services Examination.